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Archive for the ‘Family Planning’ Category

Congress in Session

Today or tomorrow, the U.S. House of Representatives will pass a bill that repeals the Healthcare Reform Act that was signed into law last year.  That, of course, is the law that has generated so much controversy in this country.  I personally support this much needed law.

If you also support this law, don’t worry at all when you hear that the House has repealed it.  It’s all a big show.

The Republican Party campaigned in 2010 promising to repeal the law.  And they will take this first step.  But that’s as far as it will go.  The next step would be for the repeal to be considered by the U.S. Senate and the Democratic Party still runs things over there.  But, let’s think worst case scenario.  Let’s say that the Senate also repeals the law.    In that case, the next step is the repeal legislation would go to the President and guess what he will do?   He’ll veto the bill.

When a bill is vetoed, it goes back to the House and the Senate.  Both of those bodies can override what the President did but they have to get two-thirds of their body to vote for repeal.  And the Republicans don’t have those numbers.

So, you can watch what is going on with interest if you’ve got nothing to do.   The Republicans are just doing this so they can go back to their constituents and tell them that they “fought” to repeal that “horrible law.”

But, relax folks.  It’s all part of the show.

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Emergency Contraception Abortion

Emergency Contraception Abortion

In keeping with my promise to keep you informed of issues in the U.S. Congress, I wanted to bring to your attention legislation that was recently introduced by Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Congresswoman Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) that will raise the public’s understanding and awareness of Emergency Contraception (EC).

The bill is called the “EC Education Act” and it would fund public-education campaigns about this medication, letting people know that it is available, safe, and effective at preventing pregnancy. The bill would allow states to fund outreach programs to doctors, pharmacists, and women to increase their awareness about EC.  This effort comes at a good time because some studies indicated that many women do not use EC because they underestimate their chances of becoming pregnant. Improving public education and awareness could help reduce the estimated three million unintended pregnancies that occur in the U.S. every year.  In the U.S., emergency contraception is now available over the counter for adults and by prescription for those under age 17.

Of course, we expect the radical anti-abortion groups to come out in opposition to these bills.  As they have always done, they will try to confuse the public about EC by comparing it to abortion.

So, what can you do today to help this bill become law?

If your Senators and Congressman are pro-choice (contact me if you’re not sure), send them a simple email asking them to “cosponsor this legislation.”   After a bill is introduced, it – along with thousands of other bills – is referred to a committee.  That committee will not consider the bill unless they have an idea that there is support for it.  So, a Member of Congress can indicate that support by “co-sponsoring” the bill.

If your Senators and Congress are anti-abortion, tell them they should support the bill because Emergency Contraception is one way to prevent abortions!   And don’t let them tell you that 72 hours after unprotected sex, there is a “baby” in the woman’s uterus.  Gimme a break!

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It is the opinion of this author that very few women require to subject themselves to the intrabdominal procedure of a tubal ligation.

There are occasions where it makes sense, like a seventh baby at c-section, the tubal takes two minutes and then it is over. But one must be certain they want irreversible sterilization and the possibility of the rare, unproven post tubal syndrome.

Simply, the vast majority of couples who are done with child bearing may let the man get a vasectomy, a much simpler and safer procedure. Men must be educated as they feel they loose their “Maleness” when this occurs.

As well women who are unsure, or the man refuses the vasectomy, most often will tolerate one of the IUDs on the market and since they are approved for such along time – the Paragard 380T was approved for 10 years – it can always be taken out, with a high degree of success, everything else being equal in regards to their fertility. As well they last long enough to almost take the average women to menopause after enough childbearing.

So the options are significant to avoid the tubal ligation which is irreversible for the most part, unless you have lots of $$s and are happy with a below 50% success rate – I am not.

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