I am aware some people might find my zine choices obscene or juvenile at first look, but I chose to create these particular pages because of my personal experiences with both of the issues. My first zine page “Here We Cum...” addresses the topic of Female Ejaculation. I find this topic very interesting because until recently (2001) the prostate gland responsible for producing and expelling ejaculatory fluid in women, was more or less denied an existence! The first person known to have described the "female prostate" in Western medical literature was Reinier De Graaf (1641-1673) in the year 1672. He described it as a collection of functional glands and ducts surrounding the female urethra. He said the glands and ducts produced a "pituitoserous juice;" meaning it produces a thick mucous that is pale yellow or transparent in color. He said the function of this fluid was to make "women more libidinous with its pungency and saltiness and lubricates their sexual parts in agreeable fashion during coitus." Despite his observation modern Western medicine did not fully accept the concept of a "female prostate" until 2001 when the Federative Committee on Anatomical Terminology agreed to use this term in their next edition of Histology Terminology.
So, where did the female prostate disappear to for 329 years? Prior to the 20th century the term "female prostate" was commonly used within medical research literature but during the 20th century the female prostate was usually described as vestigial i.e. not fully developed and non-functional, and was identified as either paraurethral or Skene's glands. While the components of the female prostate were known to exist they were not seen as structures of interest or importance; with a few exceptions. Since modern medicine did not see the female prostate playing an active and necessary role in reproduction it wasn't essential to understand its function. Also, the female prostate is not believed to be affected by disease on a frequent basis and this likely contributed to the lack of interest within doctor offices and hospitals. At this point, we simply need to acknowledge the existence of this organ and that it plays a role in the normal functioning of the female body; it isn't a figment of any one's imagination.
Furthermore, because female ejaculate contains the same substances found in male ejaculate, and male ejaculate is linked to cancer prevention, can the same not be said about female ejaculate? As of 2000, it was also discovered that the hormone serotonin, a well-known contributor to feelings of well-being, is produced in the female prostate and thus released into the bloodstream at the point of ejaculation.

From pleasure to Pain... Pain is felt when electrical signals are sent from nerve endings to your brain, which in turn can release painkillers called endorphins and generate reactions that range from instant and physical to long-term and emotional. The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) Committee for Taxonomy defines pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage...pain is always subjective. Each individual learns the application of the word through experiences related to injury in early life" (Merskey, 1994).
When I was 10 years old I was hit and run over by a car. For the past 15 years I have suffered with a compressed disc in my back which subsequently pulled the disc in my jaw out of alignment over time and it has been slipped as well for the past 9 years. Every doctor I have ever seen has prescribed me pain killer after pain killer, which eventually lead to a short dependence and abuse of pharmaceuticals during my teens. I was told I would have to live in pain the rest of my life.
So I did. I lived in pain everyday but learned to ignore the response and suppress my emotions. Eventually, my body broke down. My list of ailments began piling up, including, of course back and jaw pain, also uterine pain, migraines, vertigo, reproductive and sexual issues, weak knees, tense shoulders, muscle spasms, occasional throwing my back out from simple movement and bends, and a general disconnect between my physical, mental, and emotional self, as well as, lack of feeling in my lower body due to the nerve impingement from my spondylosis. Spondylosis is degenerative osteoarthritis of the joints between the centra of the spinal vertebrae and/or neural foraminae. If severe, it may cause pressure on nerve roots with subsequent sensory and/or motor disturbances, such as pain, paresthesia, or muscle weakness in the limbs. In particular, paresthesia which I experience, occurs when sustained pressure has been applied over a nerve, inhibiting/stimulating its function. Removing the pressure will typically result in gradual relief of these paresthesias, often described as a "pins and needles" feeling. I have also been diagnosed by MRI as having Spinal stenosis, a medical condition in which the spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal cord and nerves
Smoking marijuana gives me pain relief and has never killed anyone nor is it even possible to overdose. It is helpful to me and it should be my right. To make a long story short, my experience has made me a fervent supporter for the legalization of medical cannabis.
Similarly to the first zine page, in my second zine, the idea of women being denied the right to experience pleasure and help themselves is also explored. Just as female ejaculation is linked to obvious feelings of pleasure and may be linked to cancer prevention, marijuana is an anti-inflammatory (i.e. Ibuprofen) valuable for pain relief and has been proven to control the spread of cancer (Americans for Safe Access, 2009).
Although my experience with the pain I discuss is very personal, I have discovered my path to recovery is also one of a political nature. Foremost, this natural medicinal plant is illegal. Why??? Despite the cultural and legal taboos of marijuana use, there are actually very few scientifically confirmed long-term side effects of marijuana use in contrast to prescription pain killers which have a high potential for dependency and abuse and can produce a fatal overdose. While I consume marijuana for medicinal purposes in the state of Florida, I could easily be viewed as a bad mother, a criminal -- taken to jail and my child removed from my care. I have had enough of the State attempting to control my pleasure, my health, my life.
In Oakland, California a legal health center exists which offers top grade lab tested medical cannabis of several varieties and strains. The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) noted the following symptoms or conditions under Appendix IV of their Nov. 2002 report for which marijuana can provide relief: Alzheimer's Disease, Anorexia, AIDS, Arthritis, Cachexia, Cancer, Crohn's Disease, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, HIV, Migraine, Multiple Sclerosis, Nausea, Pain, Spasticity, Wasting Syndrome. The Oakland Harborside Health Center also offers free sessions in yoga, acupuncture, reiki, and massage therapy once a month to its patients. Message to America: Legalize It.


written by Kristina Muvceski