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EVERYTHING
Trump to Pregnant Women without Evidence: ‘Tough it Out’ Without Tylenol
What: The Trump administration claimed Tylenol use in pregnancy leads to autism, but Scientific American dives into the decades of research that shows autism has many genetic and environmental factors, while evidence for Tylenol is weak and not causal. Experts, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, stress acetaminophen remains one of the few safe pain relievers in pregnancy, and that oversimplified claims put patients at risk.
Key Line: “In more than two decades of research on the use of acetaminophen in pregnancy, not a single reputable study has successfully concluded that the use of acetaminophen in any trimester of pregnancy causes neurodevelopmental disorders in children.”
My Take: HHS Sec. RFK Jr. said he’d have a cause for autism in an impossibly short timeframe, and he found something that may satisfy his MAHA acolytes and Trump–for now. Of course, it comes with no evidence that taking Tylenol during pregnancy actually *causes* autism. And it reminded me of this piece from 2021, explaining just how bad the state of medicine for pregnant women really is. (It’s about to get much worse.)
Source: Scientific American
FERTILITY
Sex Ed Should Cover Fertility Too
What: The Atlantic looks at how sex-ed classes in the US largely ignore fertility, leaving many people surprised by how quickly fertility declines and how factors like weight, infections, or alcohol can affect it. Surveys show fertility knowledge is strikingly low, even among medical trainees, and studies suggest school-based fertility education improves awareness, though programs vary widely and face political resistance.
Key Line: “A lot of the misunderstanding around fertility and reproductive health lends people to either not be able to have the family size that they desire, or to have lost a lot of time along the way.”
My Take: A resounding YES, though I’d argue middle school might not be the best time to focus on fertility decades later. A shameless plug for the interactive guides I’m putting together that aren’t an hours-long course or hundreds-of-pages long book — there are so many examples of where a little education could go a long way. One click here to get on the list and see what’s in store.
Source: The Atlantic
Inside the Collapse of Fertility Chain Kindbody
What: Bloomberg reporter Jackie Davalos has an entire podcast on how Kindbody, once one of the fastest-growing fertility clinic chains in the US, fell apart. She focuses on the human cost for patients and staff, while pointing to larger problems in an industry that lacks strong oversight.
Key Line: “While KindBody did help women start families, it also left behind a streamof disillusioned and angry patients. ‘You think you’re finally, like, in the right hands. You’re just not.'”
My Take: The near-zero marginal costs that can come with building tech products doesn’t apply when it comes to babies. More patients, more staff, more money…smaller margins, bigger errors.
Source: Bloomberg
BIRTH CONTROL
The ACA Promised Free Birth Control—Barriers Still Keep It Out of Reach
What: One of the lesser-known elements of Obamacare was guaranteeing *free* access to birth control. But Ms. Magazine points out that insurance denials, loopholes, and state refusal laws keep many people from getting contraception they need. A 2022 House Oversight report found 40 percent of exception requests were denied between 2015 and 2021, while several states now let pharmacists refuse to fill prescriptions outright.
Key Line: “A legal guarantee means little when insurers can exploit loopholes, drag out exceptions processes or quietly impose costs that push contraception out of reach.”
My Take: A great, underreported point…that is so hard to magnify in the current state of women’s health and US politics.
Source: Ms. Magazine
PREGNANCY + POSTPARTUM
Scientists Capture First Video of Human Embryo Implantation
What: BBC’s Science Focus dives deeper into a study from last month that showed a human embryo embedding into an artificial uterus. The footage shows human embryos penetrate and grow inside tissue—unlike mouse embryos, which only stick to the surface—offering key insight into infertility, miscarriages, and IVF success rates. The team hopes the model, which mimics the uterine lining, will lead to better embryo selection and improved outcomes in future fertility treatments.
Key Line: “The human embryo is very invasive. It burrows into the matrix and embeds itself, and then grows inside.”
My Take: We included the original study last month, but this is one of those things that hits both 1) science is pretty cool and 2) how are we just doing this now?
Source: BBC Science Focus
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