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what the court leaked

the top things to know in women’s health and wellness today:

  • Another Supreme Court abortion decision got leaked — this time, it showed the court essentially delaying a decision on whether ERs must provide abortions for women whose health is in danger without one. 
     
  • A British regulator made a menopause supplements company pull its Facebook ads for lying about cures — a reminder to us all on the veracity of supplement claims. 
     
  • An illustrated column from Vox highlights a new hurdle to traveling while pregnant: figuring out where you might have to go to get adequate emergency care if you are visiting an abortion ban state.

JUMP TO…

Pregnancy and Postpartum
Birth Control
Abortion Access
Menopause

TOP STORIES TODAY: the most important reads we’ve found, and why they matter.

PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM

New Hurdles to Planning Trips While Pregnant

What: An illustrated article depicting the planning that went into the author’s trip to South Carolina, where abortion is largely banned. Why? Because the author has a high-risk pregnancy.

Why it matters: “So, in addition to researching kid-friendly restaurants and nearby beaches for our trip, I found myself having to study abortion laws in South Carolina and nearby states.”

Source: Vox

Rural Doulas are Graduating in Georgia

What: Atlanta’s WABE radio station profiles “Morehouse School of Medicine’s first cohort of rural doulas, called Perinatal Patient Navigators. The program recently graduated its first dozen participants, all Black women from Southwest Georgia. They have completed more than five months of training and are slated to begin working with pregnant and postpartum patients this year.”

Why it matters: “Georgia has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the country, according to an analysis by health policy and research organization KFF.  And Black Georgians are more than twice as likely as white women to die related to pregnancy.”

Source: WABE

BIRTH CONTROL

Dems Want Contraception Details from Military

What: Democrats in Congress have been on a tear when it comes to free birth control coverage, and the military is no exception. Sen. Jeanne Shaeen (D-NH) sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, seeking details on any “barriers preventing the department from implementing provisions mandated by Congress to protect and expand service members’ access to contraception and contraceptive counseling.”

Why it matters: The letter “comes after the Senate Armed Services Committee for the first time included an amendment in its version of the annual defense policy bill this year that would eliminate copays for contraception for those using military health care.”

Source: Military.com

ABORTION ACCESS

Supreme Court Delays Emergency Abortions Decision (For This Year)

What: The Supreme Court decision on emergency rooms treating women who need abortions leaked today, and it showed the court ruling to send the case back to lower courts to consider. So in other words—hospitals in states like Idaho must continue providing emergency abortions when a women’s health is at risk. For now.

Why it matters: As Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson put it: “Today’s decision is not a victory for pregnant patients in Idaho. It is delay…While this court dawdles and the country waits, pregnant people experiencing emergency medical conditions remain in a precarious position, as their doctors are kept in the dark about what the law requires.”

Source: Bloomberg

MENOPAUSE

British Regulator Pulls Menopause “Curing” Supplement Ads

What: A regulator in Great Britain pulled Facebook ads for a menopause supplements “Rejuvit Ageless Vitality and Rejuvit Graceful Ageing” which “claimed the supplements would treat symptoms of the menopause, including weight gain, hot flushes, bloating, low energy and digestive issues.” The claims violated British law, which prohibits supplements from claiming they can cure ailments.

Why it matters: It’s a good reminder that there is often very little to no evidence behind the claims made in social media ads, and regulations are often the only way to stop companies from making up claims.

Source: The Independent