ANTH106 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Syphilis, Penicillin, Nazi Concentration Camps
2 Jun 2018
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Imagining American sexuality in debates over access to emergency contraceptive pills:
Lecture 12
New reproductive health technologies –
• Stem cell research, cloning, medical abortion, in vitro fertilization, preimplantation
genetic testing, erectile dysfunction drugs, emergency contraception etc.
• Often produce intense social debate – why?
• Not just about health; about life itself – when does life begin? What creates and ends
life?
• Not just about life; also about sex – sex and sexuality amongst most moralized areas
of private behaviour
• Plan B – 2003; hearings for whether emergency contraception should be handed over
the counter – in 2006, FDA ruled that plan B could be sold without a prescription to
anyone 18 and over
Preview of Lisa’s theory –
• Debate over EC in the US:
o Women’s bodies are a site of control where the politics of sexuality,
discourses on public health and medical constructions of biological processes
intersect
What is emergency contraception?
• EC: methods of contraception used after sex
• Reduce (but don’t eliminate) risk of pregnancy
• EC methods include pills and copper IUD
• ECPs: contain some hormones in ‘birth control pills’, but in higher doses
• Can be taken up to 5 days after sex
• In Australia, available from pharmacist
• Brands in Australia:
o Postinor 1, Postinor 2
o Levonelle-2
o NorLevo
• Increasing women going to uni then getting pregnant – 1960s; doctor prescribing
regular doses of the pill for emergency contraception
• There was not a dedicated product
• Had left over packages of the pill from drug companies for promotional use
• Plan B is more effective than praven, praven was the first in US tho
• Plan B was approved by the FDA
Mechanism of action –
• There are 3 theorised mechanisms of action for emergency contraception (i.e. ways
that the drug works in the body to prevent pregnancy):
o 1. By delaying ovulation
o 2. By blocking the transport of either sperm or egg
o 3. By preventing the implantation of a fertilized egg (zygote/blastocyst)
• The last mechanism of action is considered the least likely by scientists – yet, it is
also the most controversial
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
DIY emergency contraception in Aust:
• Can cut up a regular pack of birth control pills:
• Take 50 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex: Microlut, Microval
• Oral contraceptives used for EC/Progestin-Estrogen Combined
o Take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12
hours later: Nordiol
o Take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12
hours later: Levlen, Microgynon-30, Monofem, Nordette
o Take 5 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 5 more pils 12
hours later: Loette, Microgynon 20, Microlevlen
Dedicated ECPs:
• ‘Dedicated’ means drugs that are packaged and labeled for EC use (i.e. not do it
yourself cutting up pill packs in your bathroom)
• Some common ECPs worldwide:
o Norlevo
o Postinor
o Optinor
FDA hearing on Plan B –
• Arguments about why this drug should be available with prescription
• Structure of FDA hearing
o Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee
o Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs
o 4 voting consultants
o 6 non-voting FDA participants
• Final question: should plan B be switched to non-prescription status
Statement from ACOG:
• Vivian Dickerson, president of ACOG, the American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists
• Dickerson said: ‘The college rarely presents product-specific testimony. However,
we are delighted to have the opportunity to present today because we strongly believe
that Plan B meets the FDA criteria for over-the-counter status, and because there is a
public health imperative to increase access to emergency contraception
• Does not prevent implantation of fertilized egg
Open Public Hearing:
• FOR expanded EC access
o Planned Parenthood Federation of America
o National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association
o National Organisation of Women
• AGAINST expanded EC access
o Concerned women for America
o Catholic Medical Association
o American Life League
o Human Life International
• 41 individuals applied in advance to speak, each given 3 mins
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Imagining american sexuality in debates over access to emergency contraceptive pills: Preview of lisa"s theory : debate over ec in the us, women"s bodies are a site of control where the politics of sexuality, discourses on public health and medical constructions of biological processes intersect. In australia, available from pharmacist: postinor 1, postinor 2, levonelle-2, norlevo. Mechanism of action : there are 3 theorised mechanisms of action for emergency contraception (i. e. ways that the drug works in the body to prevent pregnancy), 1. By blocking the transport of either sperm or egg: 3. By preventing the implantation of a fertilized egg (zygote/blastocyst: the last mechanism of action is considered the least likely by scientists yet, it is also the most controversial. Dedicated" means drugs that are packaged and labeled for ec use (i. e. not do it yourself cutting up pill packs in your bathroom: some common ecps worldwide, norlevo, postinor, optinor.
