All men are created equal

[andrewducker]

As some of you know, Erin has PCOS. The solution to this is to basically give her drugs that return her body to normal levels of insulin/glucose so that her testosterone levels drop and she's normal again.

Now, I have insulin problems too. And according to recent statistics a large proportion is ending up with type 2 diabetes because of dietary problems. So it'd be great if we could brute-force a solution to this.

In some ways.

How far from the norm do people have to be before they are considered eligible? Do you allow people to self-medicate away their problems? Do we allow people to use this tech to make themselves thinner (or fatter) than normal by medicating? Is it reasonable to allow people to basically make themselves dependent on this technology so that their hormone levels are constantly monitored and adjusted and tuned to keep them at optimum levels.

More to the point, lets extend that to a general level. We're gaining more and more control over our bodies and brains. Are we going to take control of our bodies on a deep invasive level (eventually redefining what it means to be human) or are we going to decide that only certain changes are to be allowed? This underlies many issues facing modern politics, from cloning to genetic manipulation to human/machine interfaces. At some point this basic issue is going to have to be faced, or the decisions will be taken piece by piece and not in the directions we necessarily want them to.

Comments

[kpollock.livejournal.com]

I am advocating the simpler option. Simpler in that it directly addresses the cause rather than plasterign over (possibly only the most obvious) symptoms.

[tisme.livejournal.com]

The problem with eating sweet things is that they raise blood glucose levels, which has various bad effects. Break that connection and you get the good (sweeties!) without the bad.

Likewise - why pump chemicals into your body and alter yor hormone balance is badly understood ways when you could just avoid having sex if you didn't want kids?

[kpollock.livejournal.com]

I suppose that I don't see that sweeties are good. They are defintely bad for your teeth. I don't like sweet stuff generally anyway. I suppose it might be harder to give them up if you liked them.

Pregnancy/child birth is a huge issue, not just physically but more importantly, economically.

I don't do hormonal contraception any more anyway. If there were no options for contraception at all, yes I would avoid sex (Probably easier for me to say at 31 than at 16!). If I had had the information at 16 that I have now, I may never have started with any of it, but even so, compared to the pure horror of having kids, any effects from contraception have been totally minor.

I strongly believe that women need some way of avoiding pregnacy that is under their control and can (as is sadly necessary in many parts of the world) be done without their partner knowing.

[andrewducker]

I don't do hormonal contraception any more anyway.

When did that happen? Last time I checked you were regularly having needles stuck in you...

[kpollock.livejournal.com]

I found out it stops bone accumulation (v. important). They didn't even know this 10 years ago. The bloody nurse didn't know it when I asked last year.

I'm pissed off, but there is nothing that I can do. Their anwser is that 9-10 yrs is Ok (like they actually have a clue , but no more). Depression (even one episode) is a big factor in osteoporosis too. guess i'm doomed.

[andrewducker]

Ouchie. Now, is this a result of that hormone specifically, or down to the fact that it's injected, or what?

I'm pretty much set on-course for a vasectomy at the moment, as the simplest form of comtraception for those that really don't want a kid. I just have to get my arse in gear.

[kpollock.livejournal.com]

Down to what it is, as far as I can tell.

I wish more men thought like you! There are possible side-effects to vascetomy - do do the reading first!

Shame it's a general anaesthetic and cutting into the abdominal wall etc. or I'd consider sterilisation myself.