Thanks to Sheila Malone (letter, “Fluke tried to teach men about women’s health care,” March 27) for figuratively taking me to the wood shed about things Sandra Fluke and women’s health.

No defense of Rush Limbaugh, he can take care of himself. I simply did a comparison of media treatment of a conservative radio host and a liberal television host (Bill Maher) about similar subjects.

Fluke was barred from appearing in front of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee assembled to discuss the legality of the actions of President Barack Obama, not contraception.

During the first day of testimony, Barry Linn was scheduled to testify. Democrats asked U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., chairman, if Fluke could be substituted for Linn. This was not allowed as there is a 72-hour rule for vetting to determine if a person is qualified to give testimony. The Democrats knew Issa would refuse the substitution because of the vetting rule.

The Democrats then whisked Fluke off to a waiting press conference staged to look like a committee meeting. It was in this venue that Fluke shared her opinions.

Fluke offered anecdotal evidence of the need for government-provided contraceptives, saying that she has a friend who nearly died from bleeding because her job offered health insurance that did not pay for birth control on religious grounds.

Malone introduces the topic of uterine fibroids.

I’m guessing that Fluke’s friend has a relatively common condition of generally benign fibrous tumor(s), which might cause hemorrhage. It is known, that as a positive side effect, low-dose hormone content oral contraceptives may lessen the level of fibroid bleeding.

Uterine fibroids, treatable through long established and newly emerging procedures and practices, are a medical condition, not a birth control issue.

Still, no war on women.

Michael Cameron

Winthrop