WASH Zine @ Bluestockings NYC!

WASH is proud to announce that you can now pick up the first copy of our zine ($2) at Bluestockings in New York City! This issue talks about hormonal birth control and things you should know about it such as different methods, dosages, side effects, ingredients, and alternative methods. So tell all your Manhattan or Brooklyn bound friends!

Bluestockings is a book store, fair trade cafe, and activist center in lower Manhattan. They host tons of readings, performances, film screenings, and workshops. If you're ever in Manhattan this place is a must to check out!

And of course, if you're in Toronto, our zine is still available at the Toronto Women's Bookstore.

ZINE ISSUE #1 AVAILABLE NOW!

WASH is really pleased to present issue #1 of its brand new zine!! Issue number one tackles, Hormonal Birth Control, an important topic that people do not know enough about! This issue tackles hormonal birth control myths and misconceptions, and begins to dissect what it is, how it works, and how it affects women's bodies. In conjunction with the zine there is another book that goes into more detail about each individual method and its medical and non medical (active and inactive) ingredients and what you should know about them. There are a limited amount of handmade, handbound, silkscreened copies for sale for $10. There are also photocopied copies available for anyone who is interested. We will accept pwyc donations for them but no one will be refused one for lack of funds. If you would like either copy, please get in contact with us and we will send you one!

Starting June 19th copies will also be available for purchase at Toronto's, Heartbeat 960 (960 Queen St West) and for reading at the Toronto Zine Library located at Brunswick and Bloor! The Sheridan Zine Library as well as the Zine Library at the Ontario College of Art & Design will also be carrying copies shortly. We will be working on getting the zine into more and more locations so we will keep you updated. If you have a distro, store or space that would like to carry our zine, please get in contact with us!

And finally, WASH now has miniature hand knit uterus pins (currently in pink or multicoloured)! They are cute and only four dollars. Want to support the cause? You can donate and get one in return!

The purpose of our zine is not to dictate but to educate and inform those interested, unsure or curious. Learning is fun!

Please email us with any interest or feedback!

-Evy

:-( Economy = More Vasectomies?

Here's an article from the New York Times online which has made a connection between the economic crisis and the rise in men seeking vasectomies.

Here's a discussion on the article from femininisting.com

Whether or not there is a connection between the economy and vasectomies, some individuals on feministing.com seem pleased to see a form of gender parity occurring in the realm of birth control. Let's hope that this trend continues!

- Alice

Herbal abortions

I'm not sure how effective these methods may be but anyone who's interested can check out this website which contains suggestions for herbal abortion methods. The site can be kind of confusing to navigate through but there is some interesting information in there if you're willing to search for it.

Warning: use herbal abortion methods at your own risk.

- Alice

NEW: Artist of the Month - Colleen Wolstenholme

As an aspiring artist with a strong interest in feminist theory, gender politics, and women's health I am constantly on the prow for past and practicing artists whose work addresses these particular issues.
Feminism and Women's issues are dominant themes in today's contemporary art world. There are female and male artists all over the world working in every medium imaginable who are focusing their work on these topics. So, on behalf of WASH, we are bringing you a new artist profile every month, particularly ones with a strong focus in issues effecting women and women's health!


Colleen Wolstenholme is an internationally exhibiting artist from Nova Scotia whose work focuses on the effect that gender construction and media representation have on women and women's bodies. Working in sculpture, installation, photography and textile, Wolstenholme's work often takes on the look of stereotypical feminine objects, which when looked at closely are made up of composed consumerist products that are constantly marketed to women. In, Pills, large pill sculptures span over the floor expressing the over prescription and marketing of pharmaceuticals. In Birth Control/Viagra Rosary, a rosary of different birth control pills addresses the over medicalization of women's bodies,and how women's roles are perceived within certain fundamentalist cultures, whichever they may be.
Wolstenholme's work has engaged viewers for over a decade with its sheer size and detail, as well as its important and relevant content.
For more of her work and information, check out her website.

-Evy

5 Myths About Sex

1. A woman cannot get pregnant when she's menstruating.
- Everyone's menstrual cycle is different and not completely stable. It is true that ovulation tends to occur before one's period; however, ovulation can periodically occur during or shortly after menstruation. Moreover, sperm can live in the vagina between 5 and 7 days.

The final verdict: pregnancy is extremely unlikely but always a possibility.

2. Withdrawal (pulling-out) is a safe method of contraception.
- This method is only about 19% effective, in comparison to using condoms which is about 99% effective. According to www.sexualityu.ca, pre-ejaculatory fluids from the penis can contain thousands of sperm. A friend of mine swears by this method because he hasn't gotten his long-term partner pregnant yet. But there could be other reasons why pregnancy has never occurred (ie: fertility, endometriosis, no sex during/near ovulation etc.)

The final verdict: Why take the risk when you could be covered up to 99% sans hormonal birth control? But if this has worked for you without any problems, power to you lol. Please not that this method also does not protect individuals against STIs & HIV.

3. Only people who sleep around get STIs or HIV.
- First of all, the assumption is that monogamous relationships are safe relationships. This is not true. There are people who are married for years and then suddenly contract HIV. I'm not saying that you shouldn't trust your partner, but that you shouldn't be under the impression that you are ever 100% safe.

- Secondly, I can't excuse the underlying value judgment inherent in this statement. I'm referring to the idea that "sleeping around" is somehow dangerous or bad (and skanky or slutty for women). Sometimes sex is just...well, sex. If you're uncomfortable having more than one sexual partner at a time then that's right for you, but that's not right for everyone.

The final verdict: if you have a sexual partner(s) you are always at risk of contracting something.

4. Hormonal birth control ensures the safety of your sex.
- Although these are very effect methods of contraception (anti-pregnancy), hormonal birth controls do not protect individuals from STIs & HIV.

The final verdict: protect yourself!!!

5. Oral sex isn't "Real" sex so I won't get an infection or disease.
- Firstly, there is yet another value judgment inherent in this statement. That "Real" sex is only that which occurs during heterosexual penis in vagina penetration. This devalues any sexual relationships which are not heterosexual, and any sex that falls outside this definition.

- Secondly, there are different risks for different sex methods and individuals. Here's an STD chart that we posted last month which outlines what to expect when engaging in sex. The risks involved in giving or receiving oral sex for women include herpes and possibly genital warts. This risks involved for giving or receiving for men include chlamydia, gonorrhea, hep a, herpes, genital warts, shigella, syphilis, hep b, hiv, and possibily hep c.

The final verdict: Sex is not limited to heterosexual intercourse. Masturbation, oral stimulation, anal sex, hand stimulation etc. etc. etc. are all sex! All sex (even masturbation if you have warts on your hands) can cause infection.

- Alice

How to put on a condom

Here's a really straight forward tutorial on how a condom should be used on a penis/toy etc.

Remember, it can also be placed over fingers to prevent STI's through skin contact (ie: warts on hands can mean warts on genitals). A condom can also be cut length ways and placed over a vulva or anus for oral stimulation! :)

- Alice

Contraceptives for men!

Here's a great site on methods of contraception for men.

The mission statement on the homepage says it all: "We believe that men can, and should, have access to contraceptive options beyond condoms and vasectomies."

I think that this site presents this issue very well. It discusses and disproves common beliefs about men, that they're irresponsible and/or uninterested in contraception/family planning. This myth has been used as an excuse for pharmaceutical companies in North America to not invest in research for effective male contraceptives. Heterosexuality definitely plays a role in how men are supposed to feel about sex... But I'm betting that there are a lot of men who would be interested in effective contraceptive methods that they can use. I'm not sure how effective these methods are, but it's great to know that there are options out there!

- Vivian

NOTE: The methods described on this website are not readily available. In fact, the only way to get your hands on them is by participating in clinical trials (for the time being). What's important, however, is the fact that several of the methods mentioned are in the stages of testing and will likely be available to the public once proven safe and effective.

The Pill

Here's an informative site about the different types of hormonal contraceptive pills.

- Vivian

Happy Period Control!

This is a funny clip about how the birth control pill is never marketed for sex/contraception, but as period control. Check it out lol.

Happy Period Control!!!

- Alice

Pharmacists above the law?

Here's an interesting video Friday Feminist Fuck you: Anti-choice Pharmacists.

We're not trying to endorse hormonal birth control use, but we do believe that individuals are entitled to certain rights under the law and should be allowed to take advantage of them when needed! Our purpose is to help people to make informed decisions about sexual and reproductive health.

- Alice

Depo Provera

At 16 I was paranoid as shit about pregnancy...so much so that condoms alone just didn't cut. So off I went to my family doctor to try to get some alternatives/options. The first one she gave me was Depo Provera and it seemed like a pretty sweet deal to my relatively uninformed 16 year old self. I mean, just one little needle every 3 months and that was that! My insurance covered it so each injection cost me less than $5. I must say, I felt a little sketched out when my doctor told me I'd probably stop getting my period but if no periods meant no babies I figured "Okay let's do this!!!". And I did. And dear god, I really wish she'd warned me about the side effects. Perhaps it was the fact that I was 16, but I simply was not aware that hormonal birth control = headaches, depression, total loss of sex drive and severe lethargy. Seriously, it was weird how much my entire system was affected. I had the shots a few more times after that, until I finally realized, DUH. The wonderous Depo Provera = why I've felt like I've spent the past half-year practically comatose. So I quit it and it was unbelievable how much better I felt about everything within just a few (3? 4?) months. I later found out that Depo Provera's side effects stretch far beyond what I experienced and may include things from hairloss to "abnormal skin spots" to bone mineral loss. Who wants that, really?

So, obviously Depo (and hormonal birth control in general) just wasn't for me. I suppose the moral of the story isn't so much "Stay away! It's evil!" but more so "Make sure you're well informed about everything to do with the BC of your choice. Ask questions! Use Google! Be prepared!".

- Vivian

Who will fill birth control pill prescriptions?

This post on feministing.com is about pharmacists in the the US who have refused to fill birth control pill prescriptions on the basis of personal objections. I'm not trying to push contraceptive pill use, but the thought that someone could refuse to supply those few* who have access to "the pill" and wish to use it is unsettling.

*referring to those who live in large cities and "rich" nations.

- Alice