This is a response diary, but I want to make it clear from the get-go that it's not a (in this case literal) She Said/He Said.
The diary in question is this one, a righteous rant by someone who was outraged by a blatant "fuck you" to women in the form a of a commercial aired during the Melissa Harris-Perry Show on MSNBC (with the topic of the show at the time being the war against women).
This response is more about the product in the ad than anything else. A lot of people seemed to be confused as to what it was. Below the fleur-de-kos is more info.
To begin with, the commercial was for Androgel, a transdermal testosterone gel, and there really was no excuse for it airing at that specific time. In this age of targeted marketing, does anyone believe it was an accident that it came on when it did? They might as well have just aired 30 second of old dudes laughing at a woman tied to a chair.
So it's fair to say I believe the diarist has a point, both in the sense of the ad's brazen mockery and the disparity between how men's and women's health is viewed. Of course, I despise all advertising, so maybe my judgment is suspect.
So, what happened and why am I writing this? Well, more than a few people didn't seem to understand what testosterone gels are and what they are (properly) used for, equating Androgel with Viagra and depicting it as a "vanity drug" (i.e. unnecessary except for boosting men's sexual performance or self-esteem).
These gels will increase libido, but that is hardly their most valuable property. Testosterone is necessary for normal body function in both men and women. In the case of people with below-normal levels, a replacement medication is necessary.
Any testosterone replacement medication does have it's dangers, of course. This was another area of some consternation in the original diary's comment section. If used improperly or deliberately misused, it can trigger puberty symptoms in children and cause all manner of problems for women who's levels are too high.
This led a number of people to question the delivery system (gel), wondering why pills or shots weren't being used. The answer is they are. Pills and shots are offered to people who either don't want to use or can't use the gel. However, the gel is the most effective means of delivery. The body doesn't absorb the testosterone as well from pills, and shots have to be administered too often for most people.
However, the gel has it's drawbacks, the primary of which is that testosterone can be transferred by touch. The body absorbs 10-15% of the testosterone once applied, so it can be transferred in unwanted quantities if prolonged contact occurs. This is why proper precautions are necessary. The manufacturers highly recommend washing hands immediately after applying the gel and upon drying the area where the gel was applied should be covered by clothing. The abdomen and thighs are the two most recommended places to apply the gel so as to make any contact unlikely. The manufacturers also recommend washing the area thoroughly before any planned, significant skin-to-skin contact (sex, for example).
So, how dangerous is contact in the real world? Well, apart from my anecdotal experience (which A: has not been a problem, and B: should count about as much as any anecdotal evidence), there are a number of resources if you are interested:
PubMedHealth has good information.
There are the websites of two of the biggest suppliers of testosterone gel, Androgel and Testim, but take them with a grain of salt. After all, no drug dealer has ever lied about their product, right?
For why the medications are necessary, Wikipedia has good general information.
A study by the Boston University School of Medicine had this to say about the danger of transfer:
There is concern about the possibility of inadvertent interpersonal transfer of testosterone gel. In men, the bioavailability of applied testosterone gel is limited to 10%–15%. Upon application, testosterone penetrates the skin, with alcohol acting as a permeation enhancer. When applied to the skin, the alcohol evaporates quickly leaving significant amount of testosterone on the skin. Hence, a large reservoir of testosterone is left on the skin with the potential to be transferred. Unpublished studies from manufacturers indicate that both Androgel and Testim have the potential to raise testosterone levels in women after skin contact with treated men even hours after application. Additionally with abdominal application of Testim, wearing a shirt did not completely prevent the transfer of testosterone to the partner in spite of covering the area with a shirt. As of May 7th 2009, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has instructed testosterone gel manufactures to issue a “black box” warning regarding the potential for skin-to-skin transfer. This is a consequence of secondary exposure of children ranging in age from nine months to five years that were reported to the FDA. Adverse events reported in these children included enlargement of the genitalia, premature pubarche, advanced bone age, and aggressive behavior. Overall, covering the application site with clothing seems to minimize the risk of testosterone transfer during skin-to-skin contact. Even though there is paucity of cases reporting inter-personal transfer, the risk of transfer to women and children is possible. Hence, patient education is crucial.
So the incidences are low, but the risk is there. As with any medication, proper use is necessary to avoid danger to the patient and others.
To review, a commercial for Androgel aired during the Melissa Harris-Perry Show on MSNBC in which the war on women was discussed. A diary was written expressing outrage over (among other things) the placement of the ad and the juxtaposition of unequal attention and priority given to issues of health for women and men. For the most part, I agreed with much of what the diarist had to say, particularly when it came to the experiences of women and men being so markedly different when it comes to the issue of control over one's own body.
However, there was a lot of contention in the comment section and quite a bit of confusion. Personally, I do not believe (as some comments suggested) it is an "attack on men" to express this kind of outrage, even if some of the language sounds like it. This doesn't stop me from calling for moderation, but then, nothing has. Lost amid the tensions and high dudgeon that followed were a few simple points I wanted to address:
1. What testosterone gel is and what it is not (i.e. it's not a boner pill but a necessary medication),
2. The dangers of misusing such products, and
3. That anger is okay sometimes. Try not to take it personally when someone comments that "men" should Take Your Vaginal Probe And Go Stick It Up Your Ass. It should be obvious they're not talking about the good (male) people of conscience who are fighting against this war on women. Sometimes, you have to accept a little venting as a Good Thing, especially when focusing on the venting distracts from the whole point of the issue (and in this case, the diary).
For what all the above is worth.
Sun Mar 18, 2012 at 5:21 PM PT: UPDATE: I apologize for referring to Erectile Dysfunction medications as "boner pills" and implying they were unnecessary. I have a diabetic friend who - due to his diabetes - has need to treat his ED with medication. Sex is an important - even necessary - part of many relationships, and it was unthinking of me to dismiss those who require medical assistance to fulfill that important aspect of relationships by mocking their medication. I regret the comment; I should have known better.