A Wider Look at Kirsten Moore's "Why We Need Contraception Innovation"

The Huffington Post's Kirsten Moore argues that people ought to be as passionate about contraception as they are their iPhones. In one brilliant line, she writes, "As a reproductive health advocate, I can't help but wonder: What if we were as devoted, critical and insistent when it comes to contraceptive technologies as we are when it comes to cell phones?" The crowning glory of her positions is, however: "OK, maybe birth control isn't as sexy as a smart phone, but shouldn't it be? Actually, shouldn't it be sexier?"

She's right. While an astounding 93% of iPhone owners are satisfied with their cell phone, only 57% of women are satisfied with their pill regimen.

This idea is mind-boggling to me. The other day, I had a heated discusssion with a dear friend about a similar topic: she feels passionately that the combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP)'s side effects outweigh its benefits, while I feel that the pill remains a highly-effective method of family planning on the part of women. In truth, we're both right: COCPs have a tragically-long laundry list of potential side effects, and yet they are great at preventing pregnancy. Now, far be it from me to tell my friend that she ought to begin a pill regimen - after all, I believe that men do not deserve the ability to dictate what women should do with their bodies - but I was particularly surprised when my friend stated that one of her objections to the pill is its requirement that she take a pill daily and regularly.

Yes, that's right - she told me that taking one pill at the same time each day was just too damn hard! I couldn't believe it. If one cannot trust another to care enough about their reproductive health to take one single pill each day, how can one trust them to do much else? For instance, if a cisgender man chooses not to have his gonorrhea treated by a medical professional, how can his partner trust him to have their health and wellness in mind? And also, how could my friend forget what a huge, historic lifestyle change COCPs have been for women?

I think modern women are forgetting what a radical, incredible change the invention of the pill was. There's a reason why we call it The Pill - it's the biggie that changed everything! I know why women are undereducated about the significance and importance of the pill: abstience-only sex education proponents pressure the American government to spend $50 million annually towards abstience-only sex education through Title V. That money corners states into adopting AOSE programs, meaning that young women never learn the history of the pill. And how can a person know what they have never been taught?

Moore's article continues with examples of consumer complaints and desires regarding their COCPs. Among her examples are male oral contraception, green birth control, and "multipurpose prevention technologies." What are multipurpose prevention technologies? Multipurpose prevention technologies are innovations that simultaneously prevent pregnancy and STIs. Writes she, "Remember when we had digital cameras, phones and MP3 players crowding our purses? Now we have one multipurpose device that does it all -- and fits neatly into the pocket of those skinny jeans. Why not ask for the same from birth control? Multipurpose prevention technologies would do just that: combining pregnancy prevention with STI or HIV prevention. Like a condom, these innovations would do 'double duty' and may come in [many forms]...." Well, guess what, Kirsten Moore? We already have those, and they're called condoms!

Her thoughts about multipurpose prevention technologies in relation to women's dissatisifaction with their pill reigmens is where her argument becomes a little, well, silly, for the truth is that condoms will always be a preferable method of unintended pregnancy prevention because they, unlike hormonal methods of contraception, also protect against sexually-transmitted infections like syphilis and HIV. While there are many ways of managing an unintended pregnancy - abortion, adoption, and raising the resulting child among them - modern medicine is greatly lacking in the ability to cure the most detrimental STIs. Strangely, Moore doesn't touch on this subject. Perhaps she imagines that her audience is made entirely of monogamous opposite-sex couples who tested STI-negative prior to their sexual relationship together and thus the worry of infection or disease is not present, but as a single gay man who reads her works, I prove that her audience isn't that specific.

Moore's argument that people ought to be more invested in their family planning than they are in their possessions made by Apple isn't wrong, it's simply myopic. Instead of focusing on how women are unhappy when they have to take a single pill each day, we should focus on how proper condom use bypasses said problem by making it possible for women to forgo hormonal birth control if they so choose and has the more-than-nifty added bonus of keeping them safe from STIs.

Ask Sexpertesse: Can I Get an STI from Masturbating?

Dear Sexpertesse,

I'm an eighteen-year-old girl who has never had sex. I started masturbating four years ago, but last week I have had swelling in my vagina. Can you get an STI from mastrubating on your own? I'm scared to go to the doctor because I don't want my mom to know I have been doing this. Please respond.

Dear reader,

Masturbation is a normal and healthy sex practice, and fortunately, it is virtually impossible to acquire a sexually-transmitted infection (STI) from solo masturbating. In order to give yourself an infection, you would already have to be infected and then pass that infection onto your non-infected self. Fortunately, that scenario is a paradox, so it's not possible. (What a load off  your shoulders, right?!)

It is possible, though, for a person with an active herpes infection on their hands, foot, or mouth to infect their genitals while masturbating. This phenomenon is fairly rare for a number of reasons, among them, people often are aware of and have treated a wart on their hand, few people can autofellate themselves, etc. However, Reader, this kind of infection manifests as warts, small, raised bumps, on the genitals, and not as swelling, so this case does not apply to you.

Your swelling may be due to a number of factors. Firstly, did you know that the vulva and vagina engorge with blood during sex, giving them a swollen red look and feel? It's possible that you simply didn't notice this natural element of your physiology in the last four years. Secondly, have you recently been masturbating with greater intensity, greater frequency, or have you been forgoing lubrication? If so, give your genitals a few days to rest, and then resume masturbating normally, this time with added lubrication. If your masturbation practices have not changed and the swelling feels unnatural, however, it is time to visit a medical professional, preferrably an gynaecologist, a specialist in female sexual anatomy and health.

You will most likely need to speak to your parent(s) in order to afford to see a doctor. This blog maintains that honest, forthcoming dialogue - even about "tough topics" - is the fastest and most reliable way to greater health, knowledge, and intimacy, so I believe that you should tell your parent(s) about your needs as openly as you can.

However, is speaking to your parent(s) about this topic is completely impossible, you could try two other avenues. First, you could ask your parent(s) to make you an appointment with a gynaecologist, citing that many healthcare professionals suggest that women eighteen-years-old and older should have yearly pelvic exams. If that doesn't work, you should make an appointment with a low-cost healthcare provider in your community; I recommend Planned Parenthood. You can find a Planned Parenthood in your community by clicking here.

Though talking candidly about our sexual concerns, needs, and desires can be scary, it shouldn't be. However, if you are truly in a situation wherein it is impossible to express these feelings, it is important that you visit a healthcare provider that can evaluate your health concerns. Good luck.