LEVY Health’s Post

Access to the full range of birth control methods is essential. Post-Roe, more young adults are turning to permanent contraception (tubal sterilizations and vasectomies).   Everyone, everywhere should have equitable access to the type of birth control that works best for them to support their individual health needs and reproductive and life goals.   We will continue to advocate for affordable access to contraception, expand options and pathways to care, and protect #TitleX and Medicaid-funded services for ALL. 🩵✊🏾 https://lnkd.in/ga5dqkwK

A recent study published in Health Affairs highlights the significant rise in permanent contraception procedures among U.S. young adults following the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade. The research found that tubal sterilizations and vasectomies among individuals aged 19–26 increased by 70% and 95%, respectively, within months of the ruling. This response is particularly pronounced in states more likely to ban abortion, signaling the tangible effects of policy changes on personal health choices. Individuals cited concerns about losing access to abortion and broader fears over bodily autonomy as key motivators. Here is the Abstract: Young adults’ access to contraception is shifting after the June 2022 United States Supreme Court Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. This concurrent mixed-methods study measured young adults’ use of and perceptions about tubal sterilization and vasectomy after the leaked Dobbs opinion in May 2022. Using national-level medical claims data from IQVIA, we conducted difference-in-differences analyses of tubal sterilizations and vasectomies by age and state policy; using open-text survey responses from national MyVoice surveys in 2022 and 2023, we thematically analyzed young adults’ perspectives. Tubal sterilization and vasectomy visits increased after May 2022 among participants ages 19–26. Difference-in-differences analyses found significant increases in tubal sterilization and vasectomy visits in states deemed likely to ban abortion. Survey responses highlight fear of loss of bodily autonomy and changes to pregnancy plans after Dobbs. Young adults increasingly obtained permanent contraception post-Dobbs, especially in states deemed likely to ban abortion, and they continue to face challenges to their bodily autonomy, whether they feel pressured to seek permanent contraception because of abortion policy restrictions or whether they desire permanent contraception but experience barriers obtaining it. #Reproductive #health #Contraception #Abortion #Access #Young #adults #Adolescents #Populations #Reproductive #health #NonBinary #Healthcare #Policy #ReproductiveRights #Autonomy https://lnkd.in/dhvb2sFN

💡 Get the latest data from the findings of our national Youth Reproductive Health Access (YouR HeAlth) Survey, a new survey initiative designed to assess young people’s knowledge, attitudes, and experiences with contraception & abortion. Learn more:

With the 2024 election approaching, how do former President Trump and Vice President Harris differ on women’s health policy issues like abortion, contraception, and maternal health? In our new brief, we explore the presidential candidates’ positions, records, and potential priorities on key women’s health issues:

45% of women are not empowered to make choices over their healthcare and contraception needs and choices. Nearly half of the women in 57 developing countries are denied the right to decide whether to have sex with their partners, use contraception or seek healthcare, according to UNFPA’s State of World Population Report. This lack of bodily autonomy- the right to make free and informed decisions about one’s own body, without coercion or violence- has serious implications for the health and wellbeing of women and girls. https://lnkd.in/gUDd3fui #SafeAbortion #SafeAbortionDay #Abortion #AbortionCare #abortionisawomansright #abortionishealthcare #abortionisahumanright #AbortionRightsAreHumanRights #sexualrights #Sexualhealth #maternalcare #UniversalHealthcare #UHC #SRHR #ReproductiveHealthCare #reproductiverights Melissa Cockroft

This case reaffirms our commitment to decriminalisation. Criminalisation of abortion law will always disproportionately impact people who are at their most vulnerable. In giving this couple community sentences, the judge recognised that there is no public interest in sending them to prison. The question should not be whether a custodial or community sentence is the right punishment, but why anyone is being investigated or punished at all under this 163 year old law. Brook supports the position of the key medical bodies and royal colleges the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists | RCOG and FSRH - Faculty of sexual and reproductive healthcare, The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and Royal College of Nursing - Company and Royal College of General Practitioners that abortion should be taken out of the criminal law entirely. We implore MPs to do so as soon as possible. In the meantime Brook will continue to campaign for and deliver the best possible Relationships, Sex and Health Education to help young people avoid sex they don’t want; choose, access and use contraception; identify as soon as possible that they are pregnant; know their right to confidential advice, what their pregnancy options are and where to get help. Read Brook’s blog on what you need to know about abortion law in the news: https://lnkd.in/dWy857KM More information on the guidance for health care professionals on involving the police following abortion, or unexplained pregnancy loss: https://lnkd.in/ehUjqKRy Read the full Guardian article on the case: https://lnkd.in/ejNgGsC6

Abortion care seekers report more hormonal contraceptive side effects than contraceptive service users. A recent study sheds light on the prevalence of subjective side effects from hormonal contraceptives among individuals seeking abortion care versus contraceptive services in Finland. Findings show: ✅ Mood changes are the most commonly reported side effect, with 52% of abortion care seekers vs. 29% of contraceptive service users reporting mood-related concerns. ✅ Other side effects, like weight changes, sex-related issues, and acne, are also more frequently reported by abortion care seekers. This highlights the critical need for personalized counseling to address mood-related side effects, ensuring users feel informed and supported in their contraceptive choices. Read the full study here: https://lnkd.in/efEWkeCd #ReproductiveHealth #Contraception #HormonalHealth #WomensHealth #ContraceptionSideEffects #SRHR

*Abortion rights are human rights* Ensuring that access to wanted abortions is equitable across Victoria is key to ensuring that we all get 'a fair go'. I was honoured to be given the opportunity to share key findings from the 'Realising access: Abortion and contraception inequities and enablers in Victoria' report that I worked on with Women's Health Victoria in a webinar last week, alongside valued colleagues. The key takeaways from this work are: -Statistically, abortion seekers most likely to miss out due to systemic barriers causing delay, are: under 18, from a non-English speaking background, living in a relatively disadvantaged area or rural area. - Contraception (particularly long-acting reversible methods) and abortion provision deserts are concentrated in the most socio-economically disadvantaged and rural areas. These areas also have the highest level of abortion demand, meaning that there is a mismatch in supply and demand. -Data from services such as 1800 My Options, run by WHV and supported by the Victorian government, can help health policy makers understand reproductive service gaps, particularly in relation to unmet need. -Many programs supported by the Government and Not-For-Profits are making a difference. These include services such as 1800 My Options referrals for women looking for abortion providers, capacity building programs and support networks for medical professionals, and rollouts of Sexual and Reproductive Health hubs providing free and low cost services in some areas. -However in some areas SRH hubs are not keeping pace with demand for services, and many publicly funded hospitals fail to provide surgical abortion services for historical reasons. Applying an intersectional equity lens in reproductive health service provision, using sound qualitative and quantitative methods, is key to ensuring all people in Victoria can exercise their reproductive rights.

So you think you have a right to contraception? ➡️ A three part series on The Right to Contraception Act that failed in the Senate on June 5th, 2024. Part 2 of 3: Yes, we should be scared. The importance of codifying the right to contraception cannot be overstated. Failure to pass The Right to Contraception Act underscores the challenges we still face in ensuring access to essential healthcare for all. With the overturning of Roe vs. Wade nearly two years ago, the demolition of our reproductive healthcare rights and protections is a highly concerning trend. 16 states currently have bills in process that threaten the right to contraception, or a key legislator in power who is actively blocking bills seeking to protect access to contraception. (Check out this map by the American’s for Contraception for a state by state view: https://lnkd.in/gsq2vZyq). 💡Here’s the key thing to remember: while the senators who blocked The Right to Contraception Act argue that contraceptive access should be left to the states, many of those states are dismantling rights to contraception. So which is it? How can we trust states to protect contraceptive access when there are bills working their way through state legislatures that threaten to ban safe, highly effective, and popular methods like the IUD? (Not to mention: birth control is medicine.) Much like abortion rights, contraceptive access could become a pawn in a political game where the only ones getting hurt are women. Next up: what we have to lose. For “Part 1: How we got here.” see: https://lnkd.in/gKR2D2dY #Contraception #ReproductiveRights #GenderEquality

Businesses like Winx Health (formerly known as Stix) and Julie Products Inc. have been working to expand emergency contraception access, whether by delivery or on pharmacy shelves. They say election anxiety has led to increased demand. In this piece by Melissa Daniels, we speak to Cynthia Plotch, and Amanda E/J Morrison. #reproductivehealth #reproductiverights #election2024