The World Health Organization has told people living in areas with active transmission of the Zika virus that they should consider delaying pregnancy, presumably until further notice. The guidance affects people in 46 countries, mostly in Latin America and the Caribbean — often heavily Catholic areas that frown upon any method of contraception more advanced than the rhythm method.
Tag: contraception
Do You Ovulate On Birth Control Pills? Here’s How They Affect Your Cycle
If you take birth control pills, or you’re trying to find the best method of contraception for you, you may have asked yourself, “Do you ovulate on birth control pills?” The short answer is “No.” Birth control pills are designed to prevent ovulation, and, on the off chance that you do ovulate while on the pill, it works with two other back up methods to prevent pregnancy. That’s why the pill is so good at preventing pregnancy — in fact, it’s more than 99 percent effective when used perfectly.
The Never-ending Saga of the Obamacare Contraception Mandate
The long saga of the Affordable Care Act’s contraception mandate — which requires that contraception be covered as part of private health plans — took another turn at the Supreme Court today. And the Court — which, don’t forget, is still divided 4-4 between liberals and conservatives — sent it back down to the appeals courts, essentially telling them to find a solution to this problem that the religiously-affiliated organizations in this case will find acceptable, practically begging them to be reasonable while doing everything it can to make sure their tender feelings aren’t hurt.
Maryland Passes The Most Sweeping Birth Control Access Law In The Country
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan signed a bill into law Tuesday yielding the most expansive insurance coverage for contraception in the country. By eliminating most co-pays and all prescriptions for birth control, demanding coverage for up to 13 months of birth control at a time, and shedding costs for vasectomies, the law pushes Maryland to the forefront of the national movement to expand contraception access.
New Study: Anti-Abortion Laws Don’t Reduce Abortion Rates. Contraception Does.
Abortion rates are at an all-time low in the developed world, having dropped by more than 40 percent over the past 25 years. But in developing countries—many of which have outlawed abortion and make contraception difficult to access—the rate of abortions has stayed nearly constant, according to a new report from the Guttmacher Institute and the World Health Organization.
Decoy Eggs Used to Provide Birth Control for Mice
Scientists have created a novel method of contraception, using polymer beads coated in a special protein as “decoy” eggs in mice. In experiments described in Science Translational Medicine, researchers deposited the beads in the uteruses of mice. When the mice mated, sperm cells bound themselves to the fake eggs, preventing the real eggs from being fertilized. The scientists from the National Institutes of Health say it’s extremely unlikely the beads would be used in their current form as human contraception, but that they do show promise as a better way to select sperm for use in fertility treatments.
6 Things You Should Know About The Morning-After Pill, As Told By A Gyno
Buying emergency contraception can be one of the most embarrassing experiences for a woman, especially for a single woman. No matter how old you are, there is something embarrassing about publicly admitting you have sex. Having a complete stranger acknowledge that fact (while exchanging currency) can ignite a spiral of shame.
A Puzzling Order in a U.S. Supreme Court Case on Obamacare
Something strange is afoot at the U.S. Supreme Court. The justices issued a highly unusual order Tuesday for the parties in Zubik v. Burwell, one of this term’s most-watched cases. Here’s the abridged version of the dispute: The Affordable Care Act’s regulations require virtually all employers to provide health insurance to their employees. They also require health-insurance companies to include contraceptive coverage for women in their plans at no additional cost. Religious nonprofits that object to contraception may file a one-page form with the federal government, at which point the insurance company will directly provide the coverage to their employees without further involvement from the nonprofit.
What’s at Stake in Supreme Court Case on Contraception
The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Wednesday in a case about access to contraception and religious liberty, Zubik v. Burwell, No. 14-1418.
Innovation: Scientists Get Closer To An Effective Male Birth Control Pill; New Compounds Show Promise
It’s 2016 and men only have three forms of contraception— condoms, vasectomy, and the pull out method, which works exactly how it sounds. This is compared to the plethora of options available for women, thus birth control has largely been their responsibility. However, a group of researchers may have identified the necessary compounds to make male birth control pills a reality.