This video is about how birth control is advertised to women. The title is Target Women: Birth Control. The woman in the video is Sarah Haskins. She has a number of videos all how different products are targeted towards women. Basically, they are about how companies advertise toward or the way they depict women. They are pretty humorous, you should them out here.
As it plays, it depicts different birth control commercials. All advertising the fact that the most attractive thing about birth control is that it can you give you lighter periods and reduce irritability and bloating. One commercial shows a group of women, in a nightclub, sitting around and talking about birth control in technical terms. This is totally inaccurate and unrelatable, in fact, if you watch it, its silly. Everyone knows the most attractive aspect of birth control is that it allows you to have sex and not get pregnant. Why is it that they don't point that out in commercials? Is it a faux paus? Do these companies just figure everyone knows the purpose of birth control? As they say in the video, its being sold as period control rather than birth control.
A whole birth control commericial can be produced and watched without even mentioning sex. The whole reason for the pill/shot/patch in the first place!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Male birth control pill?
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/fernandafronza/457996225/)
A birth control pill will soon be an option to men, says this article by msn.com. Not only will a pill be available, but also being talked about is a shot, patch and gel which can be applied to the skin. The method is said to release testosterone in the body. "The Seattle researchers have been testing a sustained-released, testosterone micro-capsule, which consists of a thick liquid administered by injection under the skin."(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3543478/)
This is a new revolution in the world of birth control. In the past, usually, it has always been left up to woman when it came to everything except condoms. Woman have to remember to take their pill everyday, deal with side effects and add the extra cost to their budget. Now as the tables turn, men will inherit a new responsibility. It would also be a new sense of empowerment to men. It would certainly eliminate the whole "she got pregnant to trap me" clique. In the future, if the men seriously does not want children, this method will guarantee no accidents. "“Some women are out there to use men to get pregnant. This could deter women from doing this. An athlete or a singer is someone who could be a target and they could put a stop to that.”(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3543478/)
This pill, so far, has been tested in California and the researchers are working with investigators in China. A clinical trial is now set to happen at 10 different sites across China and includes 1,000 men. Phase III trial involves a single injection given once every month. Similar trials in the United States are a hope to start within the next 2 years. Right now researchers are formulating to find the best method with the least side effects with least amount of medication that gives the strongest effect.
So now the question is "Will men actually take it?" The article says that some say yes, while others say only if there was pressure from a partner and then there are those who won't even consider it.
This pill, so far, has been tested in California and the researchers are working with investigators in China. A clinical trial is now set to happen at 10 different sites across China and includes 1,000 men. Phase III trial involves a single injection given once every month. Similar trials in the United States are a hope to start within the next 2 years. Right now researchers are formulating to find the best method with the least side effects with least amount of medication that gives the strongest effect.
So now the question is "Will men actually take it?" The article says that some say yes, while others say only if there was pressure from a partner and then there are those who won't even consider it.
Birth Control made cheaper for undergrads...good idea!
In 2005, President Bush signed the Deficit Reduction Act, which prohibited pharmaceutical companies from selling contraceptives to college health centers at a reduced price. President Obama, however, signed a bill reversing that provision in the act. This is a very good thing, obviously alot of college students are sexually active, but they are not the most responsible people either. However, according to this article
by the John Hopkins University newsletter, due to the recession, pharmaceutical companies are not giving universities a straight answer on whether contraceptives will be sold at a discounted price. Everytime a drug company is reached a response such as "We'll get back to you" or "We're discussing that at the moment" is given. It all comes down to money in the end, as usual. Before President put the provision into effect, the NuvaRing sold for $3-$5 while oral contraceptives sold for around $10-$11. In the meantime, health centers have been encouraging students to get the generic versions of the bigger name brand contraceptives in stores such as Wal-mart, where it is more affordable. There is complaint though that students have trouble getting to bigger stores like wal-mart and the inconvenience factor is an issue. Students also feel less comfortable going to an outside source of their school.
I do not understand why this provision was passed in the first place. If anyone needs discounted birth control, I would put college students on the list. Many do not have jobs, or high paying ones, and already are on a budget. The standard cost of birth control pills can be as high as $50 per cycle. That is not an affordable rate. Due to the laziness, many students will just stop using contraceptives altogether. The campus even has recorded that once students realized the price of the pills from the health center, they declined to buy them. I truly hope that the drug companies change their minds in the decision to not sell discounted pills.
by the John Hopkins University newsletter, due to the recession, pharmaceutical companies are not giving universities a straight answer on whether contraceptives will be sold at a discounted price. Everytime a drug company is reached a response such as "We'll get back to you" or "We're discussing that at the moment" is given. It all comes down to money in the end, as usual. Before President put the provision into effect, the NuvaRing sold for $3-$5 while oral contraceptives sold for around $10-$11. In the meantime, health centers have been encouraging students to get the generic versions of the bigger name brand contraceptives in stores such as Wal-mart, where it is more affordable. There is complaint though that students have trouble getting to bigger stores like wal-mart and the inconvenience factor is an issue. Students also feel less comfortable going to an outside source of their school.
I do not understand why this provision was passed in the first place. If anyone needs discounted birth control, I would put college students on the list. Many do not have jobs, or high paying ones, and already are on a budget. The standard cost of birth control pills can be as high as $50 per cycle. That is not an affordable rate. Due to the laziness, many students will just stop using contraceptives altogether. The campus even has recorded that once students realized the price of the pills from the health center, they declined to buy them. I truly hope that the drug companies change their minds in the decision to not sell discounted pills.
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