The Pharmaceutical/Health Industry and Women

[VirgoGrr]

I'm just exploring a few thoughts about how medical/health issues that affect women are making money for the pharmaceutical industry.

I've just commented on another thread about my experiences with treatment for abnormal cervical cells. At the time and afterwards, I obviously read up on HPV and what may have led to my problem and I was horrified to learn that by taking the pill, as I'd been recommended, and by choosing a new partner who had had a recent std test, I thought I was practicing safe sex. Obviously not, it's likely that I was exposed to HPV after a serious illness and this led to severely abnormal, precancerous cells. If someone had told me that I was putting my health at risk at that time, there's no way I would have been taking the pill, I would have been insisting on condoms. I had not even heard of HPV before I had an abnormal smear. This is a number of years ago, btw.

Would it be too cynical to suggest that it's beneficial for the industry to not make this simple knowledge more widely available to women because they sell contraceptive pills, the equipment for smear tests, the equipment for treatment and the HPV vaccine?

I'm sure there are lots of examples. What do you think?

My mate is training to be a doctor atm, and we keep asking him how much teaching he gets about certain issues - on this one, the answer seems to be, not very much. Basically women have periods not very exciting, and they're either standard of sub-standard.

Helpful attitude to teach, eh?

Oops, I need more coffee. 'Basically women have periods, not very exciting, and they're either standard or sub-standard.

No, 'twas ChunkyPickle's post I meant. :)

Once a year, like clockwork they visit the gynaecologist for a full rummage, from about 14.

What are you apologizing for, SGM?

Gotcha. Off to mainline coffee now.

Oh no Stewie that's okay!

It really does depend on the state, too, I'm sure.

I was thinking of you the other day...I kept thinking of "I AM CANADIAN" and giggling. I was cheated out of my "I AM AMERICAN" moment a few months back.

:o

I said something about all Americans not being insane creationists or something, and the poster replied that maybe I just hadn't met many Americans.

I was all set to swoop in with I AM AMERICAN but then someone got there first and told her that I had, in fact, never been out of the States. :o

Santorum's such an ass. There's not an icicle's chance in hell he'll be elected president. And even if he were there's even less of a chance that a state actually WOULD outlaw contraception. He can't just decide and then it's done; the President doesn't have that kind of power. Thank God. Ugh.

Actually all of the Republican "candidates" are mad as lipstick on a chicken. Which is good for Obama. :)

The thing that pisses me off about the Duggar family, et al, is that they go on and on about it being "natural" to go sans birth control. But it's NOT natural because she stops nursing after 6 months for the purpose of having more kids! If she kept on until they were 1 or so, she'd have about a third as many as she does now. Probably.

That is a depressing article, but whats even more depressing is how he has found his way so high up in the echelons of power that he is even considered a possibility, I really don't know a lot about US politics so excuse me. I can just imagine the outrage if a politician mentioned that here (in Ireland), then again abortion is illegal and there is no meaningful dialogue around constitutional change to allow for it.

PamBeesly How nice to "meet" another natural family planner! I don't use the pill either, but have been using a natural method for years now. Pills turned me into a moody, depressed person and I chose to stop using them and took it upon myself to become as informed as I possibly could about natural methods.

To go to the idea of the OP: yes, I do think that these industries cynically target women, because we are seen as a softer touch. We are the ones who must be responsible for contraception. We have so many parts to worry about regarding our reproductive health, we are the ones expected to worry about the health of our children. Women, it seems, are the best way to make a profit. Is this capitalism or misogyny? The impact is the latter, but I think the intent is simply to make money.

Women are targeted for birth control for two reasons:

1. they can stop it using a pill, not found for men yet, despite lots of research
2. Would you trust a man you are not in a long-term relationship with?

The pill was one of the greatest feminist inventions - discuss

alexpolismum I have great trust in my own ability to prevent a pregnancy, and plan one for that matter, and for me the Pill just wasn't an option. Also I have to say when discussing contraception with anyone they all think I'm really irresponsible and a bit mad. I was told before to get over my 'hippy leanings' and 'take care of myself properly' Imagine. Also I was told this method wasn't 'fair' on my husband...I told her contraception was both our responsibility.

youngermother1 the Pill has been a real 'lifesaver' for so many women I agree with you 100%. It has given them freedom of sexual expression denied to them by threat of unwanted pregnancy in a very male dominated world. However, it does not agree with all women and it is very often pressed upon women as the 'only' real solution, the pharmaceutical industry, as a whole, has far too much power and influence, the side effects and lack of sufficient clinical trials on various contraceptives 'sold' to us by the industry has really destroyed the lives of many women too, so on one hand yes of course it has been liberating for women, but on the other, the industry takes no responsibility for the real 'health' of women either...after all wouldn't the industry collapse if we were all healthy? There is great money to be made from sickness