tagged w/ Reproductive issues
-
Liberals are criticizing conservative talk show host Bill O'Reilly for his harsh comments about Dr. George Tiller, who was shot to death while attending church on May 31, 2009, in Wichita, Kan.
Their argument is that O'Reilly repeatedly named Tiller as a late-term abortion provider and called him a "baby killer." That publicity contributed to Tiller's death, they say. Antiabortion activist Scott Roeder, 51, has been charged with Tiller's murder.
To be clear, we haven't found anyone saying that Roeder watched O'Reilly's show or was influenced by him directly. And we aren't attempting to check any claims or suggestions that O'Reilly's words incited violence.
O'Reilly responded to his critics in an opinion article posted on BillOReilly.com and in the conservative journal Human Events . He began by saying that Tiller "did not deserve his fate" and was "an American citizen entitled to protection."
"No matter what you think about abortion, it is a sad day for the country when vigilantism takes a life," O'Reilly wrote.
O'Reilly said that liberal groups were targeting him unfairly.
"Even though I reported on the doctor honestly, the loons asserted that my analysis of him was 'hateful,'" O'Reilly wrote. "Chief of among the complaints was the doctor's nickname, 'Tiller the baby killer.' Some prolifers branded him with that, and I reported it. So did hundreds of other news sources."
O'Reilly went on to criticize media outlets for glorifying Tiller in order to silence those who oppose abortion, especially late-term abortion.
We wanted to see what O'Reilly had said about Tiller, to see if O'Reilly was indeed being criticized for his reporting on other groups' characterization of Tiller as he said.
We searched transcripts of The O'Reilly Factor , his show that appears on the Fox News Channel.
We found at least 42 instances of O'Reilly mentioning Tiller by name, going back to 2005. In 24 instances, we found that O'Reilly referred to Tiller specifically as a "baby killer."Liberals are criticizing conservative talk show host Bill O'Reilly for his harsh... more
-
-
Slate's Kate Klonick wonders why more American women don't use IUDs. As the recipient of one of the devices as well, I sometimes wonder the same thing.
When Klonick felt done with the Pill for a variety of reasons, she, too, went shopping for something that would give her equal contraceptive control with as little hassle as possible.
" That was my question when, after eight years and more than a dozen different incarnations of oral contraceptives, I decided to go back to the drawing board. I had never been good at taking the pill every day, and while my doctor suggested the patch and the ring, both were still under patent, making them more expensive than my monthly grocery bill. I needed something cheap, un-mess-up-able, and, ideally, hormone-free. So I did what any modern girl would do: I Googled. And thus began my research into the IUD and its mercurial history in the U.S. market."
Notably, her gynecologist didn't suggest an IUD — a relatively common experience for childless women our age. One reason is its association with infertility, stemming from a specific device no longer on the market and a lack of STD testing protocols prior to insertion."The major reason why women in the United States aren't using IUDs and doctors aren't recommending them is due to the erroneous belief that they're highly dangerous," says Dr. Katharine O'Connell, a gynecologist at Columbia University who specializes in contraception.
---------------------------------------------
At my most recent annual check-up, my (new) doctor suggested an IUD. Something about it freaks me out though - I'm not sure why. What do you think? Have you considered an IUD? Were you under the impression that they are dangerous or can cause infertility?Slate's Kate Klonick wonders why more American women don't use IUDs. As the recipient... more
-
-
Sonia Sotomayor affirmed during Tuesday's Senate hearing that Roe v. Wade is "settled law" -- but that doesn't settle nervous speculation about the Supreme Court nominee's stance on abortion. "Settled law" is the buzz-phrase often used by Roe supporters who view that ruling as a "super-precedent that has survived long enough without major challenge that it shouldn't be reconsidered," according to the Associated Press. That would seem a pretty strong and encouraging endorsement of Roe. However, as MSNBC points out, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, a George W. Bush nominee, also said that Roe was "settled law" during his 2005 confirmation -- only, he went on to add that the court was not obligated to uphold it.
This small reassurance from Sotomayor might not satisfy pro-choicers, but I suspect it's all we're going to get.Sonia Sotomayor affirmed during Tuesday's Senate hearing that Roe v. Wade is "settled... more
-
-
Is America becoming more pro-life? A new poll by Gallup says so. The poll, released on the Friday before President Obama addressed Notre Dame University, thrilled the anti-abortion movement—and offered Republicans their first glimmer of hope in months.
But the poll is wrong. Worse, it’s misleading—and threatens to send Republicans careening in precisely the worst possible direction in pursuit of votes they will not find.Is America becoming more pro-life? A new poll by Gallup says so. The poll, released on... more
-
-
The mother of 6 children already who gave birth to octuplets recently and has caused such controversy has set up a web site to take donations from people (PayPal and credit card!). Oh and while you're there, feel free to click on the link where you can leave her a personal message about how you feel regarding her situation!The mother of 6 children already who gave birth to octuplets recently and has caused... more
-
-
When I first read the title of this article "New Fertility Campaign Targets Younger Women" my knee jerk reactions was "what women are just baby factories? we have to just make kids? whats this all about?!" then I actually read the article.
The AFA is starting a program to educate younger women about infertility diseases which can greatly affect your life outside of having kids. I myself suffer from two of the most common ones, Edometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) so this issue is very close to my heart.
Women are not properly educated on their reproductive health, which as I mentioned, effects a lot more than you ability to give birth. Even if you never want children you have to on the watch for infertility diseases since they can cause a myriad of other health problems. Whats sad is gynecological health isnt really discussed much in this country because anything to do with the female reproductive system is viewed as "dirty" and "taboo." Younger women often dont consider their reproductive health because they just assume that nothing can go wrong until they hit their 40s and have to start watching for menopause or breast cancer. Many women develop gynecological diseases in their teens and 20s that can cause infertility if not caught early. I myself was diagnosed at the age of 15 with Endometriosis and PCOS at the age of 18. Many women I know have lived for years in pain due to undiagnosed fertility related diseases simply because both they and their doctors are not educated enough on gynecological diseases.
What the AFA is doing is creating a safe and non threatening environment to engage younger and encourage them to be more proactive about their reproductive health. Although the campaign unfortunately seems to put a little too much focus on the biological clock and thinking about pregnancy, I applaud it for trying to get women engaged and educated on their own bodies.
Read the article and let me know what you think...should young women be engaging in discussion on reproductive health? Or is it putting too much pressure on having kids?When I first read the title of this article "New Fertility Campaign Targets Younger... more
-
-
No matter where you learned about “the birds and the bees”, there may be things you don’t know about your reproductive rights here in America. For example, did you know that insurance companies in about half of our states aren’t required to cover the cost of birth control? Yeah, it’s true.
NARAL Pro-Choice just released this funny video as part of their free.will.power. initiative. Take a look, some of the facts may shock you.No matter where you learned about “the birds and the bees”, there may be things... more
-
-
Cool video from NARAL Pro-Choice american's free.will.power initiative featuring spoken word artist Deja Taylor and beats by DJ Spooky. More info at http://www.myfreewillpower.com.
You can follow NARAL on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/naralCool video from NARAL Pro-Choice american's free.will.power initiative featuring... more
-
-
What does Pro-Choice mean to you?
NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation announced today that it is launching an innovative video-based online initiative designed to reach younger activists and recruit a new generation of young women and men into the pro-choice movement called Free.Will.Power. The site, http://www.MyFreeWillPower.com, features videos as well as other interactive ways for new activists to get involved.
NARAL enlisted the creative minds of three young spokenword artists - Shira Erlichman, Alvin Lau, and Deja Taylor - as well as renowned musician, DJ Spooky, to produce three online videos that feature compelling words, visuals, and sound.
You can follow NARAL on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/naralWhat does Pro-Choice mean to you?
NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation announced... more
-
-
NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation announced today that it is launching an innovative video-based online initiative designed to reach younger activists and recruit a new generation of young women and men into the pro-choice movement called Free.Will.Power. The site, http://www.MyFreeWillPower.com, features videos as well as other interactive ways for new activists to get involved with NARAL Pro-Choice America's work.
This is the most innovative campaign to come from the pro-choice movement and it is especially powerful to hear these young artists say in their own words what free, will and power mean to them. NARAL enlisted the creative minds of three young spokenword artists - Shira Erlichman, Alvin Lau, and Deja Taylor - as well as renowned musician, DJ Spooky, to produce three online viral videos that feature compelling words, visuals, and sound.
FAVORITE AND COMMENT IF YOU CARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE and watch out for the next two videos in the coming weeks!
You can follow NARAL on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/naralNARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation announced today that it is launching an innovative... more
-
-
While the media sound alarms about breast cancer's links to lifestyle choices and genetics, a much more likely risk factor is going undiscussed.
During October, women are bombarded with media telling us what we can do to stop breast cancer. Article after article after television human interest segment informs us about personal risk factors such as smoking and being overweight (although 70 percent of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have none of these factors) and about genetic risks (which only account for 10 percent of breast cancers.) We are bombarded with stories about the importance of getting mammograms and other tests. Then there are the survivor stories (usually about women much younger, whiter and cover-girl prettier than the average breast cancer survivor) that pull at our heartstrings. But there is very little mention of environmental factors such as auto exhaust, and chemicals like parabens and phthalates that we are exposed to every day.
The most deafening silence, however, is about radiation, which is a 100 percent known cause of cancer. We are exposed to radiation in a variety of ways, through X-rays, CT scans and mammograms, but also by living near a nuclear power plant or having been exposed to weaponry that uses depleted uranium.
Leuren Moret is geoscientist who has been working for a number of years to raise awareness about the dangers of radiation, an issue she became concerned about after hearing Native American women who live near areas where nuclear weapons have been tested talk about cancer and other health problems they are experiencing and by a visit to Nagasaki and Hiroshima, Japan. In this interview, she talks about what we know about the relationship between radiation and breast cancer.
more@linkWhile the media sound alarms about breast cancer's links to lifestyle choices and... more
-
-
Up to 3,000 miscarriages each year in the UK could be prevented thanks to new research into what causes women to lose their baby early in pregnancy. The study sheds new light on how a cheap experimental treatment works and has led to a formal trial of the drug.
Earlier studies suggested that giving steroid drugs to some women who have suffered repeated miscarriages allows them to have a normal pregnancy. Steroids are use widely to treat asthma and eczema and cost just £1 per day.
"There's a massive, desperate need," said Dr Siobhan Quenby at the University of Liverpool, who said she has been "inundated" with email enquiries from women about the treatment. "There are thousands of people around the world who are absolutely desperate because they keep miscarrying and there is no cause found and there is no treatment for them."
Annie Greenhouse, 35, of York had four miscarriages before being given the experimental treatment. "I was absolutely devastated the first time, and it got harder each time. After the fourth one I felt, 'that's it, I can't possibly do this.' I felt I had responsibility for those lives and if I got pregnant and it went wrong I would be responsible."
But the fifth time she got pregnant she was given the steroid treatment and had a successful pregnancy. Her baby Finlay is now nine months old. "It's been fantastic. It has completely changed my life. It's wonderful being a mum. It's the most amazing thing ever."
Quenby estimates that steroids could help around a third of women who suffer unexplained repeated miscarriages. In total around 18,000 women miscarry every year in the UK and around half of these miscarriages are unexplained.
Up to 3,000 miscarriages each year in the UK could be prevented thanks to new research... more
-
-
...In the first major race of her career — the 1996 campaign for mayor of her hometown, Wasilla — Palin was a far more conventional politician. In fact, according to some who were involved in that fight, Palin was a highly polarizing political figure who brought partisan politics and hot-button social issues like abortion and gun control into a mayoral race that had traditionally been contested like a friendly intramural contest among neighbors.
...
Vicki Naegele was the managing editor of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman at the time. "[Stein] figured he was just going to run your average, friendly small-town race," she recalls, "but it turned into something much different than that." Naegele held the same conservative Christian beliefs as Palin but didn't think they had any place in local politics.
"I just thought, That's ridiculous, she should concentrate on roads, not abortion," says Naegele.
...
Governing was no less contentious than campaigning... At some point in those fractious first days, Palin told the department heads they needed her permission to talk to reporters. "She put a gag order on those people, something that you'd expect to find in the big city, not here," says Naegele. "She flew in there like a big-city gal, which she's not. It was a strange time, and [the Frontiersman] came out very harshly against her."
Stein says that as mayor, Palin continued to inject religious beliefs into her policy at times. "She asked the library how she could go about banning books," he says, because some voters thought they had inappropriate language in them. "The librarian was aghast." That woman, Mary Ellen Baker, couldn't be reached for comment, but news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire Baker for not giving "full support" to the mayor. ...In the first major race of her career — the 1996 campaign for mayor of her... more
-
-
Earlier this year Palin used her line-item veto to slash funding for a state program benefiting teen mothers in need of a place to live.
Earlier today the Associated Press reported that McCain opposed funding to prevent teen pregnancies, a position that Palin also took as governor. "The explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support," she wrote in a 2006 questionnaire distributed among gubernatorial candidates.Earlier this year Palin used her line-item veto to slash funding for a state program... more
-
-
In the news release, the McCain campaign made sure to state that:
Bristol Palin made the decision on her own to keep the baby, McCain aides said.
While it's obvious why they made this statement to assure the public that Bristol was not coerced into keeping the baby (after all, she does have a parent who is a staunch opponent of the right to choose and is currently on the Republican presidential ticket), as my significant other pointed out, there's some serious hypocrisy at play here. I mean, John McCain and Sarah Palin don't believe women have a right to choose. It's absolutely absurd for the campaign to emphasize the fact that Bristol "made this decision," and then push for policies that take away that choice.
In reality, Bristol's actual "choice" was probably not whether to terminate the pregnancy or carry it to term, but whether raise the child herself or put it up for adoption. But the reason that the McCain campaign chose to emphasize Bristol's agency in this decision was to reassure the public that this pregnancy is not coercive. They know the public wants to feel secure in the knowledge that it was Bristol's choice to keep the pregnancy. And coming from the McCain campaign, which opposes a woman's right to choose, that statement is disgusting. As Kate Sheppard wrote in In These Times recently, during the 2000 primary McCain said that if his daughter got pregnant it would be a "family decision":
"The final decision would be made by Meghan with our advice and counsel," McCain said, referring to himself and his wife, Cindy. When reporters suggested that this view made him, in fact, pro-choice, McCain became irritated. "I don't think it is the pro-choice position to say that my daughter and my wife and I will discuss something that is a family matter that we have to decide."
In other words: My family and my daughter deserve a choice, but no other woman can be trusted with this decision. This fits nicely with the narrative on both Palin's decision to carry her Down's syndrome child to term and her daughter's decision to carry her own pregnancy to term. Their decisions are seen by the antichoice Republican base as affirmation that Palin shares their values. But the underlying message that each woman had a choice is a validation of pro-choice values.In the news release, the McCain campaign made sure to state that:
Bristol Palin... more
-
-
Taking the contraceptive pill can lead a woman to choose the "wrong" partner, the findings of a study published today suggest.
The pill is thought to disrupt an instinctive mechanism that brings people with complementary genes and immune systems together.
By passing on a wide-ranging set of immune system genes, they increase their chances of having a healthy child that is not vulnerable to infection.
Couples with different genes are also less likely to experience fertility problems or miscarriages.
Experts believe women are naturally attracted to men with immune system genes that differ their own because of their smell.
The major histocompatability complex (MHC) cluster of genes, which helps build proteins involved in the body's immune response, also influences smell signals called pheromones.
Although pheromones may be almost unnoticeable at a conscious level, they can exert a potent effect.
A man's pheromonal odour is partly determined by his MHC. From a woman's point of view, a man with an alluring smell is also likely to have suitable immune system genes.
The new research provides evidence that the contraceptive pill can upset this process.
Researchers asked 100 women to sniff six male body odour samples from 97 volunteers and say which they preferred, with tests carried out both before and after the women had started taking the pill.
"The results showed that the preferences of women who began using the contraceptive pill shifted towards men with genetically similar odours," the University of Liverpool's Dr Craig Roberts, who led the study, said.
"Not only could MHC similarity in couples lead to fertility problems, it could also ultimately lead to the breakdown of relationships when women stop using the contraceptive pill, as odour perception plays a significant role in maintaining attraction to partners."
Being on the pill simulates a state of pregnancy, which may reverse a woman's reaction to male odours.
Finding particular men sexually attractive is not so important once a woman is expecting a child.
Taking the contraceptive pill can lead a woman to choose the "wrong" partner, the... more
-
-
With a full load of classes, two young children, and her bills piling up, Michelle decided to face her economic straits in a pretty unorthodox way.
She is donating her eggs to an infertile couple.
"The cost of living is crazy right now, with two kids, gas prices, and rent...I'm living paycheck to paycheck" said the 24-year-old, who did not give her last name to protect her identity. "I just really need the money to finish school."
Michelle is not alone. As the nation's economy is slumping, some fertility clinics say interest in donating has surged.
"We are seeing an increase in inquiries but we're not sure if it's due to the economy or increased awareness," said Dr. Susan Willman, a reproductive endocrinologist at the Reproductive Science Center of the Bay Area. Last July, the Reproductive Science Center received 120 calls inquiring about egg donation. This year that number jumped to 158 calls.
"We are so inundated right now," Robin von Halle, president of Alternative Reproductive Resources, told CNN.
Von Halle said 30 to 50 inquiries a day from potential donors come in to her Chicago, Illinois, agency, which connects would-be parents with donors and surrogates. A year ago, it would have been 10 to 30, she said.
Talking to other people in the field has convinced von Halle that applications from potential donors are up "across the board."
The increase in inquiries correlates with tough economic times, von Halle said. "I know that's why they call us, for that financial remuneration, she said. "They don't like to openly admit that, but some people are saying that."
"I think there is a spike more for financial reasons," said Mahshid Albrecht, manager of Donor Services at the Reproductive Science Center. "But is that the only reason? Probably not."
An egg donor is typically compensated between $5,000 and $10,000. Experts say that while most women donate out of desire to help infertile couples, the financial allure is real.
"It's important to understand that if a young woman walks into a clinic and says she wants to be an egg donor, the clinic doesn't just sit down and say 'Sure' and hand them money," said Dr. Mark Hornstein, president of the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology. "There are national guidelines. It's a tightly orchestrated, stringent process."
Read the rest of the story for more on donor qualifications and health risks.With a full load of classes, two young children, and her bills piling up, Michelle... more
-
-
With just a few months left in office, President Bush is still doing the bidding of social conservatives who oppose women's reproductive freedoms. Under the guise of rules to protect antiabortion nurses and doctors from discrimination in hiring, a proposed new regulation would expand the definition of abortion to include any form of contraception that can work by stopping implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterus. This can include common birth-control pills, emergency contraception, and the intra-uterine device, or IUD. Doctors who refuse to perform abortions for reasons of personal conscience already are protected by law.
The potential impact of this new rule on the more than 500,000 hospitals, family planning clinics, and medical offices that receive any form of federal funding could be dramatic. The rule could also undercut many state laws - including one in Massachusetts requiring hospitals to provide emergency contraception for rape victims - and laws requiring prescription drug insurance plans to include contraceptives. Massachusetts passed such a law in 2002.
The draft proposed rule highlights the fact that many antiabortion groups also oppose one good method of preventing the unplanned pregnancies that lead to abortions - birth control. At some point in their lives, 98 percent of US women use birth control.
With just a few months left in office, President Bush is still doing the bidding of... more
-
-
Medical researchers found more than one in 10 customers in a sample study on one of the most well-known websites needed a surgical procedure after taking the medication.
Women in more than 70 countries where abortion is restricted, including Northern Ireland, have used the Women on Web site to obtain the drugs for a donation of £55 a time.
Anti-abortion campaigners have labelled the development "worrying".
Women on Web is available in five languages and offers the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol.
It says a combination of the pills causes the non-surgical termination of a pregnancy and can be used up to the ninth week.
The website says it helps women "gain access to a safe abortion with pills in order to reduce the number of deaths due to unsafe abortions".
But the BBC cites a study published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology that found that 11 per cent of 400 customers went on to need a surgical procedure - either because the drugs had not completed the abortion or because of excessive bleeding.
Of 200 women who answered questions about their experiences, almost 60 per cent said they were just grateful to have been able to have an abortion in this way, and 30 per cent said it had been stressful but they found the experience acceptable.
Women on Web posts the drugs only to countries where abortion is heavily restricted, and to women who declare they are less than nine weeks' pregnant.
Customers must answer 25 questions before they are allowed to purchase the drugs, and women are advised to have a pregnancy test and an ultrasound if possible. Customers are asked to make a minimum donation of 70 euros (£55).
The website says it is "a digital community of women who have had abortions and individuals and organisations that support abortion rights".
The Family Planning Association in Northern Ireland told the BBC the website was "helpful and reputable", but stated that on two occasions women bought drugs without appropriate medical information and needed medical care after experiencing complications.
Northern Ireland FPA director Audrey Simpson told the broadcaster: "The Women On Web site is very helpful and reputable.
"But for Northern Ireland women, it is encouraging them to break the law - and as an organisation, we have to work within the law.
"We're really concerned about women accessing the rogue sites - we're hearing about it and we know it's happening.
"There are potentially serious medical complications for women from sites which aren't well managed and this could be the new era of backstreet abortions."
But the anti-abortion group Comment on Reproductive Ethics said it was taking abortion "into the shadows".
Spokeswoman Josephine Quintavalle told the BBC: "This is very worrying indeed. It represents further trivialisation of the value of the unborn child.
"It's like taking abortion into the shadows. These drugs have side-effects and tragedies will increase."
Martin Lupton, chair of the ethics committee of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "The problem with termination services available without access to medical oversight is that we know that women often under-state their gestation.
"The very people who may benefit from this service may have problems with literacy and may not understand their underlying medical conditions.
"They are putting themselves at risk in taking these tablets.
"Having said that, access to illegal termination services is extremely hazardous in any case and it may well be that this is a safer form of termination than illegal surgical methods, which may be the only alternative they have."
Medical researchers found more than one in 10 customers in a sample study on one of... more
-
-
As donated eggs run low for infertile couples in Israel, a push is on to widen the ranks of possible donors. But one of the country's oldest women's rights groups fears the possibility of financial exploitation and wants tighter oversight.
Ofra Balaban knows how important a gift of ova can be: She conceived her two sons with eggs donated more than a decade ago.
That was before allegations of ova theft in conjunction with a rising demand and donor restrictions contributed to a shortage of ova in Israel.
One scandal in particular, involving ovum extraction and medical dishonesty in 2000, has tainted the industry with the odor of exploitation and discouraged ova donors, who, by current law, can only be women who are undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment themselves.
Around 20,000 in vitro fertilization cycles are performed each year in Israel, a tiny country that is a world leader in fertility treatments and places a high value on having children for cultural, religious and demographic reasons. But only a fraction of women who go through IVF are willing or able to donate quality eggs to other women who want to conceive. It is estimated that some 3,000 women in Israel are waiting for egg donations.
"It began with the fact that there weren't enough," Balaban said. "But today, unfortunately, we have reached the situation where there are zero ova donations in Israel."
As donated eggs run low for infertile couples in Israel, a push is on to widen the... more
-
