Comment: The nomination of Casey Means, a currently unlicensed medical doctor, for the position of Surgeon General of the United States, is stalled as "even Republican legislators" questioned her qualifications. The article reports on the comments of Dr. Jerome Adams, the Surgeon General in the first Trump administration, concerning Means' qualifications. Among other things, Means has questioned the widespread use of hormonal birth control, stating that it show "disrespect for life."
Category: Birth Control
Birth Control is Essential Healthcare, but It’s Now Under Attack
Comment: The author relates her personal need for hormonal birth control to treat a common fertility and health issue, and comments on the misleading conservative effort, including Project 2025, to frame restrictions on contraception as a concern for women's health.
Reproductive health clinics scramble as Title X funding cliff approaches
Comment: In what looks like deliberate obstruction (right out of the Project 2025 playbook), birth control access for low-income patients is in jeopardy. The Department of Health and Human Services delayed sending guidance and applications for renewal of Title X funding for more than two months after the usual December 31 deadline. Now applicants have … Continue reading Reproductive health clinics scramble as Title X funding cliff approaches
The birth control pill and cancer: What are the risks?
Comment: The author comments on a flood of recent social media posts by conservative commentators describing hormonal birth control pills as "cancer causing," pointing out that the cancer risk information has been known for many years. The recent alarmists posts fail to mention that while the risk of some cancers is increased, the risk is decreased for others; a nuanced analysis has always been called for.
How the ‘nocebo’ effect is putting women off the contraceptive pill
Comment: The Independent reports on a study done at Sheffield University in the UK examining the effect of social media misinformation on attitudes toward birth control pills.
Is America Turning on Birth Control?
Comment: The author argues that current susceptibility to misinformation about birth control has historical roots in medical paternalism that has not served the interest of informed medical decision making. Translation: Medical professionals need to be more proactive in warning about common side effects.
Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Introduces Legislation To Safeguard Contraception
Comment: Rep. Fletcher of Texas reintroduced the Right to Contraception Act in the 119th Congress to protect access to a range of contraceptive methods, devices, and medications used to prevent pregnancy, including but not limited to oral contraceptives, emergency contraceptives, and intrauterine devices (IUDs)
Virginia bill affirming right to contraception heads to Gov. Spanberger’s desk
Comment: The recently-elected Governor of Virginia has already said that she will sign state legislation affirming the right to contraception. The newly passed Virginia legislation is similar to federal bills that have stalled in Congress.