Choice News Aug 4th 2010

Sex Education

For the first time, the federal government has released funding announcements for sex education programs that urge states to use their sex ed dollars for programs that are inclusive of LGBT and questioning youth.

Access to Abortion

New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof argues that misoprostol, which is one of the medications used for a medical abortion as well as an ulcer treatment, could provide women in underdeveloped nations an easier and safer way to access abortion care, potentially saving tens of thousands of women's lives each year.

Salon's Tracy Clark-Flory comments on Kristof's column, arguing that because misoprostol is commonly used for purposes other than abortion, it is a "Trojan Horse" in the effort to promote reproductive rights worldwide.

A study by the Center for Reproductive Health denounces the abortion ban in the Philippines, noting that the ban does not stop abortions it only makes them extremely unsafe.

Maternal Health

Time Magazine looks at the increase in c-section deliveries in the U.S. Obstetrics experts believe the procedure is being performed too often, and are looking for ways to reduce the number of c-sections.

Contraception Access

Kirsten Moore, of the Reproductive Health Technologies Project, and Aimée Thorne-Thompson, of the Pro-Choice Public Education Project, have a post on RH Reality Check advocating for over the counter sales of the birth control pill.

CNN reports that predictions vary as to whether a new campaign to encourage women to use to the female condom will be successful.

Other News of Note

The Wall Street Journal reports that states are grappling with the issue of providing social security benefits to children conceived after the death of a parent from embryos or sperm stored previously.

New York Times columnist David Leonhardt notes that in spite of gains in gender equality in the workplace, the labor market remains unequal for mothers.

Britain's Advertising Standards Authority has officially rejected more than 1,000 complaints about a commercial by reproductive healthcare provider Marie Stopes, and will allow the ad to run nationwide.