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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WWW.KANSAN.COM News WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 2008
WOMEN'S HEALTH
Birth control, contraceptive options exist for students
BY RAMSEY COX
rcox@kansan.com
Watkins Health Memorial Center provides contraceptive and birth control drugs for students, ranging in costs from 50 cents to $55, including Plan B.
U. S. Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) recently voted against a committee bill because of language that funded Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers to sell reduced-price drugs on university and college campuses.The bill passed the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Committee anyway.
Contraceptives such as condoms and birth control are available at Watkins Memorial Health Center. The effectiveness of each method varies, depending on frequency and use.
Ramsev Cox/KANSAN
Brownback said. "Provisions in the bill will make it easier to purchase and distribute harmful drugs like Plan B."
Plan B is an emergency contraceptive and can be taken within five days of unprotected sex.
Sara Weber, Lawrence graduate student, has not used the morning after pill, but has used other similar forms of contraceptive like the birth control pills and condoms.
"I voted against committee passage of the Labor-Education-HHS appropriations bill due to the antifile provisions within the bill,"
temperature.
"I'd rather use birth control than not. Statistically speaking, contraceptives like condoms and the birth control pill are more effective than checking your hormone levels," Weber said.
Katy Cortese, Des Moines, Iowa senior, charts her cycle and plans to use the natural family planning method after she gets married in October.
Family planning is a natural form of birth control that some students use. Fertility has a direct effect on hormone levels, which can be checked by taking a woman's
"I don't like Plan B because life begins at conception and that pill aborts human life," Cortese said.
According to the Planned Parenthood, it is a common misconception that the morning after pill destroys a fetus, but it is considered a preventative form of birth control. The Planned Parenthood said preventative forms of birth control were not the same as abortion because they prevent pregnancy from ever occurring.
Other forms of common birth control include a birth control shot that lasts three months, which is 97 to 99 percent effective, or a
diaphragm, which is 84 to 94 percent effective. Condoms are nearly 100 percent effective and the birth
control pill is 92 to 99 percent effective.
—Edited by Rebekah Scapleranda
BUSINESS
Passion Parties helps former student pay the bills
BY ASHER FUSCO
afusco@kansan.com
Janette Reinke was a single mother of two, struggling to balance a job with her children's day-care schedules and fighting to keep up with her bills. The recently divorced Reinke
found a viable source of income where she might have least expected: sex toys.
It was about two years ago when
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Reinke decided to become a Passion Parties consultant to help pay her bills. Now, the former KU student makes her living working as a consultant, selling sensual products to women through in-home sales calls.
"Passion Parties are actually very educational and empowering for women, and very helpful for relationships," Reinke said. "Having just gone through a failed relationship, it means a lot to help others with their intimacy."
Passion Parties, Inc., founded 14 years ago, has used the direct sales model popularized by Tupperware and Mary Kay to grow into a successful enterprise. According to owner Pat Davis, the company has gained value for 60 consecutive months.
After taking the company's reins in 2001, Davis rebranded Passion Parties to appeal to Middle America. Since then, Oprah, Tyra Banks and TIME Magazine have featured the company and its out-of-the-box approach to sex toy sales.
"Everyone's looking for ways to enhance their relationships, but going to a sex shop - I think most women wouldn't feel comfortable there," Davis said.
Edited by Mandy Earles
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