Contraceptive Dumping

Remember the Dalkon Shield? It's an IUD that was banned about thirty years ago because it caused infections, perfurated uteruses, and led to all kinds of other serious health problems for women. Bet you though that since it was banned it had gone the way of the Dodo bird.

You are wrong.

In a practice called "contraceptive dumping", the Dalkon Shield has made its way to Third World countries. Pharmaceutical companies that make birth control that in the end is declared substandard in the U. S. are sold wholesale to Third World countries as a means of population control. Barbara Ehrenreich has written an article for Mother Jones about this horrendous practice. Poor women are dying, becoming very ill, and becoming sterile due to the use of these substandard products.

The article focuses on three types of birth control - the Dalkon Shield IUD, high-dose birth control pills, and Depo-Provera. Women around the world have been protesting contraceptive dumping - both women in developed countries and women in Third World countries who are the targets of companies that make money from these dangerous products. U. S. women have better access to information about these products as well as the companies that sell them. They send that information to women in Third World countries so that those women are able to protest against them. Women around the world need available and safe contraception. Dangerous, substandard contraception should not be dumped on women in Third World countries. On top of the obvious eugenics quality of contraceptive dumping, these products are dangerous and shouldn't be used on anyone. Contraceptive dumping must stop. Now.