Posts Tagged Women’s Health

The gene patent case before the Supreme Court is hugely important to women’s health

Ed. note: Katie is off this week, so Arikia Millikan is guest blogging in her place. Arikia is a Brooklyn-based journalist and former Wired editor who writes about science and technology. She was Nate Silver’s research assistant for the NY Times bestseller The Signal and the Noise.

The Supreme Court is currently hearing a precedent-setting case regarding the patenting of human genes, specifically the two genes that are most closely linked to breast and ovarian cancer. When Myriad Genetics aided in the discovery of BRCA1 and BRCA2, they patented the discovery, securing a monopoly over use of the genes for decades. Now, a group of researchers and medical groups, including the women’s health collective Our Bodies Ourselves, have sued.

Ed. note: Katie is off this week, so Arikia Millikan is guest blogging in her place. Arikia is a Brooklyn-based journalist and former Wired editor who writes about science and technology. She was Nate Silver’s ...

Thank an abortion provider

Image via Advocates for Youth.

Yesterday was the National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers. In a reasonable world, being an abortion provider would not require any particular courage. But we live in a country that has seen 218 bombings and arsons, 656 bomb threats, and 191 incidents of assault and battery at abortion clinics in the last 35 years. So, as one of the one in three American women who will have an abortion, thank you to all the doctors who endure harassment to do this stigmatized and too-often thankless job.

Access to safe, legal abortion is dependent on there continuing to be doctors who will provide this care. As Dr. Susan Robinson, one of four ...

Image via Advocates for Youth.

Yesterday was the National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers. In a reasonable world, being an abortion provider would not require any particular courage. But ...

stork

OB/GYNs call for the pill to be available over-the-counter

This could be a game-changer, right? The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has recommended that oral contraceptives should be available without a prescription.

Cost, access, and convenience issues are common reasons why women do not use contraception or use it inconsistently. There are no OCs currently approved for OTC access, but The College believes OTC availability will improve women’s access to and usage of contraception. The benefits of making OCs easily accessible OTC outweigh the risks, says The College.

It’s pretty ridiculous that this hasn’t already happened. Oh wait, I’m sorry–I forgot for a second that a vocal minority lives in an alternate universe where contraception doesn’t prevent unintended pregnancies and is, in fact, murder, or a

Send a copy of Our Bodies Ourselves to every member of Congress

Clearly, some of them need it. Seems we have some members of Congress who couldn’t pass seventh grade Biology, and yet, they’re still allowed to write and pass legislation that gets all up in women’s… business.

So, the smart people over at Our Bodies, Ourselves have started a campaign to get a copy of their seminal book into every single congressional office, so that no lawmaker can ever use ignorance of how the human body works as an excuse for draconian anti-women legislation.

This information could help inform policies on maternal health, preventive care, and access to contraception, abortion and the full range of reproductive health services. It also could serve as a resource on violence against women ...

Clearly, some of them need it. Seems we have some members of Congress who couldn’t pass seventh grade Biology, and yet, they’re still allowed to write and pass legislation that gets all up in women’s… business.

So, ...

Elizabeth Banks doesn’t want to talk about her “heavy flow” to employers

She might play conservative Avery Jessup on 30 Rock, but Elizabeth Banks is no believer in taking away women’s health care. The Obama campaign has released this video of her talking about her history with Planned Parenthood, how important it was for her and for so many women, especially working class women. Best line, “Mitt Romney wants to take away cancer screening? What is he doing?”

Watch the whole thing:

(One note: Her explanation for why she is on birth control, while understandable and I’m sure true, seems hesitant. It’s OK to say we use birth control because we don’t want to get pregnant. Less unwanted pregnancies is less abortions–pretty logical to me!)

Transcript after the jump.

She might play conservative Avery Jessup on 30 Rock, but Elizabeth Banks is no believer in taking away women’s health care. The Obama campaign has released this video of her talking about her history with Planned Parenthood, ...

Reminder: Health care reform is good for women

On the second day of Supreme Court hearings on the health care reform law, which is now apparently officially known as Obamacare, things are not looking good for people who believe everyone deserves health care. Legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin said, “This was a train wreck for the Obama administration. This law looks like it’s going to be struck down.” So now might be a good time to offer a reminder of some of the pretty nice things the law does. Via Mother Jones here’s one:

On the second day of Supreme Court hearings on the health care reform law, which is now apparently officially known as Obamacare, things are not looking good for people who believe everyone deserves health care.

snatchel

Snatchels and sarcasm: Using humor to fight back against anti-choice politicians

If you, like me, have been inspired by the recent spate of satirical bills proposed by pro-choice state legislators, but are looking for something equally clever you, as a regular citizen, can do to mock the recent attacks on reproductive rights, here are a couple ideas.

Send your anti-choice representative a knit vagina so he doesn’t have to obsess so much over yours. Or a uterus, but the vaginas are so much cuter. The folks at Government Free VJJ have provided simple instructions, several knitting patterns, and how-to videos. Here’s the “Snatchel.”

Spam anti-choice Governors’ Facebook walls with sarcastic TMI comments. Project TMI was born out of one Virginia woman’s disgust and frustration and ...

If you, like me, have been inspired by the recent spate of satirical bills proposed by pro-choice state legislators, but are looking for something equally clever you, as a regular citizen, can do to ...

Senate to vote tomorrow on whether your boss can dictate your health care coverage

Tomorrow, the Senate is expected to vote on the Blunt amendment, which, as we’ve reported, would “allow any employer to exclude any health service coverage by claiming that it violates their religious or moral convictions.” Birth control? HIV treatment? Maternity care? Whateves.

Republican supporters are saying it isn’t that big a deal–that it’s just the same conscious protections that have always been in place. In fact, allowing even non-religious employers to refuse to cover any services they want is a radical new move. Any employer–even a Taco Bell–could deny their employees coverage of key preventive services that are guaranteed to everyone else under health care reform on the basis of their own personal “morals.” Here’s a ...

Tomorrow, the Senate is expected to vote on the Blunt amendment, which, as we’ve reported, would “allow any employer to exclude any health service coverage by claiming that it violates their religious or moral convictions.” ...

Load More