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FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

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Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#251

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a lot of horrid comments in this thread ("Just have lots of kids!" and "Great, now people can live their addictions without worry"). It's a mix of ignorance, intolerance, misogyny and with a topping of "total lack of empathy". I'm a bit mollified by the number of people responding to all of the horrid comments.

Also, a lot of people don't realize that oral contraceptives offer benefits beyond literal contraception. I've been on the pill since I was a teen because it's the only thing that keeps wicked endometriosis symptoms at bay (and coincidentally have had the best luck on a progestin-only pill similar to the one that just got approved). And this is despite being in a monogamous relationship with a cis woman for the past…

My first wife had to deal with "slut shaming" in her teens for being "on the pill" for exactly the same reason.

> And this is despite being in a monogamous relationship with a cis woman for the past five years—zero pregnancy risk there :P

Ha! I can't believe this is the first time this scenario occurred to me!

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#252

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is 3 hours of minimum wage work to get a rubber stamp to get it. Interesting.

Likely much more if you consider the actual cost of the medication.

Last time i had to pay out of pocket (because insurance won't cover more than 3 months at a time and I was going out of the country for 6) my GENERIC BC was 89.99 per month. The brand name is something like $189. I can't take cheaper forms because they have negative interactions with my brain chemistry that make me suicidal. BC is offensively expensive and needlessly difficult to obtain.

As an aside, the amount of patronizing in these comments along the lines of "but these women will clearly take the medicine wrong or fail to understand the consequences of their actions if we don't have them speak to a doctor first!" is just... really telling.

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#253

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tylenol/paracetamol/acetaminophen also barely works. It increases the effectiveness of an aspirin and caffeine combo to relieve headaches (but not migraines). It’s generally ineffective against chronic pain, back pain, and severe pain. It’s a weak fever reducer. It’s one of the most popular medications in the world and its use isn’t especially supported by science. To the point of this thread, don’t mistake official…

Could you give me some sources on acetaminophen effectiveness? I’m really interested in this.

This article links to a bunch of studies: https://theconversation.com/whats-the-point-of-paracetamol-6...

Here’s an NIH meta analysis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33786837/

There are lots of studies out there, throw whatever symptom + acetaminophen effectiveness into Google for more. Just make sure that if a study is making a big deal about stat sig to check the actual treatment effect.

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#254

Earlier quoted context omitted.

None yet, but you have to have your head buried in the sand to think that at least a few won't make it illegal in the next decade.

Is this not a slippery slope fallacy?

No - historically the Comstock laws in the US banned distribution of contraceptives and contraception information and abortifacients and information on abortion. This is something that the US has done in the past and has support among many of the current day anti-abortion crowd.

It's not a slippery slope fallacy if you've already climbed the hill and someone greases it behind you. People said similar things about Roe v. Wade before the Supreme Court recently overturned it.

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#255

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Women can wear condoms and/or get Tubal ligation. And yet Men have 100% liability the moment it leaves our body, potentially including in cases of paternity fraud.

[flagged]

> If men do not want kids, it is easy for them not to.

Weird to see the "your CHOICE was when you CHOSE to have sex!" anti-abortion argument re-purposed in this way, but, OK.

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#256
post #211

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's often funny to me how there will be such a massive gnashing of teeth about whether or not something is prescription or OTC available to women, when Men essentially have no contraceptive choice and have 100% liability the moment it leaves our body, potentially including in cases of paternity fraud. It'd be like if we told women they had to have the baby the moment their egg accepts a sperm, regardless of the reas…

Men can wear condoms and/or get a vasectomy.

Or just stop showering /s

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#258

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doctors (the ones writing the prescriptions) aren't involved in this process at all.

The AMA is absolutely involved in the medical regulation arena. What are you talking about?

AMA != Most prescribing doctors. Best estimates are only ~20% of doctors are even members of the AMA, with some as low as 15:

https://www.physiciansweekly.com/is-the-ama-really-the-voice...

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#259

Writing this entire message without using the word "woman" once is just amazing. As someone living outside the US, I can't understand this mindset.

Not sure why tho? A) It's not just women who take these contraceptives, and B) "Consumers" is no less accurate of a description

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#260
post #58
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> but there may be risks, especially if folks don't take the medicine correctly. This describes every over-the-counter drug that has ever been sold. Keeping contraception prescription-only has always been about politics.

The FDA regulates both risks and efficacy. The efficacy of hormonal birth control plummets if not taken consistently, which for progestin-only pills (like this) includes the same time of day[0]. Talking to a doctor ensures that people really understand this. The downside of forgetting to take more advil in time is short-term pain. The downside of not understanding that your birth control isn't working is a child. As…

I'm not sure the point you're making here.

The potential danger of forgetting to use a condom or misusing one (like a condom that's too old) is also a child. Condoms are currently sold in truck stop bathrooms.

I really see no distinction between a condom and a birth control pill. Even with misuse, making the pill more widely available will almost certainly be a social good. It will prevent more unwanted children.

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