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1 - http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_medical/story.jsp?story=274240
2 - http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_medical/story.jsp?story=274556
1 - }}}>Begin
15 March 2002 20:42 GMT
Home > News > World > Science/Medical
New Pill will allow women to have just three periods a year
By Charles Arthur Technology Editor
14 March 2002
Women, rejoice. Painful periods � in fact monthly periods, altogether � could soon be
a thing of the past. A new version of the Pill having clinical trials in America will
let
women lengthen their menstrual cycle to three or even four months, and mean they
need have only three or four periods a year.
The pill, called "Seasonale", is identical to the standard contraceptive Pill, and
contains the same combination of female hormones, though with different packaging.
It could go on sale early next year. Barr Laboratories has licensed the technology
from Eastern Virginia Medical School, Virginia, which patented the concept.
A Dutch study found 70 per cent of women between 15 and 50 would prefer to have
their periods less frequently, suggesting the new Pill would be widely popular.
The technique might even prolong fertility, says Roger Gosden, scientific director of
the Jones Institute at Eastern Virginia Medical School. "It might be that if you retain
the eggs, the quality [later on] might be better. The window of fertility could be held
back."
It will not harm the chance of women becoming pregnant if they stop taking it, says
Professor John Guillebaud, an independent gynaecologist who is medical director at
the Margarete Pyke health centre in London and author of The Pill.
He already prescribes extended courses of the Pill for women who suffer badly from
period cramps or headaches, or who want to delay menstruation for a few days, say
over a summer holiday. "It doesn't seem to have a long-term effect on the ovaries or
pituitary gland. Those are effectively put to sleep, the same as when a woman is
pregnant. Then they bounce back."
The Pill, and Seasonale, work by artificially raising the level of female hormones in
the blood. This overrides the normal hormonal signal from the ovaries, and prevents
the shedding of the lining of the uterus that is the bleeding seen in menstruation.
Long-term use would be very unlikely to have any harmful side-effects, he adds.
End<{{{
2 - }}}>Begin
15 March 2002 20:43 GMT
Home > News > World > Science/Medical
Narcissists are one big pain except in a crisis
The role of self-lovers, animation and motorists over 70 is studied at Blackpool
conference
Reports By Lorna Duckworth Social Affairs Correspondent
15 March 2002 Internal links Leading article: Vain hope
They are obnoxious, over-confident and steal the glory when things go well. But
despite a vaunted opinion of themselves, narcissists only really excel at times of
crisis, psychologists were told yesterday.
People who adore themselves and have an exaggerated sense of self-importance
often create good first impressions. But, behind the brash fa�ade, they may not have
exceptional talents and only rise to the challenge when they have an opportunity to
shine.
In those circumstances, people with narcissistic tendencies will outperform their
colleagues by 20 per cent, the British Psychological Society's annual conference in
Blackpool was told. But Professor Roy Baumeister, of Case Western Reserve
University in Cleveland, Ohio, said that when they were out of the spotlight, their
performance was no better � and sometimes worse � than more modest individuals.
"When the spotlight is on and there is glory to be had, then these people will perform
very well. However, at other times, when it doesn't really matter, they will perform
more poorly and this will offset any difference in achievement."
The concept of narcissism originates in Greek mythology when a young man named
Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection in a pool and perished because of his
self- absorption. Psychologists today characterise someone as a narcissist if they are
arrogant, enjoy showing off, are manipulative, have an inflated sense of superiority,
feel they deserve special treatment and seek an excessive amount of admiration.
Dr Baumeister said such traits could be identified in Saddam Hussein, who he said
had an inflated view of his own power and thought he was God, and in Hitler and
Napoleon. Criminals were also prone to superiority, self-confidence and the sense
that the world owed them a living, he said, dismissing the idea that criminals suffer
from poor self- esteem.
Dr Baumeister's research was based on four experiments on 248 undergraduates.
The students were asked to complete tests to gauge the strength of their narcissistic
tendencies. They were then asked to perform tasks, such as throwing darts, solving
maths puzzles or completing creativity tests. In some instances, to create a
challenge the students were told that the odds were against them performing well. In
these cases narcissistic people performed particularly well. When there was no
chance for glory, they performed worse then the other students.
The results could provide food for thought for people working in offices, Dr
Baumeister said. "Narcissistic people make fairly unpleasant colleagues. They want
everyone else to do the drudgery and they will come in and take the credit when
there is an opportunity to be admired."
Dr Baumeister cited examples from sport, such as the American footballer Andre
Rison, who had a reputation for being flashy and performing spectacularly at big
moments. "When the stakes are high and everyone is watching, he is at his best. But
on one occasion he nearly started a fight when his quarterback threw the ball to
another player even though the pass won the game. His team said he could be a
terrible pain in the butt, but when the going gets tough they would rather have him on
their side."
End<{{{~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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