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MENSTRUATION
Researchers: Tampons Have Lead, Arsenic In Them
What: Researchers examined 30 tampons from 14 different brands to see what metals showed up in them, including arsenic, calcium, lead, and mercury. They found measurable concentrations of all metals they looked for, including lead and arsenic. Even organic tampons had metals in them.
Why it matters: Researchers point out that in the US there is âno requirement to test tampons for chemical contaminants, and the FDA only recommends that tampons not contain two dioxin compounds or pesticide residues.â (Though they do say more study is needed to see if metals actually âleach outâ of the tampons and are absorbed by the vagina.)
Source: Environment International
ABORTION ACCESS
Republican Party Backs Fetal Personhood Laws
What: The Republican party adopted a party âplatformâ today, mostly a campaign document where they list out what they want to do if they win the White House. In it the party implies that a fetus is a person and that states are âfree to pass laws protecting those rights.â To translate that: They wrote, in as confusing terms as possible (likely because they know how unpopular this is!), that theyâre totally fine with states that want to pass fetal personhood laws.
Why it matters: The fetal personhood laws are what led to Alabama (briefly) banning IVF when their state court ruled that frozen embryos were people. TLDR if fetal personhood is on the table, so is a national abortion ban, an IVF ban, and a contraception ban (especially emergency contraception and IUDs.)
Source: Abortion, Every Day
MENTAL HEALTH
Feds Offer Nearly $30 Million to Treat, Improve Womenâs Mental Health
What: The Biden administration announced $27.5 million specifically for womenâs mental health, with $15 million going to community-based maternal behavioral health services. The other $12.5 million will set up a âwomenâs behavioral health technical assistance centerâ that would aim to âidentify and improve the implementation of evidence-based practices in womenâs behavioral health.â
Why it matters: Suicide is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in the United States.
Source: Fierce Healthcare
PCOS
PCOS Pregnancies Can Be High Risk
What: A review of over 70 studies covering more than 90,000 babies born to women with PCOS found they were âmore likely to be born preterm and have lower mean birthweight, low birth weight, and fetal growth restriction.â This was especially true for women with PCOS who got pregnant using fertility treatments and/or procedures.
Why it matters: The results of this analysis led to new international recommendations âthat PCOS status should be identified during pregnancy to provide appropriate monitoring and support.â Or in other words, because the odds of a preterm delivery or low birth weight baby are higher, especially among PCOS women using fertility technology, their pregnancies need greater attention.
Source: Nature Communications
WELLNESS + BEAUTY
Plastic Surgeonâs Brutal Beauty Myth Destruction
What: The Cutâs Valerie Monroe talks to a New York City plastic surgeon (with a healthy IG following, of course) to dispel 10 beauty mythsâŠincluding one I was previously a believer of! (âToner is not essential. Itâs basically useless.â)
Why it matters: There are likely some experts out there who may quibble with or bring more nuance to this doctor’s hot takes, but itâs always refreshing to see a publication post what doesnât work (instead of posting articles filled with links to products they get a cut from!)
Source: The Cut
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