|
FERTILITY
Fertility Fraud Cases Keep Cropping Up
What: A round-up of recent coverage of “fertility fraud” cases in the United States, which is when a physician inseminates a patient with his own sperm without getting the patient’s consent. At first it may sound far-fetched, but there have been up to 80 cases identified by activists.
Why it matters: Besides being a massive violation, there are also real world consequences. A woman recently learned that her high school boyfriend, who she said she could have easily married, was her half-brother.
Source: The Week
BIRTH CONTROL
College Students: We Need Better Info on Hormonal Birth Control
What: An op-ed from the student paper at Michigan’s Grand Valley State University, which has tens of thousands of students, calls for greater education about what women should look out for when getting on hormonal birth control. (They also note that the men on the editorial team “know even less about birth control and the reproductive health of women. In preparation for this piece, the women on our editorial team had to educate the men on our staff about these topics due to a similar lack of education – albeit, a significantly more pronounced lack of education in comparison.”)
Why it matters: Questioning hormonal birth control has become a trend, especially among younger women. Perhaps demanding information will get us better research!
Source: Lanthorn
Wirecutter On the Best Menstrual Cups and Discs
What: New York Times’ Wirecutter updates their 2016 review of the best menstrual cups and discs. After looking at 40 different items, they found Cora’s The Easy-Does-It cup was the best for beginners, while the MeLuna Classic cup and Saaalt Disc were the best for more experienced users.
Why it matters: We deserve (and appreciate!) the precision Wirecutter brought to this question – now let’s see it for all things women’s health.
Source: Wirecutter
ABORTION ACCESS
Trump Wants 16 Week Abortion Ban
What: Donald Trump wants a national 16-week abortion ban if he becomes president again. And there are a number of ways he could try to enforce a federal ban via executive action. In typical Trumpian fashion, he does not have a policy reason for selecting 16 weeks, he reportedly likes it because it is an even number.
Why it matters: This would significantly restrict abortion access for all American women – and even though Trump says he supports exceptions, one only has to look to cases in Texas to see how those “exceptions” are il defined and virtually meaningless. Put simply, this policy means more women will die.
Source: New York Times
MENOPAUSE
Comparing Menopause Apps When Primary Care Docs Fail
What: A USA Today columnist didn’t feel like herself as she approached menopause, but found her symptoms dismissed by doctors. So she tested out several apps that aim to connect women to health professionals trained in menopause treatment, including Midi, Winona, Gennev, and Evernow.
Why it matters: The piece provides a nice overview of how these apps differ and the pros/cons associated with each.
Source: USA Today
ENDOMETRIOSIS
Amy Schumer: Yes My Face Is Puffy. Google Endometriosis.
What: Amy Schumer’s face was puffy on television, and that prompted a lot of conversation! Schumer’s response: “…thank you so much for everyone’s input about my face! I’ve enjoyed feedback and deliberation about my appearance as all women do for almost 20 years. And you’re right it is puffier than normal right now. I have endometriosis an auto immune disease that every woman should read about.”
Why it matters: Increasing endometriosis knowledge can help, one Instagram post at a time.
Source: ABC News
|