PAGE 6

Ann Gibbon

“I didn't like the idea of tak- ing the Pill every day, so I thought I'd change to the IUD. One day, I started having pains in my stomach. All I could do was put one foot in front of the other, the pain was so severe. My stomach was like I was six months pregnant that's how much infection was in there.”’ ; -Carleton student who suffer- ed pelvic inflammatory dis- ease from wearing an IUD. After the birth control pill, the inter-uterine device (IUD) is considered the most effect- ive form of contraceptive. Ac- i Parent- lhood, it prevents pregnancy rom 90 to 98 percent of the’ ime. And it is popular. In 1980, one-half lion Cana- ian women were using it to revent pregnancy. But despite its popularity, e IUD is one of the most ontroversial methods of birth ontrol, causing serious side

ects and in some cases. eath.

It is not known how the IUD, a small device inserted into the woman’s uterus by her doctor, prevents pregnancy. Dr. Mary O’Brien Carle- ton’s Health Centre says it is believed the IUD, because it is a foreign body, causes inflam- mation of the uterine walls and prevents a fertilized egg from implanting itself there.

What is certain, however, is the IUD’s link to pelvic inflam- matory disease (PID), a gen- eral name for bacteria infec- tion in the uterine area. Al- though any sexually active wo- man (especially one with sev- eral partners) risks contacting PID, Women with IUD’s face a 60 percent higher risk than those who don’t.

According to Dianne Kinnon, : Executive Director of Planned Parenthood in Ottawa, ‘‘It’s a proven fact that wearers are more susceptible to bacteria.”’

Kinnon says the strings, or tails of the IUD (present to facilitate its removal) provide a perfect meduim for bacteria to grow in, then to travel up the vagina to the uterus.

Once the infection reaches the uterus it may spread to the ovaries, fallopian tubes and

THE OTHER PRESS

other pelvic structures.

If the woman is lucky and PID is detected early, antibiot- ics may get rid of infection. Other women are not so lucky -some have been so severely infected that they have requir- ed a hysterectomy, an opera- tion that removes the repro-. ductive organs and leaves the woman sterile.

Other women have died.

Women have not always been adequatedly informed of these risks. According to an investigative journalist who has done extensive research on the subject of IUD’s, ‘‘There’s an important body of information women haven’t been given.”

Ann Pappert, who spoke to a roup at an OPIRG Brown Ba Seminar Wednesday, broad- cast an episode of the show The Fifth Estate, which she produced. The show, based on her re-

search, said that in the name |

of pushing birth control, the risks of the IUD have been downplayed by doctors and population control organiza- tions. For example, in the 1930’s the IUD was consided- ered unsafe because of its bac-

teria-carrying tail, an n off the market. But following the population explosion of the 60’s, it was re-introduced-with tails, but without proper pre- testing.

Pappert says the Canadian: government is also negligent in informing Canadian women about the hazards of the IUD. For instance, the Dalkon shield was voluntarily with- drawn from the U.S. market after it was implicated in 17 deaths six years ago.

But the Ministry of Health and Welfare only recently ad- vised Canadian women against using it. pepo says the issue is not whether the IUD should be ee from the Canadian market. ‘‘I’m not trying to sa the IUD is axial tani en gerous and should not exist.

. What I’m trying to say is there

are an awful lot of problems that most women who get an IUD do not know about-are not told about.’’

A person has the right to have all health risks explained to them,’’ agreed Kinnon of Planned Parenthood.

This means the doctor should

‘inform the woman about not

WOMEN'S PAGE

IUD’s: The Inside Story

‘and was told by her

only the chance of contracting PID, but also of the possibility of expelling the device and risking pregnancy, of exper- iencing pain during inter- course, or of having an ectopic (other than uterine) preg- nancy.

As well, women should know that perforation of the uterus has resulted from improper insertion of the IUD, Kinnon says.

Dr. Ian Tummon, an Ottawa gynecologist, says women should also be aware of the warning signals of PID, such as heavy cramping, increased menstrual bleeding, bleeding between periods and fever. '

Some doctors, however, do not always listen to their patients. Pappert says while conducting her research she talked to many women who reported PID symtoms, but were told by their physicians that pain was to be expected when wearing IUDs.

Pappert told of one woman, who reported her symptoms octor, “‘Stop bothering me. Your’re just a hysterical female.’’

“That woman is now ster- ile,’’ Pappert said.

Editor: Why is it that so many stories I read in The Other Press trail

Mr. Hall:

off mid-sentence and just sort We don't know what you

of leave you wanting to know Neal Hall, The Vancouver Sun

The Editor.

Reprinted with permission of the Ubyssey--

According to UBC board of governors member David McLean, president-elect George Pedersen needs a house refurbished with $500,000 that the university couldn’t put to better use in order to establish better links with the community and stu- dents.

If McLean and the board are really concerned about a bet- ter link between UBC and the real world I have a much more effective proposal.

I suggest UBC simply pur- chase George a large Winne- bago motor home and have

- him live in several campus loc-

ations throughout the year. In the summer and on various weekends he and his family could drive it around the pro- vince.

What finer way could there be to establish better links than by having our president ‘camped out in B lot,the faculty club parking lot or~ even MacMillan Bloedels’ execu- tive car park? And as well saving literally hundreds of thousands of dollars, which

could go into student job pro- grams, bursaries, lab equip- ment, etc. The board could turn over the vacant presi- dential palace for emergency student housing.

The UBC flag would be flown all across the province as the president visited Spuzzum and other localities, explaining that UBC really isn’t an elitist institution that wastes great sums of money on needless frills in times of economic hardship.

Instead of being kicked around for the umpteenth time in the press, UBC could. be proud of its ingenuity and sound financial management for a change.

Since McLean also suggested: that students help pay for the: costs of Pedersen’s new accommodations I’m willing to. donate generously. If the board will cancel their current plans and put George in the Winnebago driver’s seat in- stead, I'll gladly buy the first,

of gas. And I won’t even stay for tea. Bill Tieleman graduate student political science

(OTHER LETTERS )—

Would Another Paper be Better

I am not an Other Presser, but I am quite close with one who’s on the staff. This how- ever does not influence my views on the paper in any way.

Ihave been down at a ‘‘prod-.

duction’ and seen the ‘‘Other Pressers”’ in action, and I feel they’re really doing their best in putting out the best paper possible.(Remember The Oth- er Press is a college paper,and

lhe, ‘E. that

they are students, just like you.) I have seen one in part- icular, who is trying his damn- edest to inform the students (admittedly mostly about what he feels is important) but he is still trying to relay information to the best of his ability.

I was there one night with him and to my amazement he was actually working, (putting his heart and soul into it). I

UP

genda items and

think that most of you (like I . once did) don’t really realize how much time and effort

these people are putting forth

to produce a reasonably good

paper for you! ;

Do you really think that if you got rid of the staff or the paper in general, that the one replac- ing it would be any better? Signed a converted reader Andrea Graf

i

motions for the Other Publications Society Annual

General Meeting (on March 31

1983 12:00 pm till

2:00 pm in the lower Cafeteria) MUST be officially placed on the agenda, in writing, one week prior to

the AGM by 4:00 pm March21

. This is to allow for

the Society to prepare properly for the AGM and to allow sufficient time for all items to be discussed during the meeting. You MUST be a voting member. of the Society in order to place items on the agenda and to vote at the AGM. To be a voting member you have to sign the Society’s book available in the Other Press room 2305 during business hours. According to our constitution, Student Society Executive and non- students of Douglas College (not deemed honorary members), cannot be members of the Other Public-

ations Society.

ee ee Tee. ee eee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee

‘MARCH 16, 1983