I’ve been spending a lot of time lately doing word puzzles in a clear attempt to avoid reading more news and analysis about the future of reproductive rights in this country. (It’s still too depressing.) I do the New York Times’ Spelling Bee while I drink my early morning cup of coffee and usually wordle, quordle, and even waffle (yes, these are now verbs) before taking the kids to school. On Monday, I got the wordle in three: CRANE, SHINE, SHONE, but it turns out SHONE wasn’t the original word of the day. Apparently the word for May 9th was supposed to be FETUS but in light of the national discussion about the pre-born in the last week, the puzzle editors at the NYT (which recently bought wordle from its inventor for a low 7- figures price) thought better of it. They switched the word at the last minute which meant that some players (those who somehow managed not to refresh their browser or app) got FETUS but most did not. I suppose both those on the left and the right could have felt that the Times was trolling them with that word. I’ve never really been able to understand where the editors draw their lines. Labia and labial frequently appear in the Spelling Bee, for instance, as does boob, vulva, vulvar, and dildo. We don’t know whether penis or clitoris would be accepted because the puzzle never includes an “s.” I can tell you, however, that clit is not on the word list. I’ve tried. For those who want a puzzle that allows all kinds of words, may I suggest the Lewdle.
Demand for Emergency Contraception
& Emergency Contraception on Demand?
Since the Supreme Court’s likely decision on abortion leaked last week, many people have been talking about emergency contraception and the importance of having it on hand. Nurx—one company that offers birth control and other sexual health services online—said that they saw a 300% surge in requests for emergency contraception pills in the last week.
You’d be hard pressed to find a sex educator or reproductive rights advocate who doesn’t think this is a good idea.
To refresh, emergency contraceptive pills (ECP) are similar to birth control pills but are taken after unprotected sex (be it a few forgotten pills, a condom left in the night table drawer, a missed Depo shot, or a nonconsensual experience). They cannot cause an abortion in someone who is already pregnant, and research has found that they don’t work to prevent implantation of a fertilized egg. Instead, they work by preventing ovulation and thickening cervical mucus to keep sperm out. ECPs are available over the counter under names like Plan B: One Step, Ella, My Choice, Morning After, and Aftera.
Interestingly, a study that came out recently provides very preliminary evidence that pills like this could work if taken right before sex as well.
Researchers at Stanford University conducted a small clinical trial to see if combining two types of drugs known to inhibit ovulation—ulipristal acetate (UA) and COX-2 inhibitors—could create oral birth control on demand by suppressing ovulation during the most fertile days. They followed nine participants for one menstrual cycle to get baseline data. This included using ultrasounds to observe the ovaries/follicles and measuring luteinizing hormone levels to pinpoint the luteal surge.
During the next cycle—considered the treatment cycle—participants were given one dose of UA and Meloxicam, a COX-2 inhibitor, just prior to ovulation. The goal was to disrupt ovulation, which researchers defined as the dominant follicle remaining unruptured for 5 days (meaning the egg stayed in the ovary for that long). They also compared cycle length, the thickness of the endometrial lining, and side effects.
Ovulation was disrupted in all but one of the women. Treatment cycles were slightly longer in most participants, but there were no other changes. The researchers believe this is exciting news because the drug combination worked even at the peak of the luteal surge, right before ovulation would have occurred. We already knew these drugs delayed ovulation at other times of the cycle. These results could mean the drug combination could work as pre-coital contraception at any point in the cycle.
Of course, there were only nine people in the study. We’re many research hours and subjects away from declaring this a new, on-demand birth control pill.
In the meantime, there are many existing birth control methods that prevent ovulation—the pill, the patch, the ring, the shot, or the implant. IUDs, Phexxi, and condoms are also important options for those who can’t use or don’t want hormones. Anyone at risk of an unprotected pregnancy should consider a regular and reliable method of birth control. It can’t hurt to stock up on ECPs as well.
Ancient Penises and Power Hoses
A few weeks ago, I recounted an incident at the local middle school in which someone drew a rather large penis and testicles on the side of the school in mud. My takeaway was that when given any palette and writing instrument, boys will inevitably draw a dick. While I was chastised for not taking the vandalism aspect of this event seriously enough, I have been proven correct by archeologists. Apparently, Hadrian’s Wall—a 73 mile defensive barrier constructed by Romans in what is now Northern England—includes a number of phallic drawings.
One of them dates back to 207 AD and looks remarkably similar to the graffiti that may now be permanently etched into our middle school (Rumor is that the fire department’s high-powered hose was a tad bit too high powered…) In fairness, the archeological discovery was made a few years ago but it was news to me and too funny not to share.
Wednesday Schadenfreude Update: Darbi Boddy Banned from School Property
Lakota (Ohio) School Board member Darbi Boddy—who made last Wednesday’s edition for accidentally posting a porn site to her Facebook page rather than the sex education/information site she was trying to lambast—is no longer allowed to set foot in any of the schools in the district without prior authorization.
Apparently, on two separate occasions Boddy went into schools buildings unannounced and refused to follow appropriate procedures for visitors, including notifying the principals in advance. Superintendent Matt Miller said in a statement that Boddy “walked the hallways, violating safety protocols and causing a disruption in learning.” Miller continued: “This is also not the first time that Mrs. Boddy has ignored board policy, nor is it the first time she has disrupted learning in our schools. Our decision was not made lightly and was done in consultation with law enforcement.”
After the latest incident on May 4th, fellow board members voted to censure Boddy and to ask for her resignation. Boddy, not surprisingly, refused. (If she held a slightly higher office, she’d definitely be invited to the Secret Society of Douchey GOP Governors.) Irony might not be the right word, but there’s something extra infuriating about a person who feels that sex education and critical race theory are threats to our children in school but sees no problem with an adult wandering the halls unannounced in an era marked by far too many school shootings. (If only she’d channel some of her outrage about school safety into preventing those...)