Many women use birth control pills for non-contraceptive reasons

[ohheckyeah]

This issue isn't about just birth control and the facts support that many women use bc pills for non-contraceptive reasons. Can we quit arguing that point?

“Beyond Birth Control: The Overlooked Benefits of Oral Contraceptive Pills,” by Rachel K. Jones of the Guttmacher Institute, also found that more than half (58%) of all pill users rely on the method, at least in part, for purposes other than pregnancy prevention—meaning that only 42% use the pill exclusively for contraceptive reasons.

The study—based on U.S government data from the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG)—revealed that after pregnancy prevention (86%), the most common reasons women use the pill include reducing cramps or menstrual pain (31%); menstrual regulation, which for some women may help prevent migraines and other painful “side effects” of menstruation (28%); treatment of acne (14%); and treatment of endometriosis (4%). Additionally, it found that some 762,000 women who have never had sex use the pill, and they do so almost exclusively (99%) for noncontraceptive reasons.

http://www.guttmacher.org/media/nr/2011/11/15/index.html

[Politicalboi]

1. Oh it's all women's parts

No need to worry. These men know what's best for women. And let's not talk about menstruation please. It's embarrassing for those men to think about.

[pokerfan]

44. It's just that men are the more rational sex

You see, women tend to get all emotional when you start talking about their girly bits.

[Warren Stupidity]

2. many women use birth control for birth control

the moral mavens should keep their noses out of other people's orifices.

[ohheckyeah]

3. True - but

there are opinions flying around that the actual number of women who use bc for other reasons is very small. No, it really isn't.

[PeaceNikki]

6. Stop feeding the perception that there is a 'moral' use and one that's not.

Seriously.

[ohheckyeah]

9. So leave the

ignorance unchallenged? And seriously, are you the decider on what gets posted and what doesn't?

It has nothing to do with "feed the perception" it is a matter of facts.

[PeaceNikki]

11. You tell the ignorant fucks that medical decisions are between patients and doctors.

That's it.

[ohheckyeah]

13. And you get to tell me what to think, say

and post, why?

Of course it's a woman's right to use birth control pills for birth control. Why should we ignore the fact that it's also used for many other reasons?

[PeaceNikki]

19. You're taking my passion for the issue too personally.

And I apologize if it feels personal... because I am so passionate about women's choice.

I don't think we should *ignore* it, I think we need to change the narrative. It's a privacy issue.

[ohheckyeah]

23. I've been fighting this battle

for 40 years. Tell me about passion.

I foolishly allowed myself to be talked out of taking the pill - I won't go into all of the reasons and the history of that, but I ended up having a hysterectomy because of endometriosis that could have been controlled by the pill. The other uses for BC pills are important and the women who are getting pressure about the morality of taking the pill should have the information about it's other uses.

[Warren Stupidity]

26. because you have accepted the framing that this is a moral issue.

[ohheckyeah]

30. No, I haven't accepted it.

I just know that there are women who get a lot of pressure that this information can help. I've been there....I wish I had the information when I was there. Rush and the right have lied about this issue and the facts don't support what they said. I'm sorry you don't like the facts and think they are unimportant, but I happen to think they are important.

How about not telling me what I think or have accepted.....you don't know me.

[Warren Stupidity]

33. you seem to not understand framing

accepting the framing doesn't mean that you agree it is a moral issue, it means that you are discussing an issue using a 'frame' that contains the issue under discussion within certain boundaries.

By classifying BC users, dividing them up into 'not for bc' and 'for bc' you are conceding that this is even relevant. It isn't. They want to discuss this as an issue of morality, when it is an issue of privacy.

[PeaceNikki]

35. This is exactly the point. It's a privacy matter.

[ohheckyeah]

40. Will you please knock off

the condescending attitude that I don't understand. I understand, I just disagree. The RW is lying about the issue and there are women who the information can help.

It IS relevant to some women.

[mackattack]

49. Exactly right

the right wing says "morality" when they try to limit its availability. Then you use list the medical necessity (other than as birth control) and they have no argument.

Yes it shouldnt be an issue. Yes it shouldnt matter. But THIS IS POLITICS, you work whatever angle you have to in order to win. This angle will silence the right. The other, however correct, wont. And you will lose.

Thanks for posting this. Sorry people dont realize the necessity of stating it.

[Warpy]

4. Insurance companies think we can simply delete our bodies between our navels and knees

if we don't pester poor, beleaguered men into nasty old sex, they've managed to delete all those nasty bits for years unless we've paid triple premiums for "family" coverage, even if we never intend to have a family.

It's all a result of the screwball religious climate that says anything to do with sex is nasty and all that nastiness is pushed off onto women's bodies, men remaining blameless, the poor dears simply can't be expected to control themselves.

We have the worst maternal and child survival statistics in the first world because of it. And it's got to stop. They have to be forced to stop.

A single insurance policy should cover women's health, period, through childbirth. After childbirth, a family policy can be purchased to cover the kid. But it's insane to make a woman pay triple premiums for a year before childbirth is covered and to refuse to cover hormonal or other birth control.

[PeaceNikki]

5. It's nobody's business, please stop playing into the narrative that it is.

Why you or any other woman uses it matters not.

Explaining why you use it feeds into the perception that we must justify our medical decisions with the religious right and/or general public. You don't, I don't and no other woman does. Ever.

[ohheckyeah]

7. Maybe you haven't seen the

arguments that it's all about contraception and it isn't. No, it shouldn't matter why a woman is using BC but facts are facts.

[PeaceNikki]

10. I have and you're playing right into it. It DOESN'T matter.

So stop trying to classify some women's medical decisions with their doctors as more or less moral than others.

Please.

[ohheckyeah]

16. Did you see the word moral

anywhere in my posts? I'm not classifying anything as moral or immoral so please quit putting words in my mouth.

Please

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. +1

[noiretextatique]

12. thank you...Sandra Fluke's testimony was about this issue

and it does matter...it should not, but it does.

[PeaceNikki]

17. So... you would be ok if they allowed coverage for treatment of a condition but not BC?

That's bullshit.

It doesn't matter. You support women's choice or you don't. This is the crux of Rove v Wade. A woman does not need to give up her privacy to have legal medical procedures/medications.

WHY she wants or needs the pill is not the business of of anyone.

[ohheckyeah]

21. Nobody has said that

in this thread. We are all aware that a woman should have the right to BC pills for BC. And of course it should be her business and no one else's but that's not what's happening.

They aren't just BC pills - they are hormones that are used to treat other conditions. That's the reality of the situation.

[PeaceNikki]

22. Please see.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=401690

Again, sorry if my passion is coming off as personal - but I am fed the fuck up with women's privacy thrown to shit because the religious right has hijacked the GOP.

It angers me and I really wish the conversation would stay on that... it's how we won Roe v Wade.

[ohheckyeah]

24. I'm beyond fed up.

I just know that there are women who need the information to fight the pressure they are getting. It's important information and it's information that is the only weapon some women have.

I'm fucking sick and tired of the whole damn thing - I've been arguing and fighting for women's right to reproductive freedom for 40 years and I'm tired. I know all about how we won Roe v. Wade but that's not where we are right now.

To ignore the other uses for BC pills, in my opinion, throws some women to the dogs.

[noiretextatique]

28. +1000000000000000000000000000

i've read that viagra in small doseages helps prevent heart attacks and strokes. why the fuss over BC for uses other than BC? it is a no-brainer, imho. BC, however it is used, is a medication that should be covered by insurance...end of story.

[noiretextatique]

27. that is the reality of the situation, and it is total bullshit

if oxyrush and others wanted to debate her actual testimony...fine. the fact that they choose to lie about it is proof that they don't give a shit about women and their healthcare.

[noiretextatique]

25. it does not matter...but it is important to call out the rw on their LYING

about her testimony.

[ohheckyeah]

18. Exactly -

thank you. I keep seeing the argument that "IMO that's a small percentage of women". No it's not. Should it matter? NO Does it matter? Unfortunately it is part of the argument and narrative. I don't like it, but I don't ignore it either.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

14. i dont see why we even talk about this. women work & pay taxes. our work supports our health

insurance and our medications. part of those medications is birth control.

its not paid by other people, its paid by us and our wages and our taxes.

[Warren Stupidity]

45. Because not everyone using birth control is a slut.

Dear jury that was a joke.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

46. i agree. that is definitely the reason we talk about non-birth control reasons for

using birth control.

as though using it for its intended design is somehow less good than using it for its unintended but serendipitous side effects

[ohheckyeah]

51. No, that's not the reason at all.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with using BC pills for BC but it isn't the only reason it is used. That's reality. That's the facts. Sorry if facts bother you.

The argument that is being addressed is the claim that only a small percentage of women use BC for other reasons is very small, when in fact it is not. BC pills are a large part of health care for women - for contraception and many other reasons.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

52. the fact that women use BC for other reasons doesn't bother me. the fact that we as democrats

and liberals cannot stand up and just say that women should have access to BC for BC's sake and insurance should be required to cover it, bothers me.

[ohheckyeah]

53. Well, it bothers me if we

let the false information stand that only a small percentage of women use BC pills for other reasons and that it is not a legitimate treatment for other health care issues.

Imagine a woman who was raised to believe that BC is wrong. She finds out she has polycystic ovarian disease and the doctor recommends BC pills. She is under extreme pressure to refuse that treatment because of the belief BC pills are ONLY used for birth control. She refuses treatment and loses her ovaries. That bothers me and yes, I know someone who dealt with this exact issue.

Now, imagine the same woman armed with the facts that BC pills are legitimate treatment for polycystic ovarian disease. She overcomes her brainwashing and guilt, uses the pill and saves her ovaries. She's able to back up her decision because of the FACTS.

Not every woman is able to tell everyone to piss off and mind their own business. Be thankful if you can - I'm thankful I was able to stand up and tell everyone to mind their own business but it wasn't until AFTER I suffered severe consequences for buying into the crap that I heard for years.

It's easy to criticize women who let themselves be bullied until you witness the years and years of conditioning that go into the process of getting women to conform.

Political agendas aren't more important than women getting the health care they need. And one of the arguments that has always been used about abortion being illegal is the number of deaths and the injuries from back street abortions.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

54. yes, which is why women and others who support women need to stand up against

this moralizing on women's choices.

what your are doing further enables this moralizing by creating two classes of women: one who use BC for moral reasons and another for immoral reasons

harkens back to the innocent HIV victims vs the less innocent HIV victims arguments

[ohheckyeah]

55. It's not about moralizing...

it's about using facts and all of the weapons in the arsenal.

In the push for abortion rights the dangers of back alley abortions were prominent. Remember the coat hanger posters? I do.

So, think what you want but what I know is you don't refuse to use what is at hand when you are in a battle. And those women who are under pressure to not use the pill deserve the facts.

If you want to make judgment values, as you seem intent on doing toward me, then I think you are denying facts and sticking your head in the sand. What you are doing further enables those who insist that BC pills are all about BC and have no other legitimate use.

So, we will never agree and you can continue YOUR own brand of moralizing and judgmentalism while I'll continue to look for and state the facts.

[RobinA]

57. Exactly

Imagine this woman given the option of taking a medication WITH NO MORAL STRINGS WHATSOEVER ATTACHED that could help her disease.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

58. exactly.

[firehorse]

14. I was prescribed the pill for fybroids, ... it was either this or a hysterectomy

I don't know very many woman who enjoy having to take hormones, and dealing with all the side effects (like low sex drive... ahem) we do it as a last resort.

IMO keeping women from having access to the pill, is like not letting them have access to other medication like antibiotics.

[HockeyMom]

20. I took the Pill as a 12 year old VIRGIN

My daughter took the Pill as a LESBIAN. Why, because virgins and lesbians are still FEMALE and have medical problems with their FEMALE ANATOMY that requires it. Basically, I get from all this that they hate FEMALES.

[noiretextatique]

31. sorry you got attacked for presenting facts...as did Sandra Fluke

it should be a no-brainer. BC is a legitmate medication that has other uses than contraception, which is also a legitimate use.
and that was the gist of Fluke's testimony....and she was right. it has nothing to do with morals, or anything else...it is the stark truth.

[ohheckyeah]

41. Thank you.

But, obviously I just don't understand anything because I disagree with some people.

I hate that tactic of "you just obviously don't get it."

[cbdo2007]

32. wife is prescribed bcp for her endometriosis (sp?)

[Warren Stupidity]

34. I'll try again. "This issue isn't about just birth control"

Suppose it was. Suppose the only accepted medical use of birth control pills was in fact for birth control. Now what? Does that change anything?

[hedgehog]

36. Maybe we can turn this argument around and point out that

the right wingers are so against the possibility that some women may have sex because they enjoy it that they are willing to deprive other women of vital medications!

[Warren Stupidity]

38. It is not the government's or your employers business.

[ohheckyeah]

42. Yes, we know.

It's about calling out lies and giving women who are under pressure information about the other legitimate uses for the BC pill.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

48. No. there is no reason to turn this argument into anything aside from

women deserve healthcare and birthcontrol is part of that healthcare.

there is no more or less moral use of BC

[PeaceNikki]

50. this ^. Through and through. Up and down... ALL DAY LONG!

[ohheckyeah]

56. Nobody said there was.

Using coat hanger posters didn't mean some abortions are more moral than others, but the fact was women died from back alley abortions. Should we have had to use that argument? No, but it was a fact and it did carry weight. Women should have the right to an abortion - period, but coat hangers carried a message that woke many people up.

[PeaceNikki]

59. The comparison to abortion is not coat-hangers or not, it's rape vs not.

Which is how and why we won Roe v Wade. It's not the method of how we're getting birth control, but *why* that you are arguing. Pri, I and others are arguing that we should never ever fall for framing it that way.

It's a privacy issue and that's all we need to argue. We all agree there are circumstances in which even *they* would think it's ok. It doesn't matter because there are circumstances they would choose to deny. I and others are arguing that it's always ok, it's always a matter between a woman and her doctor and we should never ever ever have to justify our reasons.

I understand you feel passionately about it and are firm in your position of arguing it that way; understand that this is a discussion board and we feel the same way.

[ohheckyeah]

60. I made the OP

because of the comments that the percentage of women using birth control for non-birth control health care was small. It isn't small. That was the whole premise of the OP and the whole reason of the OP. If facts disturb you, that's not my problem.

It was you and a couple of others who turned it into something other than what it was. I'm stating facts - the percentage of women who NEED birth control pills for something other than birth control. Of course it is a privacy issue....I never said it wasn't. But there are OTHER issues at stake whether you like it or not. If the inaccurate information is not challenged then it gets repeated. Whether or not it is relevant to the argument matters little if it sways the argument.

How and why we won Roe v. Wade was using all of the ammunition in the arsenal including making many people uncomfortable about the harm done to women who had no access to legal abortion. No, it wasn't decided on whether or not it was rape.....I don't even know what you are getting at with that comment. Eventually the Supreme Court ruled that it was a privacy issue but that wasn't the driving force behind the argument that abortion should be SAFE and legal. It just wasn't. I was part of the protest and the movement for legal abortion and the dangers of illegal abortions was a MAJOR part of the argument. You can't re-write history here.

You are entitled to your opinion, but you aren't entitled to your own facts. It was the safety of abortion that was used to sway the minds of many people before it ever went to the Supreme Court.

Just as safety was part of the abortion debate, so, too, is the use of the pill for non-contraceptive medical needs in the debate over the pill.

So, you argue that it's all about privacy, and I'll argue that it's about privacy AND health care needs and maybe we will meet at the same goal.......insurance coverage and availability of birth control pills for all women because that's what really matters.

Frankly, I do not have the time, energy or inclination to continue to argue the issue with you. I'll save that for the Republicans and wackos in Virginia who think it should be illegal.

[PeaceNikki]

61. lol

[ohheckyeah]

62. ......

LOL

The last resort of those who really have nothing to say -

[ohheckyeah]

39. I can suppose until the cows

come home. I prefer to deal with the present reality.

I support a woman's right to use BC pills for whatever reason. Yes, it should be between the woman and her doctor but the reality of the situation today is the RW is lying about the uses for the pill and facts show that many women use it for other reasons.

[shcrane71]

37. I needed to abort a polyp. It took YEARS with my private insurance, and Catholic hospitals

to rid myself of that polyp. At the time, I had no idea that the procedure I needed (a d&c??) is the same procedure used in abortions. It's important to remind Americans that 1. it's up to the woman to determine if she wants BC for whatever reason, but also 2. attempting to deny contraception and abortions means that other maladies often aren't treated because healthcare professionals are afraid of uterine-snooping, wingnuts.

I'd like to point out the Fluke's classmate lost her ovary. Are there no health repercussions for losing an ovary? How many men have lost testicles due to over-reaching, patronizing legislation inspired by all-female religious leaders?

[FirstLight]

43. and ovarian cysts, etc

i had one get quite narly in college, they gave me a pack of pills and had me taking 2 a day for 2 weeks, and it worked!

[mackattack]

47. In high school I knew a girl who was very, very, very

traditional and conservative. Sweet gal. She ended up marrying a minister. Anyway, she took birth control for those very reasons. Most men dont realize this. Added to that, most "media" figures wont bring it up because it clashes with the "call em all sluts" agenda.

[co-creation]

63. It's a horrible thing.

I know several women who got breast cancer in their 40s, which is quite young. I suspect that they were on the Pill.

I wish women would not be such lemmings. Well, some are a bit more enlightened, but so many people put doctors on pedestals. Read up on whatever condition your doc wants to prescribe away.

[sufrommich]

64. Even if it's only use was to stop a sperm fertilizing

an egg it should still be beyond question. Women have as much right to control their reproductive choices as people with hypertension have a right to control their blood pressure.