Condoms are affordable, easy to use with the proper instruction, and extraordinarily effective in preventing both STDs, including HIV, and pregnancy if used consistently and correctly. Why aren't more of us using them?
By Serra Sippel, Center for Health and Gender Equity
June 29, 2009 - 9:00am
The Ugandan government plans to reintroduce and promote the female condom this fall, where it may give women another tool for safer sex negotiation and protection.
In a good relationship that’s about to become sexual, the introduction of a condom can seem like the introduction of a lot of baggage: fear, disease, death.
Vatican issues "sweeping" statement on bioethical issues; FDA advisors support approval of female condom; Ross Douthat misses the point of the campaign to defund Planned Parenthood; Afghans want larger families, can't afford them.
FDA considers approval of second-generation female condom; midwives critical for maternal care in Afghanistan; is Richard Cizik trying to get fired?; American Life League's Judie Brown compares Wendy Norris to Barack Obama!
This week the FDA will decide whether to recommend approval of the second generation female condom. You can sign on to a letter in support of approval.
By Lauren Sisson, Center for Health and Gender Equity
April 28, 2008 - 9:24am
The cost of ensuring that women and their partners enjoy the benefits of female condoms greatly exceeds current commitments, but the price of inaction, paid in lost or debilitated lives, is many times more costly.
The Stupak Amendment potentially goes farther than any other federal law to restrict women’s access to abortion. The claim that it only bars federal funding for abortions is simply false.
By banning private insurers in the public exchange from covering "abortion services," the Stupak Amendment will affect women whose pregnancies have already ended but have not yet miscarried. Like the one I faced last month.
The Stupak-Pitts amendment would actually result the loss of abortion coverage many women already have because it prohibits the new private insurance market as well as any possible public option from providing such coverage.
This is only the first salvo in the bishops’ campaign against women’s health. Just imagine for a moment what healthcare will look like when the bishops are finished.
Our biggest defeat since 1973 was enactment of the Hyde Amendment and the lack of an uncompromising commitment to overturning it. If nothing else, we must now make overturning Hyde the single objective of our movement.
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops apparently now runs the US government, aided by "faith-based advocacy groups," the House Democratic Leadership, the White House and members of the Senate. If you didn't know before, you know now.
None of the bills emerging from either the House or the Senate require insurers to cover all of the elements of a basic gynecological "well-woman" visit leaving out essential care such as pelvic exams, STI counseling and - yes - birth control.
Notorious anti-abortion activist Father Norman Weslin was among a dozen protesters arrested by U.S. Capitol Police outside House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's district office Thursday at a raucous protest against the health reform bill.
House Democratic leaders will allow an up-or-down vote on an amendment
blocking any money in its healthcare overhaul from funding abortions,
risking the votes of members who support abortion rights.
A vote originally set for tomorrow on the House health care bill may be delayed until next week, even after months of drama to arrive at this point. And to get to yes, Democrats are set to make another compromise on abortion care.
Following up on a June surprise, Michigan House Speaker Pro Tem Pam Byrnes on Wednesday announced she had introduced legislation to roll back a 2004 constitutional amendment which bans same-sex marriage in the state.
Only time will tell how this this week's election and phase of ultra-conservatism among Republicans will play out. What do you predict--and how should pro-choice, pro-reproductive justice advocates respond? Let us know.
While prevention restrictions under US Global AIDS Policy were made looser in last year's reauthorization bill, the new law includes worrisome reporting requirements for prevention programs.
A Michigan Department of Corrections official confirms that the department is seeking changes to a controversial policy barring HIV-positive prisoners from working in food service jobs.
Last week, Abby Johnson, the director of a Texas Planned Parenthood health center that provides abortions, resigned citing a "conversion". But a radio interview just weeks earlier leaves many questions unanswered.
Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO), co-chair of the House Pro-Choice Caucus and a leader of efforts to defeat the Stupak Amendment in the House health care reform bill last Saturday is now collecting signatures of House members who are vowing to vote against reform unless the language is stripped.
Last night, the House of Representatives passed "historic" legislation on health care reform, with a vote of 220 to 215. Democrats were elated at passage of the bill after months of wrangling. Reactions from women's groups has been deeply mixed.
