In which I spaz about Yaz.

Random thought related to the plight of womanhood: While watching mindless reality television last eve, I came across an ad for Yaz, a new birth control pill that also takes care the period’s pesky side symptoms, such as bloating, moodiness, acne, and fatigue. And, by the way, it’s one of those pills that can eliminate your period. All this, and it prevents pregnancy, too (I assume – the ad didn’t specify). At this point, I turn to my boyfriend, who’d be all-too-happy to have his woman on hormones (and who, in fact, wishes like hell I’d be compliant and just swallow the damn things) and say, “That seems like an irresponsible way to market the pill.”

“Why?” he demanded. We’ve often sparred over the safety of oral contraceptives. Me, I’ve read plenty of earth-mother literature about the pill’s potential harms. And besides, I’ve tried three different types of pills in my lifetime, and I just haven’t liked how fragile I’ve felt. I much prefer my body and mind in their natural, un-medicated states even though, yes, I am prone to fits of bitchiness and bloating. (Diagnosis: Woman!) In any case, I ended up telling boyfriend that when he finally puts himself on a daily regimen of hormones (I’ll be fantasizing about his lost libido in the meanwhile), then I, too, will be happy to do so. The end.

ADDENDUM: I hope and dream of the male birth control pill, which is currently in testing, curing such pesky side symptoms as anger, unrealistically high self-esteem, and horniness.