Category Archives: dialogue

Free Pregnancy Testing but no Social Engineering?

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Alaska has moved forward with a $400,000 state-funded program to outfit 20 bars across the state with free pregnancy testing. The initiative is designed to combat fetal alcohol syndrome where Alaska ranks highest among the 50 states. While this is an admiral effort of sorts, it is sadly not accompanied by the installation or even moral support of any birth control possibilities like condom machines in the same facilities, including ones that are not free.

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Alaska state Sen. Pete Kelly (R) was quoted saying, “Birth control is for people who don’t necessarily want to act responsibly.” He added upon reproach that contraception could also be viewed as responsible, “That’s a level of social engineering that we don’t want to get into.”

Social engineering – could become a catchy term though… Sure does sound better than birth control and contraception, don’t you think?

 

Arizona Abortion Restrictions Blocked by Court

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800px-US_Supreme_Court photo by Kjetil Ree

The title is becoming commonplace, almost, but what is remarkable about the current decision is that Arizona’s three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals took the opportunity in their judgment against Arizona’s off-label restrictions to single out two brethren courts that did not strike down similar legislation. The Fifth Circuit upheld a Texas law and the Sixth Circuit upheld an Oklahoma law, both of which this Ninth Court now cites as “inconsistent with the undue burden test” meaning basically that their decisions break with Supreme Court precedent. This is an outright invitation for the Supreme Court to take up those cases and declare the respective legislative efforts unconstitutional.

Will they do it?

Supreme Court photo thanks to Kjetil Ree

Birth Control Quiz: Test Your Contraception Knowledge

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Exam

Take the new quiz here
thanks to LifeScience.com
and arm yourself and loved ones with knowledge for life
Any surprises in there for you?
Thank you and please pass along!

In 30 States: Abortion Rate at 35+ Year Lows

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Time for great news.

apc-2011-lowest-since-73

All but six states posted decreases in their abortion rates from 2008 to 2011. Alaska, Maryland, Montana, New Hampshire, West Virginia and Wyoming posted gains. With rates at 27 to 34 abortions per thousand women, the Northeast Corridor, namely New York, Maryland, DC, Delaware and New Jersey were home to the highest abortion rates. At the lowest rates of one to five per thousand, Wyoming, Mississippi, South Dakota, Kentucky and Missouri lead the scoreboards, though the numbers tally only in-state activity. So outliers such as Wyoming, for example, where more than 90 percent of abortion patients in 2009 went out of state for their operation, fair better than they should and hide the tales of tribulations for their citizens.

Though the data reflects 2011 activity (you would think compiling got quicker with computers…), at least it is fairly clear that none of the abortion restrictions led to this development, i.e. unwanted pregnancy declines were organic. Maybe that is the best news yet. Let’s continue to make pro-plan the agenda.

The Guttmacher Institue offers a US map with good albeit now somewhat dated data points on each State for your reference. And the Washington Post compiled nice graphics here and here for State trends and comparisons.
How is your State fairing?

Reality TV & Reality: Is It Impacting Teen Pregnancy?

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MTV’s 16 and Pregnant is beginning its fifth season on April 14th. Even more than the season opening trailer, we think this clip shows how poignant the show details incidents along the way:

16 and Pregnant Season 5 Preview

With the release of the final 2012 birth data at the end of 2013, the trend in lower fertility in the US was again well-documented. But the overall decrease was fully lead by the age group 15-29. All age categories 30+ were up in birth rates. So the message is that women are waiting longer – seemingly planning their pregnancies. Teens pregnancy rates remain high, but plummeting, as do the rates for young women aged 20-24.

All this sounds like great news though this positive trend is generating stories like Americans are having dogs instead of babies. We don’t get it. Either folks complain about teen pregnancy or now that the fertility rate has dropped – which is statistically of course the short-term result when one category within the overall numbers deviates, even if that deviation signifies a positive social trend in society.

But another thought occurs.

MTV describes their show as
“an hour-long documentary series focusing on the controversial subject of teen pregnancy. Each episode follows a 5-7 month period in the life of a teenager as she navigates the bumpy terrain of adolescence, growing pains, rebellion, and coming of age; all while dealing with being pregnant. Each story offers a unique look into the wide variety of challenges pregnant teens face: marriage, adoption, religion, gossip, finances, rumors among the community, graduating high school, getting (or losing) a job. Faced with incredibly adult decisions, these girls are forced to sacrifice their teenage years and their high school experiences.”

And anyone who has watched will agree, there are no hidden punch lines. It is, what it is – real reality TV.

Can the impact on teen pregnancy rates stem also from this show?

One Valid Argument Against Birth Control: Do It For Denmark

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The US birthrate lies at about 63 babies per 1000 women; Denmark tallies only 10, impetus enough for a sexy campaign inciting the Danes to enjoy each other a bit more. Apparently vacationing Danes engage in 46% more sex than while drudging through work days, so the Danish travel agent Spies is campaigning for more get-aways.

In our forum, one could propose this is comic relief. It is not. We are in favor of babies! Contraception is a method only to free intimacy from its ties to a child-wish every time and to plan families, thereby hopefully making every pregnancy a wanted one.

How do you feel about Do It For Denmark?

Watching 16 and Pregnant is Birth Control Itself

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A new study by the Brookings Institute has shown that just watching the popular MTV reality show 16 and Pregnant has been effective in lowering teen pregnancy incidence. Nearly 6% of the reported overall 18% decline in teen pregnancy rates has been attributed to this show. Brookings also followed Tweets posted during airing times and found the teens, themselves, saying things like “16 and pregnant? How about 18 and graduated?” Go teens!

gradution

Share your best stories on how to impact teen pregnancy.

Proven: Free Birth Control Does Not Promote Sex

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Finally we can all rest. It has been proven. Birth control does not promote risky sexual behavior. Says who? The lovely, very serious Gina Secura, PhD, Researcher at the renowned School of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis. It doesn’t get better than this.

SecuraPHd WUStL

Anyone looking for more details, please go here.
Everyone else can savor the news and is welcome to enter comments below.

Does Responsibility in Intimacy Threaten Marriage?

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For pro-plan supporters, responsibility in intimacy is a given. If you favor abstinence or the pill, the goal is not to judge, but to support responsible behavior, eliminate the taboos on contraception that plague our society, and make abortion the rare incidence. The message is clear. Or is it?

Ross Douthat, Columnist for The New York Times, penned “More Imperfect Unions” on January 25th, an editorial about the roots of marriage’s decline, implicating more or less the roles of contraception and abortion. Slate’s William Saletan countered on January 27th with “The Case Against Reproductive Freedom.” On January 29th Wall Street Journalist James Taranto added his two cents with “Party Like It’s 1959.” The fury prompted Ross to address their objections on February 20th with “Contraception in the Shadow of Abortion.”

This is all interesting and provocative lecture on how contraception and abortion are potentially intertwined and have possibly changed behavior and the institute of marriage.

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We would like to point out, however, that abortion dates back to ancient times. For one, legalization has definitely made it more safe. Is a responsible couple’s desire to explore each other intimately and plan pregnancies not just as ancient?

CA OR WA & MD get Top Grades in Women’s Reproductive Health

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The Population Institute has issued the US an overall C- on its second annual Women’s Health report card. The main culprit of the grade is the persistence that about 50% of all pregnancies in the US are unintended. Weighing in against this was the major win of emergency contraceptive Plan B One Step being made available OTC and without age restrictions.

US map

California, Oregon, Washington and Maryland all were awarded As. Overall, however, only 17 states were awarded the grade B- or better. Sadly, 13 states received an absolute failing grade including Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.

Get the full report on your state’s performance at the Population Institute’s website. Tell us what you think.