Birth Control News and Research

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Romney's positions on abortion, Planned Parenthood funding draw political fire

Both the Obama and Romney campaigns are issuing new campaign ads related to women's health issues and attempting to stake out policy positions.

16 Oct 2012

Women's decisions about contraception may depend on factors over which they have little control

Young women who start using hormonal contraceptives for birth control often stop using condoms, but a new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health finds that if they later discontinue using hormonal contraceptives, they tend not to resume using condoms. This leaves them open to both unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

15 Oct 2012

V.P. candidates face questions about abortion and faith

Both candidates explained how their Catholic background helped to shape their policy views, including on abortion. News outlets reported that, based on answers from Vice President Joe Biden and GOP vice presidential pick Paul Ryan, it was clear that both were aiming to the larger, much sought after audience of female voters.

15 Oct 2012

Gardasil does not increase sexual activity in girls

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine known as Gardasil is not associated with an increase in pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, or contraceptive counseling, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published online today in the journal Pediatrics.

15 Oct 2012

State roundup: Minn. says health exchange will cost $40 million

Minnesota budget officials estimate it could cost the state as much as $40 million to run its health insurance exchange in 2015. The state-based online insurance marketplaces are a cornerstone of the federal health care overhaul.

12 Oct 2012

States, companies and officials worry over health law implementation

The medical device industry and other companies are concerned about how the health law's tax and compliance provisions are affecting their bottom lines and are strategizing new ways forward to avoid the monetary hit.

12 Oct 2012

Romney says abortion issues not part of his presidential agenda

In what is being cast by many reports as a move to the center, GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney told the Des Moines Register that, if elected, he would not pursue specific legislation targeting abortion. Opponents say this is a marked difference from his comments earlier in the campaign.

11 Oct 2012

Two Texas Baptist Universities join challenge to health law's contraception coverage mandate

News outlets report on various developments related to the implementation of the health law.

11 Oct 2012

Progress, obstacles and lawsuits affecting health law implementation

Roadblocks confront federal officials implementing parts of the health law including insurance exchanges, a free contraception coverage rule and the board designed to slow Medicare spending growth.

9 Oct 2012

Study: Free birth control lowered abortion, teen birth rates

A new study that gave free birth control to low-income teens and women in St. Louis has found that the free contraception dramatically lowered rates for teen births and abortions.

6 Oct 2012

Providing no cost birth control can reduce unintended pregnancies, abortion rates in women

Providing birth control to women at no cost substantially reduced unplanned pregnancies and cut abortion rates by 62 percent to 78 percent over the national rate, a new study shows.

5 Oct 2012

First Edition: October 5, 2012

Now on the blog, Phil Galewitz reports on what one expert describes as the "challenges" related to explaining the health law: "More than two and a half years after he signed the most far reaching health care legislation into law, President Barack Obama showed in his Wednesday debate with Mitt Romney that explaining the law is still no easy job."

5 Oct 2012

Viewpoints: Romney's surprisingly strong defense of Mass. health plan; Challenger's 'pretend' proposal for the nation

The first debate between President Obama and Mitt Romney, so long anticipated, quickly sunk into an unenlightening recitation of tired talking points and mendacity. With few sparks and little clarity on the immense gulf that truly separates the two men and their policies, Wednesday's encounter provided little guidance for voters still trying to understand the choice in next month's election.

5 Oct 2012

Reuters examines debate over proposed reproductive health bill in the Philippines

Reuters examines how Philippine President Benigno Aquino is supporting "a reproductive health bill that will, if passed by the two houses of Congress, guarantee access to free birth control and promote sex education," despite the "country's powerful Catholic church."

4 Oct 2012

Lilly announces new data from two Phase II ramucirumab trials on NSCLC

Eli Lilly and Company today announced new data from two Phase II ramucirumab (IMC-1121B) trials in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

1 Oct 2012

Story describes need for male version of oral contraceptive pills

When will men have their own birth control pill? Scientists have been predicting the debut of a male pill within 5 years for the last 30 years. The factors accounting for that delay - and new optimism that a male pill will emerge within a decade - are the topic of a story in the current edition of Chemical & Engineering News. C&EN is the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society.

27 Sep 2012

Can rebate checks really change public perception about the health law?

National Journal reports that although the checks are one of the earliest, tangible benefits for people with insurance, they are unlikely to alter the public view -- in part because they have gone to only about 10 percent of households.

27 Sep 2012

Different places, very different policies on the 'morning after' pill

An Illinois court rules on pharmacies' right to sell - or not - the 'morning after pill' while New York City expands the pill's availability.

24 Sep 2012

First Edition: September 24, 2012

Kaiser Health News staff writer Phil Galewitz reports: "GOP vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan was booed and heckled on Friday when he told an AARP convention in New Orleans that he would repeal President Barack Obama's health law. In contrast, Obama's remarks about Medicare --delivered by live satellite an hour earlier -- were warmly received."

24 Sep 2012

California expands access to birth control, abortion

News organizations covered Gov. Jerry Brown's Saturday visit to a Planned Parenthood center, where he signed several bills allowing nurses to dispense birth control and perform some abortions.

24 Sep 2012