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EVERYTHING
Trump Tells Pregnant Women to Avoid Tylenol. It’s a Familiar Pattern.
What: As mentioned in our last edition, President Trump told pregnant women to “tough it out” and not take Tylenol, claiming it was an unproven cause of autism. The NYT reports that his comments fit a long-running pattern where pregnant women (even medical professionals!) are barraged with unsolicited and often undermining advice.
Key Line: “‘What he was saying sounded very similar to what I think pregnant women hear all the time,’ said Emily Oster, founder of ParentData and a professor of economics at Brown University, adding: ‘This idea of, ‘Only take it if you absolutely have to, if things have gotten so bad that there’s no other option,’ that sounds like what everyone hears about, say, S.S.R.Is.’ New mothers are ‘constantly being told that things that happen are their fault,’ she said, ‘and they are just really stressed out.’”
My Take: There are ethical concerns with testing drugs on pregnant women, but rarely is it recognized that we are, in a way, already experimenting on fetuses. We are exposing them in utero to mothers with severe depression, for example. And now add to that list pain. Has anyone proven that is absolutely safe for a baby? (Genuine question — let me know!)
Source: New York Times
A Practical Guide to Women’s Health Advocacy
What: The Society for Women’s Health Research has an excellent guide to help individuals advocate for women’s health on the federal level. It explains how advocacy differs from lobbying, how to plan purposeful actions, and even how to meet with members of Congress. The guide aims to give advocates clear tools to push for better women’s health policy.
Key Line: “Be strategic with your timing. Congress follows a legislative calendar. Depending on your goal, advocacy efforts may be more effective during certain times of year (e.g., when appropriations bills are being drafted) or when specific bills are being considered.”
My Take: Amen to more people visiting (or even just calling/writing!) their members of Congress. It feels like a drop in the bucket, but after covering Capitol Hill for 10 years–it really can make a difference. (Especially if you are a constituent of a member on a committee that controls women’s health funding!)
Source: Society for Women’s Health Research
BIRTH CONTROL
Denmark Apologizes to Greenlandic Women for Forced Birth Control
What: Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, formally apologized to Greenlandic women who were subjected to forced contraception policies. The apology was delivered in person, acknowledging Denmark’s responsibility in the harmful practices. The issue has long been contested and reflects a broader reckoning with the treatment of Greenland by Denmark.
Key Line: “There were gray-haired Greenlandic women in the audience who had been victimized and silently weathered the ordeal for decades. Some wiped away tears. Others sat stone-faced. One woman painted black stripes on her face and stood during the speech with her back turned to Ms. Frederiksen, in protest.”
My Take: What struck me about this story was how recently it happened — forced birth control went on well into the 1990s, even after Denmark had given Greenland more independence.
Source: New York Times
ABORTION ACCESS
RFK Jr. Orders Probe Into Abortion Pill Safety
What: HHS Sec. Kennedy has officially launched an investigation into the safety of mifepristone, the abortion pill, amid pressure from antiabortion groups. In a letter last week to 22 Republican AGs, Kennedy and FDA head Marty Makary said the agency would conduct its own review of the drug’s safety and effectiveness. The move follows a July request from those AGs for a new safety study.
Key Line: “The letter from Kennedy and Makary cited a study from faith-based think tank Ethics and Public Policy Center that found potential adverse events from taking the pill. Pro-choice advocates have called the study “junk science” and pushed back on its findings.”
My Take: It wasn’t just prochoice groups that said the study was “junk science” — it was never published in a scientific, peer-reviewed journal. That means it can’t be retracted like earlier abortion pill danger “studies”, most notably one in 2024 on the safety of mifepristone by the Charlotte Lozier Institute (another antiabortion advocacy group). The journal retracted it for methodological issues and undisclosed conflicts of interest.
Source: Bloomberg
MENTAL HEALTH
Propranolol Prescriptions Spike as Young Women Turn to It for Anxiety Jitters
What: Propranolol, a beta blocker originally approved in 1967 for heart conditions, is now widely used off-label to manage nerves in stressful moments like speeches, weddings, and dates. Prescriptions have jumped 28% since 2020, making it the fastest-growing beta blocker, with much of that increase fueled by podcasts, influencers, and celebrities. While it calms some physical symptoms of anxiety by lowering heart rate and blood pressure, the FDA has never approved it specifically for treating anxiety.
Key Line: “While doctors legally prescribe medicines for off-label use all the time, there is little clinical trial research showing the effectiveness of beta blockers for treating anxiety. …In the U.S., musician and model Delilah Belle Hamlin, the daughter of actors Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin, has said that propranolol played a part in her 2021 accidental overdose. In an Instagram video that year, she says she was overprescribed propranolol, which she was taking multiple times a day, and ended up in the hospital after taking it with Benadryl.”
My Take: This story is a neatly-wrapped-up parable of the social media influencer-to-telehealth prescriber pipeline. On the flip side, it includes testimonials from women who say it helped their anxiety. Like most things, it’s complicated.
Source: Wall Street Journal
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