February 1, 2008
-
Birth Control Commercials
I just saw that Mirena commercial for like the 800th time---and I hate it! There is this one line the narrator says that just drives me insane:"Missing periods or irregular bleeding blah blah blah...Happily, if you change your plans, Mirena is easily removed."
I hope a bad taste filled your mouth just now--and not because you haven't brushed your teeth in years. The Mirena people used "happily" as a transitional word! Why the hell would they do that?! WHY?!? Just the thought of it makes me want to vomit. However, I won't because there is an even worse birth control commercial than this one...I'm talking about the Yaz ad.
Birth control commercials were always lame, but the Yaz commercial is so cheesy that if you garnished Lindsay Lohan's rotten crotch with it I'd probably take a bite. Yaz claims that it will help women have "shorter, lighter periods," and to tout this benefit the commercial features strong, empowered women doing strong, empowering things while a version of Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It" plays in the background.
The whole "in yo' face, menstrual cycle" thing is so stupid. The commercial makes it seem like periods are some kind of apocalyptic catastrophe that cripples women. Oh no, I've got my period! That means I can't become a doctor or climb Kilimanjaro! I'm not gonna take this anymore! I am going to take Yaz! And while I'm at it, I'm going to use an uzi to kill a spider!
I know periods are inconvenient and can make your vagina smell like a seafood buffet, but it's not so bad that it warrants an aggressive feminist campaign. And I believe this even though I am experiencing pre-period cramps while typing this very sentence. It's uncomfortable and increases the the number of times I poop (three times today)--but it's not going to prevent me from doing anything other than swim in shark-infested waters. Yet, after watching the Yaz commercial, you'd think going through a natural, biological cycle is equivalent to losing the right to vote.
Comments (16)
lol. the herpes commericals are worse!
girl:"i've got herpes...."
guy:"and i don't." [both look at each other and smile]
All this talk of seafood buffets and increased pooping is making me horny.
Maybe it has something to do with all that Enzyte I took this morning.
Hah, totally agree. Although I was on the pill, it was only for irregularity. It wasn't to fight against periods. DIE PERIODS DIE. no.
Sweet mother of jeebus, I will never look at seafood buffets the same.
i had a good laugh
I Think My Brain Momentarily Shuts Off During Birth Control Commercials... No Wait.. It Doesnt... I Remember "loestrin" I Think Its Called... I Jus Remember The Name, The Rest Isa Complete Blur... Thankfully..
@swttnovember -
I KNOW THAT COMMERCIAL! LOLS Its Actually Very Amusing. =x
i feel the same way.
the Yaz commercial has this women explaining to her friends the benefits and side-effects of Yaz.
They're all like "WOAH? How do you know that?"
and she responds with somethings like, "...Didn't go to medical school for nothing..." *corny smile* *heart-warming girl power moment*
Woah, that's... disturbing. What's even worse is I thought that was absolutely hysterical.
lol. not shy huh? xD calm down, i rarely see people with sarcasm dripping out of their ears
The "happily" gets me too. After a while working in a school I've begun to believe that all 12 year olds should have an IUD implanted. And there should probably be a written test for getting it removed.
I think the only thing that makes these commercials more awkward, is when you're watching TV with the family... Nothing brings about family awkwardness like a tampon or viagra commercial.
Hey! First off, I think your blog is very amusing, and have enjoyed what I've read so far.
But I just felt like I wanted to comment on this, because it kind of struck a nerve with me. I suffer from P.M.D.D., the disorder that Yaz was created to help with, which *can* be rather crippling for a person. It's just not cramps, it's excruciatingly painful cramps, it's depression that makes you not want to leave your bed, it's extreme mood-swings, severe acne, anxiety, and many other issues that can really complicate a person's life. Until I realized what I had, it really messed me up for while, and everyone I knew was very worried about me. For women who suffer from P.M.D.D., it *can* be crippling to your life. Not to sound like a commercial ad, but I really *didn't* want to take it anymore, and was ready to get my life back.
Do I think that the ad is a little cheesy? Yeah. I do. I snicker whenever I see it. But I just wanted to say that it's not just your average, inconvenient period that Yaz is counteracting; it's a disorder that can greatly interfere with a person's life, and I think it's kind of a little insensitive to mock the people it's helping, if you don't really realize what they've gone through.
Anyway. I hope this doesn't sound like an attack or anything, 'cause I didn't mean it to be one. Just an explanation. Have a nice day.
Hilarious...As much as I absolutely detest TOM (time of month), I won't let it ruin my life. However, I also don't suffer from PMDD--whatever that is. (can't think of the name.)
Though I do get some nasty cramps sometimes.
@Calypsa - But you gotta admit that most people don't have this and if Yaz actually stated in their ad that it helped or was created for that specific purpose, then maybe that disorder would get some publicity. The more publicity, the easier it would be for people that actually have it.
Know what I mean.
@InGodzHndz - Yaz mentioned PMDD in their first commercial, but not this second one--which is odd because that seems like a much more beneficial affect compared to "shorter, lighter periods." Oh, and I love your TOM acronym! Very creative!
I am SO glad I am not a female. SO SO SO SO GLAD!!!!!!!!