Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site osu-eddie.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!osu-eddie!glp From: glp@osu-eddie.UUCP (Georgia Pritchett) Newsgroups: net.women Subject: Re: re the pill Message-ID: <640@osu-eddie.UUCP> Date: Fri, 4-Oct-85 22:50:04 EDT Article-I.D.: osu-eddi.640 Posted: Fri Oct 4 22:50:04 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 5-Oct-85 14:44:47 EDT References: <1376@hound.UUCP> Reply-To: glp@osu-eddie.UUCP (Georgia Pritchett) Organization: Ohio State Univ., CIS Dept., Cols, Oh. Lines: 57 In article <1376@hound.UUCP> ganns@hound.UUCP (R.GANNS) writes: >This topic may have been worked over in the not too distant past already, >but it seems important enough to keep up some discussion on. > > .... lots of comments about pill and bad effects ... > > The authors seem to be strongly in favor of the cervical cap, >and claim that it is very inexpensive, convenient (can be left in >place for long periods of time), and highly effective (as effective >as the pill, I believe); they also point out that it is not generally >available in the U.S., since there isn't enough profit potential >in it for pharmaceutical companies to get into it. It is available >in Europe, and probably could be gotten through a sympathetic >gynecologist. NOTE: I have had very little sleep. So if this seems a bit incohert, bear with me. I wanted to send this and don't read news more than once a week now. Actually the cervical cap is still under FDA approval study (I was one of the people who was involved in the study). What this means is that you can only get it in certain locations (I happen to live in one of the cities where this is true. If you would like, I think that the clinic I got it from had a list of places it was available). First off, currently they only make a small number of sizes. This is pretty critical since if the cap isn't fit right it can "slip" (I had a friend who was also involved in the study and she had lots of problems with this. However I happened to be a perfect fit.). Secondly while in Europe they leave them in for all of your non-period (I hope I am making this clear. I can't think of a better way to describe it...) days, currently you are only "allowed" to leave it in for 3 days (since it was part of a study, I did only leave it in that long). Also you cannot use the cap during your period (it doesn't stay in then). I know they had at least 4 pregnacies in 100 one year (I asked and they told me). Not bad. Most were people who had complained of slipping. Also they had some problems with yeast infections (and once you got one you got it back again and again until they replaced your cap. ugh!). Also there was some odor problems. However it was a good method since you could put it early in the evening and not worry about it again for a few days. However you had to be a contortionist to get it out (I learned but it was frustrating). I couldn't wear a diaphram (lots of pain) and I could wear a cap (that is probably going to be one of their selling points). I am no longer wearing one. It sounds silly but I lost (read misplaced while out of my body) it. And then while trying the sponge, got a BAD infection that made me want to avoid any possibility of one again. Also I just didn't feel that it was 'convenient' enough for a newly wed. I am on one of the triphasic pills and have had no adverse side effects. As a matter of fact, my migraines have disappeared (thank god). I was surprised to learn that this frequently happens (I have been through migraine therapy twice and never heard this). Since I suffer from headaches I must see my gyn every 6 months (at least). I don't plan on being on the pill more than 3 years. Chances are I will eventually go back to the cap. ---georgia Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com