After repeated Pill scares The search for safe contraception

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with lack of side effects - Family Planning Clinic workers There are no easy or simple women who have actually read answers. any of the research papers showTHE problem with discussing the ideal contraception is we all start from our own problems and understanding of our needs and bodies, so it is difficult to make overall recommendations.

For the 'middle class woman, aware of her body and capable of and willing to fight for backup abortion facilities' • most people advising contraception (and I don't mean conventional medical advisors) would recommend the diaphragm plus spermicide.

But as the majority of unwanted pregnancies are due to ignorance rather than contraception failure, we have to look for easily available, easy to use, effective and safe contraception for those presently not using any.

In addition, we need something as simple as the pill without the horrendous side effects for those on the pill now.

Let's look at what we've got (the problems) and hopefully find some answers or suggestions.

The problems of the Pill are well known, now, but the seriousness of these problems is not widely believed.

The requests for aid/alternative contraception/or information from present Pill users following the latest disclosures has been underwhelming.

The latest "scare' appears to have sorted out women willing to look for alternative contraception and not take the risks of the Pill: those now taking it either ignore, don't believe, or fully understand the risks. Or perhaps they can't face the alternatives.

It is obvious that what is needed is a barrier contraception (no chemical side Even more hazards of the Pill have recently been revealed. Sue Lister looks at the alternatives available to women, and Les Hearn discusses male contraception.

as a possible hope.

But look realistically at this method Some women find it easy to fit and have no hangups about rushing off and inserting it at a key moment in the proceedings: but you have to consider where these 'proceedings' are taking place.

It may be fine if you've a stable relationship, usually have sex in the same place -or have a convenient way of taking it everywhere you go.and have sex somewhere where it's convenient (e.g. enough room) to insert. • Young But for young woman just embarking on se: 1al relationships who is not very confident, sex is not always comfortable surroundings - imagine putting a diaphragm in in the back of a car! Many wouldn't bother...

The question of why the diaphragm has to be inserted immediately before intercourse has to be looked at - the use of spermicide with a diaphragm is said to be essential and I am not going to disagree with this - I don't know.

Experiment

But research into use of barrier contraception without spermicide is very rare because the only way firms can make a profit out of barrier contraception is with the spermicide.

There are small groups of women experimenting with diaphragms without spermicide but there is no conclusive evidence yet.

There is research into spermicide-impregnated sponges which can be left in the vagina and don't interfere with sex.

I do not know the failure rate of this method of contraception, but it is not as yet widely available.

The Cervical Cap (a very small cap which fits over the cervix [neck of the womb]) was popular many years ago and appears to be making a comeback: again I don't know any figures but both this method and the sponge could hold some hope in terms of convenience, Below: Depo-Provera dangerous but often p rescribed, especially to black : women ..Frarmoincn let's hope they are effective.

It is worth noting UNDER ATTACK don't use the Pill and that most ing the risks of the Pill have and Above: While the drug companies still make fat profits, family planning is cut to save money' stopped taking it.

This shows that the most important point is that the full information should be given to women before any decisions are taken.

This does not mean handing out all the scientific research papers to every woman (though they should be available); but before any woman uses any form of contraception she should not only be told its effectiveness and how to use it but the risks too.

Control

That way she can make the decision facing her taking into account her life style and what risks she is willing to take - if any.

The Pill has made an amazing profit for drug companies the nationalisation of these companies and their control by workers and users is not just a necessary step in a socialist economy - for some of us it is the necessary step to save our lives. They've made a killing in more ways than one.

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Women in struggle