Tag Archives: contraception

Free Birth Control Means Fewer Abortions, Says Study (Which Proves Common Sense)

Jessica WakemanOctober 6, 2012 //

A mother writes about choosing to have an abortion. Read More »

I Took Plan B

Our writer took the morning-after-pill to thwart unwanted pregnancy. Read More »

Abortion Rights

All of The Frisky's posts about reproductive rights. Read More »

A new study called “The Contraceptive Choice Project” outlined in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology tracked over 9,000 women in St. Louis and found free birth control led to drastically lower rates of abortion and births by teen moms. The study gave a range of free birth control options to poor and uninsured women (those at the greatest risk for an unplanned pregnancy) between 2007 and 2011.

Access to birth control, including the most effective, implanted options — meant women had fewer abortions: 4.4 to 7.5 abortions per 1,000 women in the study. Not only is that lower than the national average of 20 abortions per 1,000 women but lower than the abortion rate for women in St. Louis, which is 13.4 to 17 abortions per 1,000 women. The Obstetrics & Gynecology study, published yesterday, predicted that one abortion could be prevented for every 79 to 137 women being given free contraception. Keep reading »

I Love My IUD, So Why Didn’t My Doctor?

Kate ConwayOctober 5, 2012 //

I Got An IUD

A first hand account of getting an IUD. Read More »

IUD Side Effects

A first person experience with the IUD. Read More »

On Birth Control

This woman uses birth control for medical reasons. Read More »

The first time I went in to get my intrauterine device, or IUD, my doctor asked me if I was in a relationship.

“Um, kind of?” I stammered. “I mean, no. But you know, I hear this is the way to go as far as, you know, protectiveness.”

“Hrm,” she said, flipping her chart closed. This was the first time I’d been to this gynecologist, who ran her practice in my tiny suburban hometown. I was 20, home from school on Christmas break, and tired of frantically eyeing the moon and waiting for my period once a month. Keep reading »

Some NYC Schools Administer Birth Control, Morning-After Pill To Students — So What?

Jessica WakemanSeptember 26, 2012 //

Pregnant Teens

Teen pregnancy is statistically a Southern thing. Read More »

Ab Only Sex Ed Sucks

Every teenager in Mississippi is pregnant, basically. Read More »

Preg Tests At The Bar

A Minnesota bar has installed a vending machine for pregnancy tests. Read More »

Teen Birth Rate Lowered

Kids these days just aren't getting pregnant like they used to. Read More »

Earlier this week, The New York Post dropped the “exclusive” that nurses at 13 New York City public schools can dispense the morning-after pill and provide oral and injectable birth control, like Depo Provera and the Pill — “without parents’ permission.”

Keep reading »

Hitched: Why My Husband Is Getting A Vasectomy

Andrea GrimesSeptember 26, 2012 //

No Interest In Kids

Chelsea Handler and Gloria Steinem do not want kids. Read More »

I’ve been walking around with a sketch of a uterus and cervix in my reporter’s notebook for several weeks now, courtesy of my gynecologist. She drew it while explaining to me how an IUD works. I keep it around both because I like it as a conversation piece and because when you write about ladyparts as much as I do, it’s actually quite useful as a reference tool at the office or, you know, the bar. Wherever.

But what I like best about my little IUD sketch is that I don’t need it, because my husband is getting a vasectomy. When it comes to long-term contraception that isn’t sterilization, vasectomies are the bee’s infertile knees. The benefits are many: I don’t have to live with a foreign body inside me (either of biological origin or one made of copper), condom breakage isn’t a constant concern, and neither do I have to rely on hormones or head back to my doctor’s office regularly for a Depo shot. Keep reading »

Missouri To Allow Employers To Refuse To Cover Birth Control, Abortion

Jessica WakemanSeptember 14, 2012 //

BC For Health

Why this woman uses birth control for health reasons. Read More »

A Compromise

Obama tries to settles birth control debate in health care reform. Read More »

Birth Control Victory

Birth control will be covered by most employers under health care reform. Read More »

Bad news out of Missouri this week: employers and insurers who personally oppose birth control, abortion and sterilization will be able to refuse to cover those forms of health care in their employee’s health insurance. Missouri’s Governor Jay Nixon had vetoed the bill, but earlier this week, the Republican-controlled legislature overrode the veto. Keep reading »

Gay Rights, Planned Parenthood On Agenda At Democratic National Convention

Jessica WakemanAugust 10, 2012 //

Obama Supports Gays

The president comes out in support of same-sex unions. Read More »

Obama On Abortion

Read the president's statement about Roe Vs. Wade's 39th anniversary. Read More »

2012 Election

All of The Frisky's posts about the 2012 election. Read More »

Next month the Democratic National Convention will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Democratic delegates will nominate President Barack Obama for their candidate. Such events are not just about nominating a candidate, though, but an overall PR blitz for their party’s values.

Politico has seen drafts (“a starting point”) of convention-planning documents describing the DNC’s alleged plans, most notable of which will include pairs of individuals discussing Obama’s policies in comparison to Mitt Romney’s. But it is the precise people they suggest that leaves a slightly bad taste in my mouth. Instead of a gay couple — the documents explicitly say “not a gay couple” — one pair will be a “parent and a gay son or daughter.” Another pair, who will discuss Planned Parenthood, will be a “husband who talks about how a Pap smear saved his wife’s life,” as well as his spouse.

Keep reading »

Elizabeth Banks Stands Up For Planned Parenthood

Jessica WakemanAugust 8, 2012 //

Get Rid Of PP

Mitt Romney promises to get rid of Planned Parenthood funding. Read More »

Elizabeth On The Pill

Elizabeth Banks thanks birth control pills for her son. Read More »

Obama On Abortion

Read the president's statement about Roe Vs. Wade's 39th anniversary. Read More »

today's lady news

Watch The Video!

Actress Elizabeth Banks continues to be a magical unicorn from my dreams with this just-released video in support of Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign. Banks talks about why she supports Planned Parenthood — when she was a broke college graduate they helped regulate her heavy flow! — and Obama’s overall support for women’s health care. (No one tell her “30 Rock” character Avery Jessup that she did this, okay?) [YouTube]
Two different people have told me they just couldn’t read this Esquire article about women “whining” because it is just too obnoxious. You’ve been warned. [Esquire]
An Orthodox Jewish member of the Boro Park neighborhood in Brooklyn does not want security video cameras posted for a bone-chilling reason: he is concerned that any domestic violence captured on camera will be dealt with “outside the community.” [Forward]
What to do when your friend group has a case of the Creepy Dude. [Captain Awkward] Keep reading »

“This Is My Body”: The Video Anti-Abortion Activists Need To See

Jessica WakemanJuly 24, 2012 //

My Abortion

This author says her abortion was the best decision of her life. Read More »

Coat Hanger Abortions

A Mississippi pol doesn't think coat hanger abortions are a problem. Read More »

Frisky Feminism!

Everything The Frisky has ever written about feminism! Read More »

This Is My Body

“If I choose to have sex, I have the right to birth control and to be spared the demeaning insults that you’d never want leveled against your daughter or mother. My pursuit of orgasm is neither unnatural nor dangerous nor scary nor an infringement of your religious liberty. My sexual activity exists for my benefit, not your pleasure. And it’s never my fault if you rape me. I am done being excluded from decisions about my sexual and reproductive health. This is my body. Not yours.”

Tell it, sisters! This video is so kickass. I love the part at the end that goes, “Do not be afraid of a world in which women know themselves.” Definitely worth watching and sharing around. [Care2 via Facebook.com/ThisIsMyBody]

Republican Proposes Yet Even More Restrictions On Birth Control

Jessica WakemanJuly 19, 2012 //

Republican Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT) plans to propose a spending bill that would allow employers to deny health insurance coverage for birth control and other contraception based on the employer’s own “moral reasons.” Rehberg’s proposed bill would also federally defund Planned Parenthood until the organization no longer provides abortions (despite the fact PP does not use federal funds to pay for abortions). Oy, vey. Here we go again. [Slate, Think Progress]
A lesbian in Louisville, Kentucky, suffered a broken jaw after being assaulted by a group yelling homophobic slurs at her. [Queerty]
XX Factor blogger Amanda Marcotte on why it may be wrong to expect Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer to identify as a feminist. [Slate] Keep reading »

Sandra Fluke Talks Sluts, Rush Limbaugh

Jessica WakemanJune 25, 2012 //

Rush Smears "Slut"

Rush Limbaugh called Sandra Fluke a "slut" and a "prostitute" on air. Read More »

Advertisers Drop Rush

A number of advertisers have dropped Rush Limbaugh. Read More »

Obama Phones "Slut"

The President called Sandra Fluke after Limbaugh called her a "slut." Read More »

quotable

[W]hat I’ve learned [after being called a "slut" by Rush Limbaugh on his show] has less to do with Mr. Limbaugh specifically and more to do with a part of our population that has this view. Because frankly, you don’t go on national radio and talk for several days about something that no one wants to hear. There’s an audience for this type of sexist vitriol. There is real hate and sexism within our society that we have to do something about.

– Here, here, Sandra Fluke! The Georgetown University law student — who was famously called a “slut” and “prostitute” on-air by Rush Limbaugh after she testified before House Democrats about the limited coverage for birth control at her school — was interviewed this week in The New York Times Magazine. Even though I found Fluke’s comments about erotica/pornography ignorant and annoying — Interviewer: “What does feminist porn look like?” Fluke: “I’ll let you know when I find any.” — she was otherwise super articulate and smart, especially when discussing the difference between free speech and slander. I hope Sandra Fluke runs for office someday and unseats some douchebag Rick Santorum acolyte. [NY Times Magazine]