Shake Up The System
If you want to make change, it's never too late, and these activists can tell you how.
What to Ask Your Gynecologist
Before you slip into those stirrups, here's what you need to know and what you need to demand.
by Molly M. McGinty
Run For Her Life
Hillary Clinton wants to be the first First Lady to hold elective office...maybe she plans on teaching Bill a lesson or two,maybe...
by Blanche McCrary Boyd
Book Reviews On the Ms. bookshelf Anatomies by Anndee Hochman Her Own Medicine by Sayantani DasGupta Out of the Ordinary by Noelle Howey and Ellen Samuels, eds. The Abortion Myth by Leslie Cannold In The Name of Salomé by Julie Alvarez
Before Seinfeld character Elaine Benes would "yada, yada," her lovers were sat down and put through the "are you spongeworthy?" scrutiny. Elaine, along with 6.4 million other women, was a faithful fan of the Today Sponge, and she was rightfully suspicious in 1994 when the manufacturer announced a "temporary" stop in production to fix a water-filtration problem. Elaine the Visionary hoarded the pink, dimpled disks like doomsayers stored Spam for Y2K, but she was vindicated when production never resumed. Millions of women suffered morning-after-like regret-"I should have stocked up early like Elaine," said one on the condition of anonymity. The polyurethane hubcap, designed to feel like natural vaginal tissue, was adored because it was available over the counter and had enough spermicide for 24 hours, allowing for less mess and more mojo. Six years post-sponge, women are organizing, demanding its permanent place on the family-planning shelf, even though it was only 89% effective. And it looks like their wishes will come true. Allendale Pharmaceuticals is awaiting FDA approval-expected imminently at press time. Meanwhile, more than three thousand "Friends of the Sponge" have signed on at birthcontrol.com -- with others joining every day -- to get their sponges from the official online source as soon as they're approved. Fearing that excessive purchasing might threaten access, orders are limited to one carton per sponge lover.
Before Seinfeld character Elaine Benes would "yada, yada," her lovers were sat down and put through the "are you spongeworthy?" scrutiny. Elaine, along with 6.4 million other women, was a faithful fan of the Today Sponge, and she was rightfully suspicious in 1994 when the manufacturer announced a "temporary" stop in production to fix a water-filtration problem. Elaine the Visionary hoarded the pink, dimpled disks like doomsayers stored Spam for Y2K, but she was vindicated when production never resumed. Millions of women suffered morning-after-like regret-"I should have stocked up early like Elaine," said one on the condition of anonymity. The polyurethane hubcap, designed to feel like natural vaginal tissue, was adored because it was available over the counter and had enough spermicide for 24 hours, allowing for less mess and more mojo. Six years post-sponge, women are organizing, demanding its permanent place on the family-planning shelf, even though it was only 89% effective. And it looks like their wishes will come true. Allendale Pharmaceuticals is awaiting FDA approval-expected imminently at press time. Meanwhile, more than three thousand "Friends of the Sponge" have signed on at birthcontrol.com -- with others joining every day -- to get their sponges from the official online source as soon as they're approved. Fearing that excessive purchasing might threaten access, orders are limited to one carton per sponge lover.