In Our Control

July 19, 2010
For women of reproductive age, Eldridge (who worked with pioneering women's health activist Barbara Seaman, author of The No-Nonsense Guide to Menopause and The Doctor's Case Against the Pill) has written a definitive, clear, and comprehensive reference that covers the history, scientific advances, and practical uses of contraception. Readers will be encouraged to realize that contraception needn't be a one-size-fits-all situation, as they are provided with cutting-edge information about all available methods and their pros and cons for different stages of women's lives and levels of fertility. In a readable, almost conversational style, the book cogently covers hormonal and nonhormonal contraception, alternative distribution methods, the new menstrual suppression drugs, the politics of Plan B, the male pill, fertility awareness/natural birth control, HPV vaccines, and international issues in reproductive and contraceptive health. Reliably researched, and with a personal point-of-view, this may well be the one volume women will want to consult.

June 15, 2010

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the pill, the contraceptive of choice of 100 million women around the world. Noted health activist Barbara Seaman brought the risks and limitations of the first oral contraceptives to public attention in 1969, and Eldridge coauthored Seaman's last book, The No-Nonsense Guide to Menopause. This work, dedicated to her mentor, is a far-reaching exploration of the strengths and weaknesses of different birth control methods as well as a fascinating history of contraception through several millennia and its diverse international and cultural expressions. Even seldom-considered topics such as birth control's environmental impact, the slow development of birth control for men, and the controversies surrounding human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are discussed in some detail. Although neither a medical professional nor a scientist, Eldridge has done considerable bibliographical research to support her findings and writes with an activist's passion and commitment. VERDICT Women seeking a comprehensive contraception study with a feminist slant will find much of value here, while young women needing a more focused look will find Beverly Winikoff and Suzanne Wymelenberg's The Whole Truth About Contraception authoritative and more user-friendly.--Kathy Arsenault, St. Petersburg, FL

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