Tag: contraception

Tonight on ABC News at 10 p.m. a program called "What Would You Do?" will air. The aim of the show is to measure the responses by real customers in a pharmacy waiting area who overhear an actress, playing a teen seeking birth control, being denied contraception by the actor pharmacist for "moral" reasons.

ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper interviewed the executive director of Nightlight Christian Adoptions, who facilitates the "adoption" of frozen embryos, and questioned why those against embryonic stem cell research are supportive of IVF technology when the majority of embryos used in the process do not result in a live birth.

Despite assumptions that Obama would place restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, limiting federal funding to cell lines made from discarded embryos at fertility clinics, the decision of what embryos will be used in research will largely be left to the National Institutes of Health: (via Washington Post).

Huffington Post writer Kirsten Moore responds to a column written by William Saletan which said that women need to take more responsibility in using contraception in order to prevent abortion, saying Saletan is pointing his finger at women and failing to compassionately understand why they need more education and a better sense of self-ownership.

Amanda Marcotte at Pandagon.com agrees, taking Saletan to task for an interview on Hardball with Chris Matthews, and arguing that his desire to lecture women about birth control is an attempt to find "common ground" with misogynistic conservatives who want to lecture women about sex in general.

Sex education advocate Shelby Knox writes about New York's lack of statewide standards that leaves sex education up to individual teachers, noting that the Healthy Teens Act would create a grant program to fund comprehensive sex education but may very well be vetoed by the governor due to dire financial straits: (via RH Reality Check).  

Today is National Woman and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and groups are organizing in New York City in order to draw attention to the alarming rates of HIV among women in NYC, where 1 in 3 who have the disease are female and 90 percent of HIV-positive women are either Black or Latina: (via Newsday).

President Barack Obama has created a new post within the administration for an ambassador of international women's issues, and appointed Melanne Verveer to fill the position under Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: (via AP/Google).

The Australian government has decided to repeal their own version of the global gag rule, which prevented overseas aid from being used for abortion advice, and to allocate an additional $9.5 million for family planning services over the next four years: (via Reuters).

Jodi Jacobson of RH Reality Check disagrees with some of Saletan's points, namely that it is women's "cavalier attitudes" about sex and not restrictive access to birth control that is to blame for many unintended pregnancies.

A Spanish parliamentary committee approved a reform on the country's restrictive abortion laws, recommending that abortion be legalized for the first trimester to bring Spanish laws more in line with other European countries: (via The Telegraph).

A recently released Guttmacher Institute study estimates that currently 1.94 million unintended pregnancies are prevented each year through the use of publicly funded family planning services, noting that if these resources are cut unplanned pregnancy and abortion rates among low income women would nearly double: (via AP/Google).

Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe has signed legislation banning a certain procedure used in late-term abortions that includes an exception to save a woman's life, but does not include a health exception: (via Associated Press).

Obstetrician and medical geneticist Mark Evans writes in Newsweek on his professional opinion that selective reduction for women pregnant with multiples is often the best choice to ensure a healthy pregnancy and healthy babies.

A spray-on contraceptive for women that requires smaller doses of hormones which are absorbed through the skin on the arm is being tested by an Australian pharmaceutical company: (via WA Today.com).

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has returned to the bench only two and a half weeks after undergoing surgery for pancreatic cancer: (via Reuters).

An article in Glamour magazine discusses the emotional side to experiencing abortion and outlines some resources and questions for women to ask when deciding if abortion is the right choice for them.

Former GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin responds to the email campaign launched last fall to donate to Planned Parenthood in her name, calling the move "political theater" that resulted in her receiving notes by the boxful thanking her for the donations, and more than a million dollars for Planned Parenthood: (via The Olympian).

Lawmakers in Arizona have introduced anti-choice legislation that would, among other anti-choice provisions, allow pharmacists to deny women emergency contraception based on "moral objections". Now that former pro-choice governor Janet Napolitano has gone to work for Obama and been replaced with an anti-choice Republican, anti-choice legislation is likely to pass and become law: (via Feminist.org).  

An opinion piece on RH Reality Checkoutlines why ultrasound laws are unnecessary and more importantly, patronizing and offensive in suggesting that women undergoing an abortion do not accurately understand what being pregnant means.  

In accordance with a recent FDA mandate, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceutical has launched a $20 million ad campaign for its popular brand of birth control pills, Yaz, to clear up previous commercials which the FDA and 27 state attorneys general found overstated the benefits of the pill and downplayed possible health risks: (via NY Times).

The Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues reintroduced the Health Care for Women Resolution into both chambers of Congress yesterday. If passed, the resolution would make sure any national health care reform would explicitly include the needs of women: (via Feminist.org).

A new survey by YWCA and the National Women's Law Center finds that while Americans are still divided on abortion, the vast majority of self-identified Republicans and Independents want greater access and affordability for contraception and prefer that schools teach comprehensive sex education over abstinence-only education.

John Young, columnist for the Waco Herald-Tribune, writes about his excitement over the end of a heavily government subsidized abstinence-only era, hoping that by signing the repeal of the global gag rule President Obama has shown his commitment a common-sense approach to family planning and sex education: (via Seattle P-I).  

An article on Huffington Post addresses the protest of Senate Republicans over the $335 million in the stimulus package for disease control and prevention, including for STDs, and says that much of the money would go to floundering state health departments that need the resources in order to keep jobs and crucial programs.

An article by Amy Benfer on Salon.com discusses a recent Newsweek article on the compromises being struck between groups that support abortion rights and groups that oppose them, including legislation to help pregnant women, but also notes that legislation sponsored by anti-choice groups often leaves out reasonable approaches, such as increased contraception access.

In this week's provincial elections in Iraq, 4,000 women are seeking office and about 1/3 should be guaranteed a seat under an electoral quota system: (via CNN.com).

Tara Parker-Pope writes in the Health section of The New York Times about "the myth of rampant teenage promiscuity", saying that though the media encourages us to believe teenagers are engaging in more risky sexual behavior at younger ages the data actually shows the opposite.

An article on Beliefnet.com discusses why repealing the global gag rule can be viewed as a "pro-life" position since no U.S. funds will be paying for abortions, but the money will go towards saving the lives of women and children in the developing world.

After a CDC report showing Mississippi has the highest teen birth rate in country and rising STD rates, legislators are discussing introducing comprehensive sex education into schools' curriculum, though the move is drawing opposition from some Republican lawmakers: (via The Sun Herald).

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has launched a post card campaign to protest the Freedom of Choice Act by having parishioners send mail to legislators urging them to oppose the legislation, though the bill has been around for 20 years, only making it out of committee once, and does not appear to be a priority for the current session: (via The Times-Picayune).

The Minnesota man who drove his SUV into a Planned Parenthood clinic last Thursday has been charged with two felony counts of first-degree criminal damage to property. The driver seems to have been motivated by religious beliefs, but according to his mother also may suffer from mental health problems: (via The South Washington County Bulletin).

NARAL Pro-Choice New York President Kelli Conlin writes in the Albany Times-Union that an important task lies ahead for Gov. David Paterson in appointing a new senator to replace Hillary Clinton, and that her successor ought to be as passionate about using the Senate to advocate for women as Clinton has been.

President Bush is expected to announce the "right of conscience" rule allowing any employee in a health care facility that receives federal money to deny care based on personally held beliefs, which proponents such as the Christian Medical Association and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops say extends to birth control and artificial insemination: (via Seattle Times).

A San Francisco Chronicle article highlights the several treaties President-Elect Obama may seek to have ratified as president, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which has been ratified by every other industrialized nation and was signed by President Carter in 1980 but has never made it to the U.S. Senate.

An RH Reality Check article discusses the intersection between natural disasters and the extra reproductive health care difficulties faced by women during them, noting the need for increased training and access to reproductive health care resources during times of crisis.

The anti-abortion group, Christian Defense Coalition, is planning to gather activists to sidewalk chalk Pennsylvania Avenue with "pro-life messages and pictures" to greet the Obamas at the White House: (via Colorado Independent).

A new Spanish radio ad launched for World AIDS Day yesterday aimed at Catholics promotes a message that "good Catholics use condoms", focusing on a Catholic person's responsibility to care for loved ones by protecting themselves and others: (via RH Reality Check).

With the nomination of Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano as Secretary of Homeland Security abortion rights activists are concerned her replacement, Republican Secretary of State Jan Brewer, will be detrimental to progressive abortion policy in the state: (via azcentral.com).

Planned Parenthood in Indiana has created quite a stir in the anti-choice community by offering gift certificates for services, which are intended to help financially strapped men and women pay for preventative health care, but can also be used for abortion services: (via NY Times).

The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology published a study finding that between 2005 and 2007 access to emergency contraception from pharmacies has increased considerably since the medication has become available without a prescription, with large chain stores more likely than smaller local chains to stock and dispense EC: (via National Parternship.org).

In the journal Contraception an editorial examines possible reasons why increased availability of emergency contraception has not necessarily reduced the incidence of unintended pregnancy, including possible sporadic use of the medication or women using EC when no true risk of pregnancy exists: (via National Parternship.org).

A Guttmacher Institute policy review provides suggestions for making contraception more accessible and easy to use and calls for more attention towards the issue since 9 in 10 women at risk for unintended pregnancy use contraception, yet half of all pregnancies remain unintended: (via National Parternship.org).

The Catholic priest in California that called for parishioners to go to confession for voting for Obama attempts to clarify his statements to his congregation and in an interview with the Modesto Bee.

A recently released New Zealand study finds a small link between abortion and mental health issues, saying for many women abortion may be a stressful or traumatic time but does not cause devastating effects on mental health, as the anti-choice community would like people to believe: (via medicalnewstoday.com).  

Though abortion in Bolivia is legal in some circumstances, access for women who are able to legally obtain one are often practically prevented from doing so by anti-abortion judges and doctors, and illegal abortion remains frequent and dangerously unsafe: (via RH Reality Check).

RH Reality Check explores what the appointment of former Senator Tom Daschle to Health and Human Services Secretary for the Obama administration means for the reproductive health care community.

The Catholic church of the Philippines says it has the support to defeat the family planning bill being decided by the Philippine Congress, which includes promoting sex education and use of contraceptives, and will introduce its own bill to limit the sale of contraception and condoms: (via Yahoo.com)

The Pittsburg Post-Gazette editorializes against the Bush administration's decision to implement the "provider conscience" rule, saying the decision takes rights away from patients and that fears over the implications of the rule are "warranted".

Zita Lazzarini writes in the New England Journal of Medicine on how the South Dakota "informed consent" law, which requires abortion providers to tell patients they are terminating "the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being", is a breach of First Amendment rights and violates the patient-physician relationship by requiring doctors to provide misinformation.

A blogger for The Atlantic, Conservative Ross Douthat, writes in support of many anti-abortion measures, but also calls on the anti-choice movement to stop fighting access to contraception, especially as more evidence shows birth control pills and similar contraceptives do not work by preventing implantation.

Democratic strategist Laura K. Chapin says in a U.S. News and World Report article that the wedge issue of abortion is dead in the western states after the defeat of three abortion bans this election.

The California Supreme Court has decided to hear arguments on the constitutionality of Proposition 8 and will answer questions on the legality of the marriages between 18,000 same sex couples who were wed prior to the passing of Prop. 8: (via NY Times).

The Tacoma News Tribune writes an editorial asking Dino Rossi to renounce the BIAW for their shady campaigning tactics because campaign ethics must have "respect for the spirit as well as the letter of the law".

The Seattle Times profiles Darcy Burner and her ties to the "netroots", the group of progressive bloggers who have supported Burner in fundraising and campaigning.

Asian country East Timor has the highest fertility rate in the world at 7.8 children per woman, a rate that will double their population by 2020, however knowledge of contraception is extremely rare in this mostly Catholic nation that has incredibly strict abortion laws. (via RH Reality Check).

The Brewster School Board has decided not to pursue a grant to open a school-based health clinic over fears it may increase access to contraception, despite the fact that the main purpose of the clinic would be to provide immunizations and primary health care for sick kids: (via Wenatchee World).

In addition to the Senate letter signed by 28 senators, 126 House Democrats have drafted a letter sent to the HHS opposing the rule that would allow health care providers to deny care based on personal, non medical beliefs saying it "puts policy and ideology before quality health care": (via NationalPartnership.org).
The letter.

A ten-year-old Yemeni girl who was granted a divorce from her abusive husband three times her age has returned to school to start the second grade: (via LA Times).

Another study by Guttmacher finds that the amount of women seeking contraceptive services in private and public clinics is increasing, with about 1 in 4 seeking reproductive health services at a publicly funded clinic where over 69% are specifically requesting contraception: (via NationalPartnership.org).

A new book called Abortion and Life, which puts a face on women who have had abortions and tells their stories, intends to de-stigmatize the experience and allow the sometimes complex emotions surrounding abortion to be shared: (via The Phoenix).

In response to the book, an anonymous writer discusses her abortion experience and why it is important for ordinary women who have had abortions to not be ashamed of their decision: (via The Phoenix).

Gloucester, Mass. Mayor and School Committee Chairman are encouraging School Committee members to allow the high school health center to dispense contraception to its students after the high school was embroiled in a pregnancy scandal earlier this year that garnered extensive media coverage and caused the resignation of many top school officials: (via Boston.com).

The LA Times published an editorial against California's parental notification proposition (Prop 4), saying the law would hinder abortion rights and possibly, contrary to its supposed goal, put pregnant underage girls in greater endangerment.

Thirteen state attorneys general and several medical associations have come out in opposition to the proposed HHS rule that extends the abilities of health care workers to deny services based on their personal beliefs, saying the rule would "obliterate the rights of patients": (via AP/Google).

The Republican Majority for Choice will not be nominating a candidate in the presidential election, citing an "outpouring of concern from our members" over McCain's selection of adamantly anti-choice Gov. Sarah Palin for his running mate: (via RH Reality Check).

A new poll conducted by the New York Times and CBS News, shows continued support for abortion rights in the mainstream of American life, yet also indicates that very few voters are making their decisions based on social issues - highlighting the need to educate voters that reproductive rights are as vulnerable as the economy (via RH Reality Check).

An op-ed published in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer says that McCain's determination to move the Supreme Court even further to the right should be of concern to all Americans, particularly his campaign pledge to appoint more federal court judges like those appointed by George W. Bush.

John McCain Is No Choice for Women!

John McCain has an alarming history of disrespecting women and their contributions to society. He's violently opposed to womens' reproductive freedom, has voted against women's access to health care, and has repeatedly opposed women receiving equal pay for equal work. None of us can afford to vote for a person like John McCain, who shows such utter disrespect for women.

John McCain Opposes A Woman's Right to Choose

John McCain clearly opposes a woman's right to choose. John McCain would appoint Supreme Court Justices who would overturn Roe vs. Wade, and support radical religious extremists' efforts to ban birth control. Meanwhile, Barack Obama strongly supports a woman's right to choose, a position shared by a majority of Americans.