Newsletter

By Rebecca Spence

In January, the U.S. women’s health movement celebrated the 40^th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, which gave women the right to legal abortion. In the decades since Roe, health activists have focused on advocating for reproductive justice, which demands that women have the right to be parents — as well as the right not to parent — and to decide where, with whom, and how we give birth. Reproductive justice includes the rights to accept or refuse any type of maternity care and to access this care from respectful and culturally appropriate providers — which are essential for women to be able to make the best decisions for themselves and their families.

By Amy Laskowske

When I was 19, I was blindsided by getting an osteoporosis diagnosis. The first images that came to my mind were of an unhealthy woman, who was not knowledgeable about her health, and who was sickly looking. At the time, I was a successful runner just beginning an exciting career as a Division I collegiate athlete. I was a good student and was conscious about my health because my success as a student-athlete depended on it! But, I also prioritized my immediate goals and short-term success over my long-term health. I ignored the advice to do “everything in moderation” — and had to deal with the consequences.

January 1, 2013, marked a new day in preventive health services coverage for many women! The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires that all new private insurance plans cover key women’s preventive health services without additional costs like co-pays. This rule applies to new plans, as well as to on-going insurance plans’ new coverage periods. Because most plans’ coverage periods start at the beginning of the calendar year, many women gained access to these important services without co-pays in January. 

G spots

There seems to be no limit to what you can use a smart phone for these days! A new app gives people a way to share their sexually transmitted infection (STI) status through what the developer calls “safe bumping.” Mobile users can touch (“bump”) their mobile phones together and instantly exchange information about their STD status. The MedXcom app also encourages users to get STD tests; allows your doctor to post that a person is STD-free on the app; and provides a way for people with an STD to track their treatment plan, medications, and appointments.

By Nicole Dubowitz

By Debra L. Ness

They call us the “Sandwich Generation,” which sounds kind of nice. After all, who doesn’t like a good sandwich? But that phrase obscures a reality that virtually every woman either faces today or will face tomorrow: caring for herself while simultaneously looking after her children, parents, in-laws and, sometimes, grandparents. All this while coping with a challenging economy and a health care system that fails to consistently deliver high-quality, well-coordinated care.

By Brittnee Hawkins

40^th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

Forty years ago, when a woman realized that she needed an abortion, her ability to get a safe procedure depended on where she lived and how much money she had.

Forty years later, with abortion legal in all U.S. states thanks to the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, a woman can much more easily get a safe procedure.

But not always – many women face the barriers like medically unnecessary procedures imposed by state legislatures. 

G-Spot

Almost 80 percent of teenage pregnancies in the US are unplanned, and most of these are the result of failure of or lack of contraception – so it’s a good thing women have access to Emergency Contraception (EC)! The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) just released a policy statement that EC is safe and effective for teens and that pediatricians should make sure that sexually active girls have advance prescriptions in case they need EC. Hopefully AAP members will heed this call and make sure that teens have EC on hand.