Monday, April 27, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thank You Secretary of State Clinton
Created by: Jillian
A huge "thank you" to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for eloquently expressing the humanity of providing women throughout the world with the reproductive health services they need, which includes safe abortion procedures.
How refreshing to have a woman in power who feels comfortable expressing a point of view, that while held by many, is often rarely spoken in political discourse.
A huge "thank you" to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for eloquently expressing the humanity of providing women throughout the world with the reproductive health services they need, which includes safe abortion procedures.
How refreshing to have a woman in power who feels comfortable expressing a point of view, that while held by many, is often rarely spoken in political discourse.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Plan B Available to 17 Year Olds
Created by: Jillian
U.S. District Judge Edward Korman ruled last month in a lawsuit filed in New York that Bush administration appointees let politics, not science, drive their decision to restrict over-the-counter access. Now, the FDA is upholding that decision and will be allowing those 17 years of age to purchase Plan B over the counter. Prior to this ruling, only those 18 and older were able to purchase Plan B without a prescription.
This is a good first step. But, this debate has been a long and heated one and is far from over. "In 2003, a panel of outside advisers voted 23-4 to recommend over-the-counter sales without age restrictions. But top FDA officials told their subordinates that no approval could be issued at the time, and the decision would be made at a higher level. That's considered highly unusual, since the FDA usually has the last word on drug decisions."
There is no scientific reason for Plan B to be restricted based on age. But instead of complaining-- today, we can celebrate one small step toward placing science before ideology.
U.S. District Judge Edward Korman ruled last month in a lawsuit filed in New York that Bush administration appointees let politics, not science, drive their decision to restrict over-the-counter access. Now, the FDA is upholding that decision and will be allowing those 17 years of age to purchase Plan B over the counter. Prior to this ruling, only those 18 and older were able to purchase Plan B without a prescription.
This is a good first step. But, this debate has been a long and heated one and is far from over. "In 2003, a panel of outside advisers voted 23-4 to recommend over-the-counter sales without age restrictions. But top FDA officials told their subordinates that no approval could be issued at the time, and the decision would be made at a higher level. That's considered highly unusual, since the FDA usually has the last word on drug decisions."
There is no scientific reason for Plan B to be restricted based on age. But instead of complaining-- today, we can celebrate one small step toward placing science before ideology.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Fully Licensed and Accredited by the State--so what?
Created by: Jillian
There are nearly double the amount of Crisis Pregnancy Centers in the United States than there are abortion clinics. Some of these Crisis Pregnancy Centers are "fully licensed and accredited by the state", but as you'll read in "Babies & Bibles", we might need to start asking why...again.
In 2006, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney D-NY sponsored a bill that would have stopped deceptive advertising for women's services and would have outlawed "fake clinics" that offer free pregnancy tests and then provide women with religious doctrine.
I think it's about time we revisit the issue of Crisis Pregnancy Centers.
Again...I can't stress this enough... we as a society are refusing to provide our youth with sex education and then we allow Crisis Pregnancy Centers to exist that are providing them with false information once they have experienced the unintended consequence of not receiving the important information they needed in the first place to make informed decisions.
Stop the madness!!
There are nearly double the amount of Crisis Pregnancy Centers in the United States than there are abortion clinics. Some of these Crisis Pregnancy Centers are "fully licensed and accredited by the state", but as you'll read in "Babies & Bibles", we might need to start asking why...again.
In 2006, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney D-NY sponsored a bill that would have stopped deceptive advertising for women's services and would have outlawed "fake clinics" that offer free pregnancy tests and then provide women with religious doctrine.
I think it's about time we revisit the issue of Crisis Pregnancy Centers.
Again...I can't stress this enough... we as a society are refusing to provide our youth with sex education and then we allow Crisis Pregnancy Centers to exist that are providing them with false information once they have experienced the unintended consequence of not receiving the important information they needed in the first place to make informed decisions.
Stop the madness!!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Information Age? What information?
Created by: Jillian
A few posts back I discussed a study that had been released by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and Self Magazine in which they questioned how young women and men could be so clueless about their sexual health in an era of such great information sharing.
My answer was that the information being shared had nothing to do about safe sex and preventing unintended pregnancies and more to do with pleasure and care free/no questions asked sex.
Now today, I receive this little article, saying that of the websites searched after googling the terms, "birth control", "morning after pill", and "sexually transmitted disease", half failed to provide accurate, complete information about emergency contraception, 60% said birth control causes weight gain, despite recent research to the contrary, and only about half correctly stated that some STDs, such as herpes, can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact or kissing.
Some of the websites identified--WebMD, Wikipedia & Mayoclinic.
So, we don't provide our youth with sex education and for those who are responsible enough to google, we provide them with misinformation.
Wow.
A few posts back I discussed a study that had been released by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and Self Magazine in which they questioned how young women and men could be so clueless about their sexual health in an era of such great information sharing.
My answer was that the information being shared had nothing to do about safe sex and preventing unintended pregnancies and more to do with pleasure and care free/no questions asked sex.
Now today, I receive this little article, saying that of the websites searched after googling the terms, "birth control", "morning after pill", and "sexually transmitted disease", half failed to provide accurate, complete information about emergency contraception, 60% said birth control causes weight gain, despite recent research to the contrary, and only about half correctly stated that some STDs, such as herpes, can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact or kissing.
Some of the websites identified--WebMD, Wikipedia & Mayoclinic.
So, we don't provide our youth with sex education and for those who are responsible enough to google, we provide them with misinformation.
Wow.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Sexting...
Created by: Jillian
There's just something about the word sexting... is it catchy? humorous?
I feel uncomfortable giving "the act of sending an indecent text message" such an adorable little name.
Apparently, of those who reportedly sent indecent pictures of themselves via text message, 71 percent of girls and 67 percent of boys said they sent content to a boyfriend or girlfriend, while 21 percent of the girls and 39 percent of the boys say they sent it to someone they wanted to date.
Yikes! I remember what it was like to want a guy to like you...wearing your best outfit, even going so far as trying to act a certain way because you assumed he might like you better...and I know that obviously, young women and young men throughout time have viewed sex as a prerequisite for getting a guy or girl to like you. Although...as many of us know, that isn't the best course of action for anyone involved.
I suppose I'm just overwhelmed that teens are sending nude photos of themselves via text message and for the most part, these news stories don't seem at all shocked or horrified...but instead have come up with the catchy little phrase...sexting.
Shouldn't we be asking ourselves why the teens of today think that by sending a nude photo of yourself, you can get a person to like you. Because if this is this is happening, can't we all assume that sexual acts are occurring as well?
And in a time when youth are not receiving sex education, so they have no way of protecting themselves from unwanted pregnancies and STDs, shouldn't the least of our problems be what we are going to charge these children with legally, and more about them actually sending the "sext" message in the first place?
There's just something about the word sexting... is it catchy? humorous?
I feel uncomfortable giving "the act of sending an indecent text message" such an adorable little name.
Apparently, of those who reportedly sent indecent pictures of themselves via text message, 71 percent of girls and 67 percent of boys said they sent content to a boyfriend or girlfriend, while 21 percent of the girls and 39 percent of the boys say they sent it to someone they wanted to date.
Yikes! I remember what it was like to want a guy to like you...wearing your best outfit, even going so far as trying to act a certain way because you assumed he might like you better...and I know that obviously, young women and young men throughout time have viewed sex as a prerequisite for getting a guy or girl to like you. Although...as many of us know, that isn't the best course of action for anyone involved.
I suppose I'm just overwhelmed that teens are sending nude photos of themselves via text message and for the most part, these news stories don't seem at all shocked or horrified...but instead have come up with the catchy little phrase...sexting.
Shouldn't we be asking ourselves why the teens of today think that by sending a nude photo of yourself, you can get a person to like you. Because if this is this is happening, can't we all assume that sexual acts are occurring as well?
And in a time when youth are not receiving sex education, so they have no way of protecting themselves from unwanted pregnancies and STDs, shouldn't the least of our problems be what we are going to charge these children with legally, and more about them actually sending the "sext" message in the first place?
Monday, April 6, 2009
Dating Violence and Reproductive Health
Created by: Jillian
Prior to working for NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut and the State Legislature, I was a Child Advocate at a Sexual Assault Crisis Center. I was responsible for counseling children and adolescents who had been sexually abused, raped, or who were referred for counseling because their parents were shocked by their sexual behaviors.
Time and time again, I met young women who had sex with their boyfriends without using a condom because to use a condom meant that they didn't trust their boyfriend. Talk about sexual coercion! I know this type of behavior to be true of many college age couples as well.
In a recent article by RH Reality Check, two studies are highlighted that show that relationship or dating abuse can have reproductive health consequences, including unplanned pregnancy and exposure to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS transmissions. Also, girls who are victims of violence from dating partners are four to six times more likely than non-abused girls to become pregnant.
Enough is enough! We need to educate young women and men about healthy relationships and their bodies from a young age. What we need is comprehensive, medically accurate, and age appropriate sex education.
Prior to working for NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut and the State Legislature, I was a Child Advocate at a Sexual Assault Crisis Center. I was responsible for counseling children and adolescents who had been sexually abused, raped, or who were referred for counseling because their parents were shocked by their sexual behaviors.
Time and time again, I met young women who had sex with their boyfriends without using a condom because to use a condom meant that they didn't trust their boyfriend. Talk about sexual coercion! I know this type of behavior to be true of many college age couples as well.
In a recent article by RH Reality Check, two studies are highlighted that show that relationship or dating abuse can have reproductive health consequences, including unplanned pregnancy and exposure to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS transmissions. Also, girls who are victims of violence from dating partners are four to six times more likely than non-abused girls to become pregnant.
Enough is enough! We need to educate young women and men about healthy relationships and their bodies from a young age. What we need is comprehensive, medically accurate, and age appropriate sex education.
Birth Control Pills for Men...
Created by: Jillian
Male contraceptive pills, patches, implants and creams may be available in 5 years or sooner.
My initial reaction is to be thrilled and think, "It's about time"...but then I immediately jump to questioning if giving men control over pregnancy prevention is a positive thing?
What are the pro's and cons? What do you think?
Male contraceptive pills, patches, implants and creams may be available in 5 years or sooner.
My initial reaction is to be thrilled and think, "It's about time"...but then I immediately jump to questioning if giving men control over pregnancy prevention is a positive thing?
What are the pro's and cons? What do you think?
Friday, April 3, 2009
Upset About the Octomom?
Created by: Jillian
Many people were outraged over the Octomom, and if not outraged, most people felt something. I placed blame on fertility medicine...unregulated and out of control.
However, in reading Dr. Lorna Marshall's recent article, which highlights the medical standard of care developed by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, I am less likely to place blame on the medical profession and am more likely to express public concern over a fertility industry that is driven by the incredible desire of an individual to have a child.
While I completely agree with Dr. Marshall that impulse policies are not the solution...I do believe that we must do something. Multiple births, for the most part, are not healthy for the mother, for the child, and can be extremely costly to our society.
Many people were outraged over the Octomom, and if not outraged, most people felt something. I placed blame on fertility medicine...unregulated and out of control.
However, in reading Dr. Lorna Marshall's recent article, which highlights the medical standard of care developed by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, I am less likely to place blame on the medical profession and am more likely to express public concern over a fertility industry that is driven by the incredible desire of an individual to have a child.
While I completely agree with Dr. Marshall that impulse policies are not the solution...I do believe that we must do something. Multiple births, for the most part, are not healthy for the mother, for the child, and can be extremely costly to our society.
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