Some of the most interesting uses of prescription medications are the so-called 'off-label' uses.
Off-label use of medications treat conditions for which the drug was not originally approved by the FDA.
It is a common and useful practice.
In her comments, Sandra Fluke, wasn't even referring to contraception. She was referring to off-label use of synthetic hormones to treat conditions such as Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome. (PCOS).
Many women are prescribed synthetic hormone therapy for reasons having absolutely NOTHING to do with the desire to prevent a pregnancy.
So, I think it is time we changed the words we use to describe this medication. I think we ought to make it a lot more gender neutral.
Using / taking / doing something for the purpose of prevention is called prophylaxis.
From Medicine.net
Prophylaxis: A measure taken for the prevention of a disease or condition.
For example, dental prophylaxis consists of removing plaque and cleaning the teeth to prevent cavities and gum disease.
The word "prophylaxis" is from the Greek and means "an advance guard."
It's how your dentist bills your 2x/yearly cleaning, why people receive certain vaccines in the event of visiting a part of the world in which certain diseases are common, etc. Prophylaxis is the old adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" in action.
Here's how dictionary.com defines
PROPHYLACTIC
[proh-fuh-lak-tik, prof-uh-]
adjective
1. defending or protecting from disease or infection, as a drug.
2. preventive or protective
noun
3. Medicine/Medical . a prophylactic medicine or measure.
4. a preventive.
5. a device, usually a rubber sheath, used to prevent conception or venereal infection; condom. "
Women who take synthetic hormone therapy to treat PCOS, for example, can prevent deterioration of their ovaries, eliminate excessive pain and bleeding at the time of menstruation, and generally, have a better quality of life. It is prophylactic to prevent ovarian cysts.
Part of why we're having a hard time winning this war regarding the availability of synthetic hormone therapy, is because the only word we're using links that therapy exclusively to sex and the prevention of pregnancy, when in fact, this therapy has many off-label uses.
Let's change our language to describe this therapy for what it is: Prophylactic.