Comments on: Menstrual Magic http://www.bellytales.com/2006/01/09/menstrual-magic/ The Diary of a New Midwife Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:41:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Jaws http://www.bellytales.com/2006/01/09/menstrual-magic/comment-page-1/#comment-244 Jaws Thu, 09 Feb 2006 02:33:59 +0000 http://www.studentmidwife.org/2006/01/09/menstrual-magic/#comment-244 How wonderful that something so mundane hides such complexities! And if the menstrual cycle is anything like the rest of a woman's body, modern medicine has only scratched the surface of knowledge about it at this point. Fantastic! That bit about the catholic man and the pill's week off <i>was</i> fascinating. It puts a whole new perspective on the issue. But I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you, Student, about EC getting OTC approval from the FDA anytime soon (yes! three acronyms in one sentence!) Then again, that's what I love about you, you're such an optimist! How wonderful that something so mundane hides such complexities! And if the menstrual cycle is anything like the rest of a woman’s body, modern medicine has only scratched the surface of knowledge about it at this point. Fantastic!
That bit about the catholic man and the pill’s week off was fascinating. It puts a whole new perspective on the issue. But I wouldn’t get my hopes up if I were you, Student, about EC getting OTC approval from the FDA anytime soon (yes! three acronyms in one sentence!) Then again, that’s what I love about you, you’re such an optimist!

]]> By: miriamjoyce http://www.bellytales.com/2006/01/09/menstrual-magic/comment-page-1/#comment-101 miriamjoyce Fri, 13 Jan 2006 18:46:55 +0000 http://www.studentmidwife.org/2006/01/09/menstrual-magic/#comment-101 Ahh, menstrual politics. How I have missed thee! I didn't know that bit about the Catholic inspiration behind the week off on the pill. Ick. However, there could be a different reason to hang on to the off week. Margie Profet, a biologist and MacArthur genius grant recipient, thinks that the menstrual flow has a reason beyond baby-prep. (After all, other mammals don't have it, or bleed a little when they are fertile.) Her theory is that it's protective--it sweeps dangerous bacteria (usually brought in by sex/sperm) out of the womb. More on her: http://www.people.virginia.edu/~rjh9u/profet2.html She also has some pretty radical ideas on morning sickness. I don't know what I think of those, but I read her original menstruation paper in college and it made a lot of sense. Of course the feminist in me, especially then when I was a long way from childbirth, liked having a reason for menstruation that didn't imply it was a "failed" pregnancy and women should always be pregnant. I suppose I still do. Ahh, menstrual politics. How I have missed thee!

I didn’t know that bit about the Catholic inspiration behind the week off on the pill. Ick.

However, there could be a different reason to hang on to the off week. Margie Profet, a biologist and MacArthur genius grant recipient, thinks that the menstrual flow has a reason beyond baby-prep. (After all, other mammals don’t have it, or bleed a little when they are fertile.) Her theory is that it’s protective–it sweeps dangerous bacteria (usually brought in by sex/sperm) out of the womb.

More on her: http://www.people.virginia.edu/~rjh9u/profet2.html

She also has some pretty radical ideas on morning sickness. I don’t know what I think of those, but I read her original menstruation paper in college and it made a lot of sense. Of course the feminist in me, especially then when I was a long way from childbirth, liked having a reason for menstruation that didn’t imply it was a “failed” pregnancy and women should always be pregnant. I suppose I still do.

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