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It's not pregnancy you have to worry about... 29 March 2007

From: ************ To: speakout@global.co.za Subject: Where do I find a diaphram?

Hi!

I’m a student at wits and have tried both the oral and injection methods of birth control.
These have caused me to gain weight in access of 20 kg, this has made my asthma very bad and I’ve had to get off birth control.
The Campus Health nurse said I should get a diaphragm but they don’t have them. They referred me to the Donald Gordon Medical Center; their gynecology department also does not have these, if I don’t get the diaphragm soon, I’m running the risk of getting pregnant.
I saw your web article of proper diaphram use, can you please let me know where I can go to get one.

Mande

SpeakOut!

They are very difficult to get in South Africa - try DiscChem but if they don't have them we strongly recommend you get an intrauterine device fitted. But Mande what concerns us most about your letter is that you are clearly not using condoms during sex. You are in the peak age of HIV infection in this country - please have a look at these stats and get wise.
Professor Anthony Mbewu, president of South Africa’s Medical Research Council (MRC) said, “We have 500 000 new (HIV) infections each year, of which about 200 000 are women aged younger than 25.” In 2006, Statistics South Africa Adult Mortality report: 1997 to 2004 by Barbara Anderson and Heston Phillips showed that between 1997 and 2004, “death rates for females age 20 to 39 more than tripled and for males age 30 to 44 more than doubled.” Female death rates “peak at age 30 – 34, which was not surpassed until age 60 – 64.” And of “females in 2004 among those 30 – 34, only 90% would survive five years to the 35 – 39 age group.” The leading cause of death – AIDS.

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