Sexual Health in the News May 14 - May 20

NCSH in the News

The Birth Control Pill Is Safe, Effective, and Should Be Available Over-the-Counter – Ms. Magazine
Birth control’s prescription requirement is an unnecessary barrier that lies in contradiction to research. Many experts say it’s time for contraception be dispensed over-the-counter. This story features Power to Decide, a NCSH member.


Other News This Week

The Governor of Texas Has Signed a Law that Bans Abortion as Early as 6 Weeks – NPR
The bill makes no exception for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest and includes a rare provision that allows citizens to sue people who could have helped a pregnant person violate the ban.

A New Crowdsourcing App Hopes to Serve as the ‘Green Book’ for LGBTQ People of Color – TIME
The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) launched a web-based app called “the Lavender Book,” which lists businesses and facilities across the U.S. that are safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ people of color. 

Only 1 in 5 Gynecologists Are Trained in Menopause—Here’s When to Consider a New Doctor – Well + Good
Even though menopause occurs during one-third to half of one’s life, a 2019 survey of OB/GYN residents revealed that only 6.8 percent felt “adequately prepared to manage women experiencing menopause.”

‘Fetal Heartbeat’ in Abortion Laws Taps Emotion, Not Science – ABC News
While advanced technology can detect the first flutter at six weeks, the embryo isn’t yet a fetus and it doesn’t have a heart. Medical experts consider an embryo to be a fetus in the 11th week of pregnancy.

Many Dating Apps Ban People Convicted of Felonies. Does That Make Anyone Safer? – NBC News
Civil rights advocates say dating app background checks impose “collateral consequences” long after people have completed their sentences, and unfairly affect people of color without actually improving safety.

Finding a Queer Therapist Can Be Hard. Here’s How the Queer Community Is Making It Easier – Refinery29
While it’s easy enough for a therapist to add “queer-friendly” to their Psychology Today bio, it can be difficult to tell if they, themselves, are queer. But many queer people only want to see a queer therapist.

How to Keep Sex Sexy When You’re Trying to Conceive, According to a Sex Therapist – INSIDER
Sex with the goal of getting pregnant can often be stressful, methodical, and take the fun and connection out of the experience. Here’s how to keep it fun and intimate.

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