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[toxictrump]

Protect Yourself From Toxic Trump

Donald Trump is a sexist, racist bully. There’s no question: His dangerous agenda will make things worse for our whole country — and especially for women, families, people of color, Muslims and immigrants. Protect yourself from Trump by voting against him this November.

Thanks to @americanbridge for this photo.

[yeslekgranger]

A Case for Comprehensive Sex Ed in the US

Across the United States, middle schools far and wide are teeming with all kinds of myths, one of the classics being that kissing with your bathing suit on could get you pregnant. Mountain Dew lowers sperm count. Two condoms are better than one. Imagine that as time goes by, these myths are never dispelled. You hear a brief talk that involves some words that are only ever whispered, and when said aloud everyone blushes and giggles. You’re told not to have sex, but you’ve still never really been told what it actually is. This is the case for almost one-fourth of teenagers in the US (Livni, Ephrat. "Study: Abstinence-Only Sex Ed Up."). Comprehensive sex education is vital to a teenager’s overall quality of life because it lowers the chance of unplanned pregnancy, decreases likelihood of STI contraction, increases a sense of bodily integrity, and builds a foundation for healthy relationships.

Comprehensive sex education is defined as a rights-based, gender-sensitive, citizen-oriented and sex-positive program that is introduced into middle or high school curriculums covering a broad range of topics, including but not limited to: male and female anatomy, the process of reproduction, methods of contraception and birth control, sexually transmitted diseases and methods of prevention, personal health awareness, LGBTQIA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual) literacy, sexual and domestic violence, consent, abstinence, and risks associated with sex (International Planned Parenthood Foundation, “From evidence to action”). It does not attempt to replace traditional family or cultural views on sex, but provides teens with the information to develop their own views and identify resources appropriate for their needs (International Planned Parenthood Foundation, “From evidence to action”).

In all of the industrialized nations, the United States still maintains the highest rate of teen pregnancy, and teenagers of the US are still 25% more likely to become pregnant than the second-highest ranking country, Russia (Kearney, MS. “Why is the teen birth rate in the United States so high and why does it matter?”). Phenomenally, the United States currently has the lowest teen pregnancy rate ever seen by the Centers for Disease Control since they began tracking it in 1940 (Beadle, Amanda. “Teen Pregnancies Highest In States With Abstinence-Only Policies”). In 2010, there was a 9% decrease in teen pregnancy rates, and then within the next two years, another 10% decrease was achieved (Boonstra, Heather. “What Is Behind the Declines in Teen Pregnancy Rates?”). This drop in teen pregnancy rates occurred across every racial and ethnic group and is partially accredited to the recent emphasis placed on pregnancy prevention within sex education programs and within advocacy groups. However, the most substantial influence on the drop in teen pregnancy has been attributed to recent increase in widespread contraceptive use, which was responsible for 86% of the decline (Advocates for Youth. “Comprehensive Sex Education: Research and Results”). Both of these methods of suppressing teen pregnancy are brought to the attention of teenagers through sex education programs in and outside of school. There has been a 51% reduction in teen pregnancy amongst those receiving comprehensive sex education, and those without the program were significantly more likely to not use contraceptive methods (National Conference of State Legislatures, “Teen Pregnancy Prevention”). Although a much broader range of forms of birth control exist now than ever before, the stigma attached to them is significantly lessened when the information is presented without hesitation. More information is funneled to young adults than ever before. Teenage girls are often encouraged to seek birth control even if their parents may disapprove as public health clinics provide it without needing parental consent, and without contacting parents. While this may seem unsettling to some, it has been shown to be extremely beneficial for the general wellbeing of the teen population. Women are now more than ever reaping the benefits of birth control, and without the knowledge being passed to them through some medium of sexual education, we would still have high teen pregnancy rates to show. And in some areas of the US, we do still have high teen pregnancy rates despite the national decline. In New Mexico and Mississippi, there are no requirements set to establish any form of sex education within schools. When sex education is taught in these states, it is abstinence-only and is not evidence-based by any means (Beadle, Amanda. “Teen Pregnancies Highest In States With Abstinence-Only Policies”. These two states currently have the highest teen pregnancy rates in the US, New Mexico’s being 80 pregnancies per 1,000 women, and Mississippi’s being 76 pregnancies per 1,000 women (Lewis, Tanya. “New Rankings Reveal Teen Pregnancy Rate in Each State”). In contrast, New Hampshire, whose state government has mandated that each student is to recieve comprehensive evidence-based sex education, has only 28 pregnancies per 1,000 women (Lewis, Tanya. “New Rankings Reveal Teen Pregnancy Rate in Each State”). Although states like New Hampshire are able to flaunt an exceptionally low teen pregnancy rate, they still pale in comparison to the teen pregnancy rates of countries such as Switzerland and the Netherlands, whose teen pregnancy rates are 8 per 1,000 women and 14 per 1,000 women, respectively (Guttmacher Institute. “Teen Pregnancy Rates Declined in Many Countries Between The Mid-1990s and 2011″). It does not seem to be coincidental that Switzerland and the Netherlands have a long-established history in providing an evidence-based sex education curriculum to their young adults. For the US, while a state as a whole may present significantly low teen pregnancy rates, some groups within each state may continue to present elevated teen pregnancy rates. The areas amongst every state with still elevated teen pregnancies are low-income areas with a high population of minority groups, where teens are the least likely to receive sex education, and the most likely to engage in unprotected sex (Centers for Disease Control. “Youth Risk Behaviors Surveillance - United States -2013”). 

Sexually transmitted infections and diseases have plagued society for centuries, if not longer. In previous eras they were almost unavoidable and were rarely detected until achieving a terrible end stage which caused the disease to manifest physical signs that became impossible to ignore. In today’s society, sexually transmitted diseases are highly avoidable when given the proper information, but within the US, there are still 15 million new infections reported annually (National Institutes of Health. “Scientific Evidence on Condom Effectiveness for Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention”). In addition to the 15 million annual reports, there are already an estimated 65 millions Americans living with some type of STI, and the majority of which are incurable (National Institutes of Health. “Scientific Evidence on Condom Effectiveness for Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention”). The rate of STI infection is the highest amongst those who were not placed into a formal position in which to receive correct information (Kohler, Pamela.  “Abstinence-Only and Comprehensive Sex Education and the Initiation of Sexual Activity and Teen Pregnancy). Teens are likely to engage in risk behaviors where STIs are easily transmitted. These activities may or may not be a sexual act, and can range from vaginal, anal and oral sex, to intravenous drug use. Some people may even become infected through using the same insulin needle as an infected person. Many teens hold the belief that anal and oral sex are not the same thing as vaginal sex. This generally is attached to the belief that one does not “lose their virginity” until they engage in vaginal sex and/or the hymen is broken. Being that one will most likely not get pregnant from anal or oral sex, teens may not take proper precautions. Male condoms are often thought of as only serving the purpose of preventing pregnancy and may not be utilized in all sexual encounters or as often as they could. Beyond condoms, there are several other prophylactic devices like dental dams and female condoms that are even lesser known to and used by the teenage population than the male condom. Sexually transmitted diseases can lead to infertility or serious pregnancy complications such as stillbirths, miscarriages, or perinatal infections. One highly popular STI, human papilloma virus (HPV), can lead to cervical and anogential cancers. Previous STI infections can provide an environment ideal for the HIV virus to flourish. In the United States, over 493,000 individuals have died from AIDS since its emergence in the 1980s, and over 900,000 people are living with the HIV virus currently (National Institutes of Health. “Scientific Evidence on Condom Effectiveness for Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention”). HIV is an STI which is commonly transmitted through several conduits- vaginal sex, oral sex, anal sex, and intravenous drug/needle use. It spans all races and genders, but within the state of South Carolina, an African American woman is four times more likely to become infected with HIV than a Caucasian woman. The disease also is spread rapidly through the homosexual community in addition to the heterosexual masses, and thus highlights another benefit of comprehensive sex education. In an ideal sex education program, heterosexual and homosexual sex are both discussed and protection methods that applicable to each form of sex are introduced. The LGBTQIA community is a group whose needs are often neglected in the realm of sex education as they fall outside of the heterosexual norm. If a constantly expanding group of more than 8 million Americans are neglected, there cannot be a significant decline in transmission expected (Gates, Gary. “How Many People are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender?”). A comprehensive sex education program encourages abstinence as the best method of STI prevention, but makes sure teens are capable of making good choices and avoiding negative consequences. Teenagers that receive comprehensive sex ed are much more likely to use a condom than those lacking the proper education (Kohler, Pamela. “Abstinence-Only and Comprehensive Sex Education and the Initiation of Sexual Activity and Teen Pregnancy”). In addition to preventing STIs, comprehensive sex education programs can give insight into STI management by discussing the resources available to help in the case of STI contraction, like local health departments, Planned Parenthood, or clinics. Giving teens the proper information on all aspects of not only pregnancy prevention, but also STI prevention and management helps them avoid serious health consequences for themselves and others that may have occurred had they not received the necessary information.

A somewhat latent function of comprehensive sex education programs is that they can increase one’s sense of bodily integrity. Bodily integrity is defined as the “inviolability of the physical body” and “emphasizes the importance of personal autonomy and the self-determination of human beings over their own bodies” (Wikipedia. “Bodily Integrity”). This necessity spans across cultures- whether it be women in Egypt denying genital mutilation, or activists petitioning for accessible reproductive health care in the US. Two central aspects of bodily integrity is one’s right to not be violated (sexually or otherwise), and one’s right to be educated on all aspects of personal health. When these two aspects are combined, teens- male and female- are more compelled to report any sexual encounters that were unwanted or violent, and are more likely to define their sexual limits through a lens of personal desire or with less of a focus on the partner’s wants before their own. Placing an emphasis on personal comfort and placing sexuality in a positive light gives a teen the affirmation that they have control over their sexuality, and that when they do engage, it should be in a pleasurable and comfortable manner. It is important to convey to all young people that just because someone is defined as your partner or spouse, that does not mean they cannot rape or violate them. It empowers all genders and sexualities when one feels they have gained power over their own body. For example, transgender men and women are increasingly violated and raped throughout the world, and when enabling a sense of bodily integrity at a young age, it also enables their confidence in executing the appropriate measures when they feel that their bodily integrity has been violated. This would primarily be a group that remains somewhat oppressed and shunned by society, but still deserves the same basic human rights as all other people. Arming all forms of teenagers, including each facet of LGBTQIA, with knowledge pertaining to their personal needs can increase a sense of inclusion as topics related to themselves that were often avoided are now being brought out in the open. Teens that may have been questioning their sexuality that may not have been aware that there is an entire group that identifies similarly to them could feel a skyrocketing sense of belonging and control. When passing information to young adults, you can also improve their sense of bodily integrity by enlightening them on the potential risks of sex, so although they may choose to participate, they are made aware of any potential consequences. In this way, you are not denying them of any knowledge because it is unpleasant, but one is not trying to prevent their engaging in sexual activity through fear. This impact of comprehensive sex education also encourages young people to be more active politically by enlightening them on potential laws or limits that may be placed on them from outside forces within the government, like alterations made to abortion, marriage, or domestic violence laws.

In addition to bodily integrity, another important emotional aspect of comprehensive sex education is that it builds a foundation for one to develop and maintain healthy relationships. These relationships may be with one’s partner, child, and self. When provided with a full spectrum of sexual knowledge, decisions between a person and their partner can become more thought out, cautious, and meaningful. Comprehensive sex education can encourage teens to pose the question of waiting to engage sexually with a partner till they are ready, or can simply arm the teens with the ability to prevent a potentially unwanted and life changing pregnancy. This can provide teens with a means of avoiding all kinds of stressors- economic, newfound responsibility, and personal emotional struggles. A safe and healthy relationship can be founded between two people without the pressures of pregnancy, which can in turn provide a healthier, safer, and more stable environment for any potential children the couple may choose to have. In respect to one’s relationship with their child, comprehensive sex ed can ensure a relationship between child and parent that is not negatively influenced by economic, emotional or environmental factors. This assists in the happiness of the parent as well as the child.  Children can grow in a loving home with a strong family. The relationship with oneself can be improved by developing personal boundaries, values and goals. It allows a person to make their own decisions and grow to know themselves better before entering life-changing decisions, or allows them to become comfortable with their own sexuality. Without this comprehensive approach to sex education, we may end up perpetuating the current terrible statistical trends. Shocking and undeniable research has been conducted on the ramifications of abstinence-only sex education policies in comparison to the effectiveness of comprehensive sex education, and it’s results and benefits are clearly shown. Alterations made in the amount and presentation of social sexual topics could significantly raise the amount of mutual respect amongst peers with differing views of sexuality, and can promote self acceptance. Keeping this from young people could prove increase to current rape and discrimination trends.  The longer we delay a change in the way each state within the United States educates their adolescents, teens and young adults, the further we will stray from widespread sexual consciousness and positive changes in teen pregnancies and STI contraction.

[yeslekgranger]

Instagram photo by @sexhealthkels • May 8, 2016 at 1:03am UTC

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post #5 in #kelseysiud! hello, my internet #birthcontrol, #sexualhealthand #reproductivehealth aficionados! just updating the #kelseysiud hashtag journey of my #mirenaiud! I have now had my#mirena for 10 months (10 months#postiudinsertion and about 1 year and a month since I made my first post about getting my IUD! time flies!!) and have absolutely no problems to report.. I don't even notice it's there. it almost seems silly to say that I have had no problems at all but it's completely true. however, I do have#pcos, so much of my issues I tend to attribute to my #endometriosis, or my#hypothyroidism. with me, typically, I have a bit of acne on my face and I am still overweight. but, since having my mirena inserted, I have been able to lose 20 pounds! my original weight before my PCOS and hypothyroidism issues was at 120, I'm now around 160 and when I got my mirena inserted I was at 180. I still deal with my bouts of depression but I have had that for years and in no way find it to be aggravated by hormones, as I've always used hormonal birth control (the #deposhotprior to my #minastrin and #mirena) and during the times I was not using a method of hormonal birth control, did not feel any change in my mood compared to when I have been using hormonal bc. but I've also not had a period since getting my mirena, which is really wonderful for me because when I get periods, they tend to last for weeks (and sometimes months) at a time, and are immensely painful- several times before I was in so much pain and losing so much blood that I was hospitalized. with my mirena, that seems to be a thing of the past. of course, there's issues with everything, but I personally have none to report. with that being said, I do have the comorbidity of PCOS, hypothyroidism, and endometriosis- but I don't find any of those conditions exacerbated by my mirena. only happy things to say!! 💕 just be sure to check your strings! (btw this is a picture where I'm holding an old IUD called#progestasert and a #paragard, not a mirena [but I would love a mirena])

[yeslekgranger]

Instagram photo by @sexhealthkels • Mar 31, 2016 at 10:40pm UTC

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(originally posted August 2015) post #4 in #kelseysiud! ⛔️⛔️⛔️⛔️⛔️#IUD post time again, beware!! Another post to add to the #kelseysiud tag! I am one week post-#mirena insertion. I had a decent bit of cramping the first 2-3 days, but it was totally managed by a tylenol + aleve combo! I would have a little bit of pain if I walked for a long time or would bend down a lot, but the constant cramping/pain subsided for the most part pretty quickly. I slept with a heating pad for the first 2 nights (I know you're not supposed to do that but yolo I have no burns) and that helped a lot too. I have gotten intermittent cramping since but nothing terrible, and I'm sure it would go away if I took a pain reliever. My period stopped as soon as I got the #mirenainserted and I just started spotting today. I am a lil crampy right now hence the bed pic. But, all seems to be well so far! If I do not see my weight gain due to #PCOS level out to how it normally is, I might start#metformin at some point. Metformin is usually used to treat diabetes, but can be used to help with PCOS related insulin issues. I am usually around 125 and have gotten up to 165 due to PCOS and being hypothyroid. Additionally, I have not had an #endometriosis flare up yet either. But so far, so good with the #mirenaiud! I go back Sept 21 to make sure everything is where it's supposed to be! I'm fixed for the next five years!!

[yeslekgranger]

Instagram photo by @sexhealthkels • Mar 31, 2016 at 10:38pm UTC

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(originally posted August 2015) ⛔️⛔️⛔️ Warning!! A whole buncha birth control talk follows, beware!! So, as of today, I have an IUD just like this one! I got a #mirenaiud inserted about 2-3 hours ago. I've been planning on it for a while now so this follows my other posts under the hashtag #kelseysiud. The whole process only took about a half hour since I had been screened for STDs at my last appointment in June. Making sure that you do not have any STDs prior to your IUD's insertion can help prevent #PID(#pelvicinflammatorydisease) which can be caused by the insertion of an IUD when you do have an infection present. So today I got to the doctor's, gave a urine sample, got my blood pressure taken, and then was taken back to get an ultrasound. I got a regular stomach ultrasound and then the ultrasound tech saw that my uterus was tilted, so I then got a TV ultrasound so make sure they had a clear path to guide the #IUD in. After getting the first ultrasounds, the doctor came in and worked together with the UT. First they put in the speculum, washed my cervix with iodine, then dilated my cervix. Getting my cervix dilated was pretty much the worst part. After that, the #Mirena got inserted and he guided it up through my cervix and right into the bottom of my uterus. That didn't feel fabulous, it hurt, but it was definitely tolerable and is totally worth it for 5 years of protection. I was able to get right up and walk to my car right after they removed everything and I was done. After everything got removed, it definitely hurt a more. I'm not gonna lie. And I felt kinda hot, lightheaded and thirsty but I really think that was just a bit of anxiety because I was a kind of pain that I'm not used to. Apparently a nurse was supposed to give me Motrin before the procedure but didn't. I'm pretty confident that had I taken the Motrin before the procedure I would have felt better. But as soon as I got some aleve in me and laid down for a big with a heating pad I felt a million times better and I'm feeling pretty good right now. Hopefully all continues to go well!! I am using the IUD to also help manage the awful periods I get as a result of #PCOS and #endometriosis

[yeslekgranger]

Instagram photo by @sexhealthkels • Mar 31, 2016 at 10:10pm UTC

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(originally posted July 2015) post #2! Just a heads up, I'm continuing to document my #IUD journey! You can read all the posts under the hashtag #kelseysiud. So, yesterday I finished my first month on Minastrin. I started taking the Minastrin so I could stop bleeding after bleeding for 3+ months straight after having the Depo shot fully leave my system. I was on Depo for 3 years and stopped receiving my injection in May 2014. I got a period for the first time since discontinuing the Depo in April 2015 which lasted until I stopped it with the Minastrin #birthcontrolpill in late June 2015. It stopped my period in about a day or two and I haven't had any spotting or breakthrough bleeding yet (yay!!!!!!!!!!). I typically have ridiculous dysmenorrhea and some serious blood loss so this was suuuuuch a relief after 3 months straight. I'm skipping the iron doses and moving straight into the next month's pack because I get my IUD placed in a few weeks but you should not do the same unless you get the advice to do so from your gynecologist. The Minastrin also helps with my PCOS(polycystic ovary syndrome) diagnosis and my endometriosis. I haven't had any weight gain, acne breakouts or anything else that could be considered a side effect with it so far. My weight has been a bit excessive because of my PCOS and hypothyroidism but I haven't seen an increase and I imagine I would be super susceptible to one. If you're looking for a pill, I would def recommend this one. For me it's only temporary tho. #Mirena gets placed August 11! Also, yesterday I got HIV tested at artscape. You should get tested too! #kelseysiud #mirenaiud #larc#hormonalcontraceptives #hormonalIUD#birthcontrol #reproductivehealth#sexualhealth #contraceptives

[yeslekgranger]

Instagram photo by @sexhealthkels • Mar 31, 2016 at 10:04pm UTC

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(originally posted June 2015) post #1! When discussing birth control and family planning methods with other women, I've noticed that a lot of women tend to overlook the IUD. This could be for a number of reasons and there are a lot of myths and misconceptions surrounding IUDs, one common one being that you have to have children before getting an IUD which is not the case. There's also a lot of negative stuff out there so here's my hopefully positive story! So, since I blab about birth control all day long I decided to post my Mirena journey so those of you considering it can get some real life info on it... But please keep in mind, I'm not a doctor, so this is just me sharing my personal experience without reservations. Today I went and got an ultrasound to see what's up with my uterus and oves, I have 1 cyst on my left ovary and 4 on my right. Got an official diagnosis of PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome, I've always had cysts but they never called it PCOS). I also have endometriosis which I have known for several years now. These things combined are why I want to stop my periods, which the Mirena can do. I have been on hormonal birth control since age 11 when I first when to the hospital for dysmenorrhea. This dysmenorrhea would be followed by fluctuating periods of amenorrhea, sometimes only around 8 weeks, sometimes it would take 8 months for me to get another period. But when it did happen, it always made me very very sick. Can't get the Mirena placed for about a week or two but I leave to go home Saturday, so I'll be coming to get it placed in August. I quit my Depo shot last August after 3 years and got my period for the first time since then in April. I have been bleeding since April - 3 months, and I was given oral birth control (pictured) to knock that out ASAP in the meantime. Got tested for STDs (woooo!! practicing what I preach) and now just gotta wait for my insurance to play catchup. August 11 is my date!

[sexedplus]

End the epidemic, end the stigma. Understand the actual risks. Donate to a local HIV organziation. Follow SexEdPlus for more stuff like this.

[sexedplus]

Today is World AIDS Day.

[yeslekgranger]

Zika in the USA???

I'm really curious to see how Zika plays out in the US. It's not really a question of IF it will effect us here anymore, but is rather a question of how hard. Around 300 pregnant women have tested positive for Zika in the United States so far (not including those in US territories, some of which are in areas far more prone to Zika than the states). In Feb, 9 infants were found to have defects caused by Zika. 6 of those were born with defects, 3 died before birth, and at least 1 had Zika-linked microcephaly (Sen. Bill Nelson of FL said that at least 5 babies have been born in the US with Zika-linked microcephaly, but I'm not sure where his source is). With microcephaly, the head of an infant is abnormally small, which can heavily impede brain development. In its severe form, it can lead to death. In milder forms, it can cause seizures, developmental delay (i.e. delay in speech, ability to walk/crawl/move), intellectual disability, hearing or sight loss, and can cause dysphagia (not being able to swallow) or other feeding issues. It's very not good. The sketchier thing about that is that those 9 infants were from women who were late enough into their pregnant to be able to see defects, or had given birth to them. The 300 women are obviously at varying stages of pregnancy so we really don't know how many of these pregnancies will result in a defect. Plus that stat is several months outdated now. I can't think of a time that the US has had to harshly battle a mosquito-borne illness (yes, WNV does have a decent number of yearly cases, but very rarely has harsh effects and can be very treatable). Having said that, I definitely don’t think that the CDC, NIH, health depts, etc are failing to see the severity of the situation. But I do think the attitude the general population of the US has towards Zika right now is very laissez-faire. And I believe that the fact that Zika only detrimentally impacts pregnant women increases this attitude because it enables a lot of people to not take necessary infection precautions because they are not included in the potentially pregnant/pregnant women demographic; i.e. single men, infertile women, women past childbearing age, etc. But even though they might not really be looking to get pregnant, they still play a role in further spreading the infection. Now would be a good time to make sure you don’t have any stagnant water in your backyard and to stock up on condoms, bug spray and citronella candles.

Governmentally, we're not acting so smart either. Senate Dems blocked a bill today proposed by the GOP that would've provided $1.1 bn (the White House requested $1.9 bn in Feb, so that's $800 million less than requested) in funding to fight Zika. Now, they didn't do that because they want to be assholes or they want everyone to get Zika. They did it because Senate Reps slipped random cuts and bans into the bill, including: cutting funding to Dept of Veterans Affairs by $500 million, cutting $ from the Affordable Care Act (that, ya know, provides HEALTH INSURANCE which is pretty important when trying to prevent an epidemic), cutting Clean Water Act requirements (which literally helps keep your water clean and free of chemicals like pesticides), and they also blocked Planned Parenthood from receiving any federal funding that could ya know, prevent pregnancies.. Oh, and they managed to slip in an attempt at removing a proposed House provision stating Confederate flags may not be flown at federal cemeteries... Cuz ya know, the Confederate flag is super relevant to Zika. Can't really blame them for blocking this bill. Kind of supporting the fact that they did. So, now we're not gonna bring this back up in Congress for another week or two. Please also keep in mind that the GOP has been cutting funding from contraceptive/reproductive health efforts and Title X clinics for years now along with a decent bit of a few other ever-so-slightly unwise choices in budget cuts. Just saying. Play nice. I'm not some evil Democrat vixen who just wants to talk trash on the GOP. I just love public health and especially reproductive health. And I don't like party values being forced within health bills that are intended to prevent harm to the population of the US as a whole. Viruses are bipartisan, y'all. They don't care if you love the Confederate flag or not. They will still infect ya.

Going to talk about the very touchy subject of abortion now: In 7 countries in Latin America, abortion is illegal under any circumstances. This includes countries such as Chile, the Dominican Republic, and El Salvador. In Brazil, Mexico, and Venezuela, abortion is prohibited except in the cases where it is necessary to save the life of the mother (and in some cases of rape). As we know, Zika does not kill the mother, so being pregnant while being infected with Zika would not warrant an abortion, even in the case of the fetus having clear birth defects. This restriction is forcing Zika-infected pregnant women to seek abortion through channels that are not safe, legal, or guaranteed effective. One organization called Women on the Web provides mifepristone (the “abortion pill”) to women in areas with high abortion restriction (not here to discuss the morality of this organization, just gonna state some numbers) and they have reported the number of orders of mifepristone to have roughly doubled in countries like Brazil and Venezuela. The range of the increase across Latin America spans from 36 percent to 76 percent since the Zika outbreak. That’s sketchy, because although a medical abortion is very safe, that is only the case under doctor supervision. Mifepristone may terminate a pregnancy but can also leave fetal tissue inside the uterus, which can lead to issues like pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and even death. And keep in mind that being mailed mifepristone is the more favorable option for them, with their alternatives being, well, you can imagine.

Back to the US government. In the United States, the legality of abortion varies by state. Nationally, we have a precedent that states abortion to be a constitutional right with some restrictions. States are free to regulate abortion as they please so long as it does not place an “undue burden” on those seeking it. The guideline of “undue burden” is vague, and as a result, many states have placed heavy restrictions on abortion (check into TRAP laws, a reason for another post someday). So, a Zika-infected pregnant woman in the United States has highly varying access to a safe, legal abortion, even before the first trimester ends. Going even further down the abortion rabbit hole, suppose a woman finds out late into a pregnancy that the fetus does indeed have microcephaly. Her access is sliced down monumentally farther, as only around 4 doctors in the entire United States perform late term abortions (all the other ones were murdered). And going even further down, we currently have this thing called the Hyde Amendment that was put in place a few years after Roe v. Wade. Hyde bans federal funding and Medicaid for paying for abortions, except under the circumstances of rape, incest, or when it is necessary to save the life of the mother (so, this WHOLE TIME, Planned Parenthood has NOT been using federal funding for abortion. It has been illegal since 1976. Just putting that out there. This is an amendment to the Constitution. This is not a state law. This is 100% a national law. That is part of our Constitution. Just saying). At a state level, each is able to make some legislation regarding government funding of abortion through the use of state funds/grants, so it varies throughout the nation. Many insurance policies cover abortion, many do not. With that being said, those of low income status are pretty much always the most heavily impacted by disease. Those who would need federal or state funding. Those who lack health insurance. Those who, if they became pregnant, would rely on government assistance to provide prenatal care. Those who already cannot afford a child most likely cannot afford to pay for the medical bills associated with Zika or microcephaly. And yes yes yes, adoption is undeniably an option for babies born with microcephaly, but that is if these babies live. Let me also play devil's advocate and encourage you to consider the economic cost of caring for potentially a LOT of disabled children through the adoption and foster care system as it stands.

With all of that being said, my only intention here is to make a case for Zika to be taken seriously. I think now would be a good time for us at an individual, local, state and federal level to take a look at some of our existing attitudes and policies in regard to disease and health, particularly reproductive health. In my opinion (I am a public health major, mind you), as Zika is a disease that directly impacts the reproductive health of women and anyone with a uterus and is both vector-borne and sexually transmitted, I can see it being super detrimental to underestimate it. Germs are crazy and will stop at nothing. If ya don’t believe me, check out nosocomial Clostridium dificile or Neisseria gonorrhoeae’s (C. diff and gonorrhea) recent rapid increase in mortality rates alongside its mounting antibiotic resistance. Since Zika is a virus, its threat is somewhat compounded, because viruses do not respond like bacteria or fungi and can't be killed in the same way. Viruses don't like to go away, you know that crazy HIV stuff that we still can't cure? Or that pesky HPV stuff that keeps giving people cervical cancer that we can't seem to cure? Viruses are scary. Speaking in regard to the cycle of plagues that seems to be prevalent throughout history, we're kind of overdue for one. I don't think Zika is THE plague, but.. I think we should be freaking the hell out about Zika. We should be taking every measure possible to protect every human with a uterus and even more so, those who are pregnant and the children that many of them want so badly. Now would probably be a good time to be taking action on all levels. What kind of action? I don’t know. That’s not my job.. Yet. And if I’m wrong, I still can’t see the downside in having taken said action. God forbid we were prepared and laid more groundwork for fighting emerging infectious diseases. Go dump and rinse out your birdbath now!!!!

[nonbinarysapphic]

use the right pronouns for people even when they cant hear you

[sexeducationforprudes]

To have any kind of sex be as good in the short and long-term as it can possibly be, anticipating, recognizing and managing realities and risks – both wanted and unwanted – is a big help. The best sex is pretty much always the sex everyone involved really wants and is earnestly ready for.

Ready or Not? The Scarleteen Sex Readiness Checklist (via sexeducationforprudes)