(no subject)

[losttheskyagain.livejournal.com]

I've been on the Aviane pill for about two years now. Suddenly my pharmacy gave me Lutera instead.

How different is Lutera from Aviane? Is the change gonna mess up my system and/or effectiveness? Is it going to bring about a whole new slew of side effects?

I'm worried/pissed.

Doctor preferences

[anthylorrel.livejournal.com]

Dear vagpag,

It was brought to my attention in a recent post, that it is weird that my primary doctor/internist won't deal with my reproductive problems (excessive menstrual bleeding) and that he'd rather refer me to a gynecologist instead. He is top notch in all other aspects, and knows what he is doing when it comes to prescribing the medications and treatments that I need for my PCOS, psoriasis, and my hidradenitis suppurativa ( had a female nurse in the room whenever he examined anything that was covered by my clothing), but he won't do anything that may involve examination of the vaginal areas. Is this really that strange? Granted, I didn't mind because I would prefer a female doctor examining me for a problem like that.

Eta: I gave edited my post because I didn't realize that I had offended people with my previous wording.

Links Round-up: Week ending August 7th

[also-warriors.livejournal.com]

We're trying out something new at VaginaPagina: a weekend links round-up of anything that caught our collective attention over the past week or so.

In lieu of trigger warnings, I use keywords. Please skim these before deciding to read the excerpt or click through for the full article. Outside sources are not safe spaces, and mainstream source's comments should almost always be avoided. The links I highlight don't necessarily reflect VP's views, or even my own, for that matter. 

If you'd like to see an article included, send it to me (in our ask box on Tumblr, on our Twitter, e-mail me at recidivist@vaginapagina.com, just get it to me!) and I'll include a link to your Tumblr/Twitter/LiveJournal if you'd like. Non-US links are especially appreciated.


HIV Epidemic Growing Fastest Among Black Gay and Bisexual Men at Colorlines (Keywords: US, HIV/AIDS, Black, gay, bisexual, queer, )

Young black gay and bisexual men are the only population in the U.S. in which the pace of HIV’s spread is increasing, according to a startling study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention yesterday. [...] Research shows that, despite being at such high risk, black gay and bisexual men aren’t doing anything more risky than their peers—no higher drug use, no higher rate of unprotected sex (in fact, gay and bisexual men of all races report higher rates of protected sex than their peers). But research also shows young back gay and bi men are the least likely to know their HIV status or believe themselves to be at risk.

Bonus link: Study: HIV attitudes vary along racial lines, Americans ill-informed in general at the American Independent


Gay man who survived Nazi concentration camp dies aged 98 at Pink News (via USER) (Keywords: Germany, gay, Holocaust)

A man who was sent to a Nazi concentration camp for being gay has died at the age of 98. Rudolf Brazda was said to be the last surviving person who had been interned by the regime for homosexuality and was known as ‘the last of the pink triangles’, in reference to the markers gay men were forced to wear.

Bonus video: Rudolf Brazda, last of the Pink Triangles, tells his story via vaginaupdates


Alaskans Offered Free At-home STD-testing kits via Indian Country Today (Keywords: US, STI testing, free, Native health)

Alaskans [and people living in Denver, CO; Maryland; West Virginia; Philadelphia, PA; Washington, D.C.; and select counties of Illinois] can now receive a home-test kit for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in an anonymous envelope—complete with instructions, a unique identification number and a prepaid return envelope—to send self-collected vaginal, penile or rectal swabs in specially sealed test tubes to the “I Want the Kit” (IWTK) lab at Johns Hopkins University.

Colombian women withhold sex for road improvements at Colombia Reports (Keywords: Colombia, sex strike, non-violent protest)

Dubbed the "strike of crossed legs," the women are withholding sex from their husbands to persuade them to pressure local authorities to properly maintain the main road out of their village which stretches some 35 miles before reaching the nearest town.

A Good Use for Tanks? at Feministe (Keywords: Lithuania, bikes, video with transcript)

According to Yahoo News, Arturas Zuokas, the mayor of Vilnius, Lithuania, promised to expand public transportation and bike use in the city. As part of that effort, he installed bike lanes, that many drivers insisted on using as parking lanes. So, as a warning, he filmed himself driving a tank over a car parked in a bike lane. It’s pretty amusing, and gratifying if you’ve ever been biking and had to avoid cars parked in the bike lane.

Another Transwoman Killed-This Time In Harlem at TransGriot (Keywords: US, trans*, violence)

"Camila's friends and the transgender community overall are not happy with her portrayal in the news. As transgender people, we feel alone and like we're invisible targets for violence," said Ruby Teresa Chavez, friend of Camila Guzman. "We deserve respect and increased advocacy around the prevention of anti-transgender violence."

Chilean Students Lock Lips for Love of Schools at Colorlines (Keywords: Chile, education, class, non-violent protest)

Tens of thousands of the nation's high school and college students have been demonstrating for two months against a higher education system that was largely privatized under General Pinochet and since left students in serious debt. ... [P]rotests are not limited to walkouts and marches and hunger strikes, though there have been plenty of those too. The New York Times reports that at any one time two to three protesters can be seen jogging outside the presidential palace. They're attempting to reach 1,800 laps to symbolize the $1.8 billion that they want the country to invest in the education system. They have dressed up as superheroes and choreographed dance routines. They've staged collective suicides, with lines of people collapsing into the streets at once.

Study: Nutritious Food Costs Thousands a Year, But Fat’s a Bargain at Colorlines (Keywords: US, health, fat, food, class)

USDA guidelines for a healthy diet introduced earlier this year call on Americans to consume more potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin D, and calcium, but a new study finds that balanced diet will cost you hundreds, if not thousands more dollars a year.

Inside Match.com: It's all About the Algorithm at Slate (repost from Financial Times) via jennifer0246 (Keywords: Internet, dating)

With the number of paying subscribers using Match approaching 1.8 million, the ­company has had to develop ever more ­sophisticated programs to manage, sort and pair the world's singles. [...] the Match algorithm uses a variety of factors to suggest possible mates. While taking into account a user's stated ­preferences, such as desired age range, hair colour and body type, it also learns from their actions on the site. So, if a woman says she doesn't want to date anyone older than 26, but often looks at ­profiles of thirty-somethings, Match will know she is in fact open to meeting older men.

IVF success rates boosted by a bed of nails at New Scientist via jennifer0246 (Keywords: in vetro fertilization, pregnancy, technology, human embryos)

"The idea is to ask how embryos develop in the body and copy that in the laboratory," he says. His team has focused on mimicking the pulses of nutrient-rich fluid sent washing over the embryo by muscle contractions within the fallopian tubes.

Rethinking SIDS: Many Deaths No Longer A Mystery at NPR via jennifer0246 (Keywords: US, infant mortality, accidental suffocation)

Today in the U.S., more than 2,000 babies die of SIDS every year, according to government figures.
But the mystery surrounding SIDS is not what it once was. Many SIDS deaths are now believed to be accidents caused by unsafe sleep practices. And some are questioning whether the term SIDS remains relevant at all.

Red Wine, Dark Chocolate, Blueberries: Is There Any Science Behind the "Superfood" Hype? at Alternet via jennifer0246 (Keywords: US, food, health)

The key to unraveling the various claims is a healthy skepticism and a critical reading of research. In 2007, the European Union banned the use of the term “superfood,” which had been applied to more than 100 different foods, none having research supporting their health benefits. As a rule of thumb, any food that supposedly solves a large list of health problems — from Alzheimer’s to zits — should immediately be regarded with suspicion. Consumers need to review who is sponsoring the research and ask if it is published in a professional journal where the scientific methodology presumably has been vetted.

What have you been reading this week? We appreciate your including trigger warnings, keywords, or descriptions of the articles so that people know what they are clicking. And, while this round-up is different from our regular format, safe spaces rules still apply if you want to comment in VP.