Book chat! For Summer(ish)! Non Fiction Book by Holly Grigg -Spall: Sweetening the Pill

[BillnTedsMostFeministAdventure]

Hello

Some folks in the pub have read this already and some want to read it, me included. So I've started this thread in hopes of a meandering discussion.

As it's non-fiction, no need to worry about spoilers, so those who've read it, dive in; those reading it, comment as you go along!

Let's see how it goes!

Yeah, probably should have said in the OP - the pill in question is the Pill!

Thanks for starting this. I'm about half way through so will gather some thoughts of things which struck me.

Thanks for starting this, I will now have the impetus needed for actually reading the book!

Have just started it and already had an "aha" moment from the prologue - "prescribing the pill..has become the 'standard of care' for being a girl"

Is the pill prescribed for acne in the uk or is that a us thing?

It certainly used to be. A friend on mine at university took Dianette for her acne.

One thing I've found interesting is the idea that the Pill flattens out your moods and that the control of menstrual cycles makes us more 'male'. Also struck me with the comment that fertile women are being treated for an 'illness' and that the original feeling was that no-one would consent to taking daily medication if they weren't ill.

"Through history we've always blamed women for getting pregnant even though it's men that are fertile every single day."

Yy to this.

I'm interested in her assertion that emergency contraception once or twice a year is better for you than the Pill every day. I was brought up believing that the MAP was a pretty awful experience and to be avoided, but I've never used it.

I haven't got the book yet, but I have twice used the MAP and for me, it was awful.

I have finished it.

I struggle with her assertion that part of the function of the Pill is to make women like men by flattening put the variations in their menstrual cycle.

But it has made me think about the logic of medicating myself for 20 years for little or no benefit compared to condoms. We are always hearing about men who don't like condoms and, whilst they are given short shrift if they try to get out of wearing them, I think there is still some residual sympathy there. On the flip side, there's no "gratitude" to women for taking the Pill to give the men their "full sensitivity".

I was interested that she said that in Japan, where condoms are more common as contraception, condoms seem to be better designed.

Can I join in? Serial lurker here!

I'm about half-way through. I'm particularly interested right now as I have just come off the pill after 14 years on hormonal contraceptives. It really rings true for me that I don't really know who I am without it. I guess I'm about to find out! Which is slightly scary.

We have just started TTC and reading that the Pill can affect your fertility after coming off it (is this common knowledge? I didn't know about it) has also made me question why I didn't stop using it earlier and use condoms instead. I think there is a feeling that once you have settled down with a partner (and have got tested etc) then you ought to use a hormonal contraceptive instead of condoms.

Hi Violet

It took me 3/4months after coming off the pill to fall PG - i think there is some residual hormones in your body for a bit.

It's an interesting contrast to the "aargh, you must double up on contraception if you are 12 hours late taking it or are sick etc" though. The two positions are logically inconsistent.

I've finished it too and it has brought up some interesting issues for me in how biology affects what it is to be a woman. I'm struggling to articulate it all in my head but will come back when I'm more coherent.

Bumping to see if anyone else wants to discuss!