Planned Parenthood Advocate

Non-stick pans and your reproductive health

The implications of environmental toxins on human health continue to be uncovered. As protectors of reproductive health, Planned Parenthood supports legislation aimed at protecting health from environmental toxins. In 2009, Planned Parenthood worked to pass legislation banning the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in babies bottles.

 

BPA is an endocrine disruptor that was shown to hinder fetal and child development and caused reproduction challenges later in life. Another environmental toxin, perfluroinated chemicals (PFCs) - used to create heat-resistant, non-stick coatings for cookware - has recently been in the news. A new, comprehensive study showed that high levels of PFCs in the blood were linked to significantly higher rates of early menopause and lower levels of natural hormones. According to the CDC, the majority of Americans have measurable levels of PFCs in their systems.

Limiting your exposure to environmental toxins poses some challenges but Planned Parenthood's Green Choices campaign works to help women and families educate themselves about environmental toxins. Another way to support better consumer information about environmental toxins is to voice your support for the Toxic Chemicals Safety Act. This bill will help protect us from environmental toxins by removing the "grandfather" loophole that has allowed 62,000 older synthetic chemicals to remain untested but stay on the market, ensure that chemical companies prove that chemicals are safe before they are used in consumer goods or released into the environment and promote open information about chemicals.

We all deserve a safe and clean environment and the Toxic Chemicals Safety Act will help all consumers protect themselves and their families from environmental toxins.

 

--by Rachel Nygaard, Web Correspondent, Planned Parenthood Advocate

VIDEO: The Uptake on the Good Friday Planned Parenthood Protest

 >  Sign up to stand with Planned Parenthood on Good Friday

Last year The Uptake came to our Good Friday Solidarity Event and produced a fantastic video about the day, featuring the many reasons why people stand with Planned Parenthood.

This Good Friday, we’re expecting over a thousand anti-choicers to protest at our clinic in St. Paul.  Join us for a Planned Parenthood Solidarity event to show the anti-choice protesters that women’s health matters! Click here to RSVP and sign up for a shift and stand in solidarity with Planned Parenthood.

 

--by Karina, Web Editor, Planned Parenthood Advocate

Planned Parenthood Education Programs

Standing in front of a packed Health classroom in Central High School, I asked the class what they thought the three different kinds of abuse in a relationship are. The class got the first two--emotional and physical-- pretty quickly, but were stuck on the last answer. A kid in the back raised his hand triumphantly, confident that he had the right answer. I called on him.

“Text abuse!” Text abuse? “Yeah! Like, when you text a girl a whole long thing, and she texts you back one word... that’s text abuse!”

That answer was one of many that I heard as a peer educator through Planned Parenthood’s Teen Council program. The year-long program selects among 10th-12th grade applicants from across the Twin Cities to form the council. The group is educated on various sexual health topics (birth control, STIs, sexual decision making, among others) at meetings throughout the year. Members then go to health classes around the Cities, accompanied by an adult facilitator, to teach the topics.

The program has been going strong in the Twin Cities for 8 years, and for longer than that on a national scale. It is a sector of Planned Parenthood’s education wing, which also includes programs targeting immigrant communities and a summer program for younger teens. The vital work done by the Teen Council, and the other groups of the education department, allow youth around the state to gain knowledge about sexual health topics relevant to their life in an engaging manner that keeps everyone in the class awake-- no small feat at 7:30 in the morning.

Learn more about Planned Parenthood's education department or watch the video below to learn more about Teen Council

 

--by Anna, Web Correspondent, Planned Parenthood Advocate

Affordable Care Act: One Year Later

Can you believe it? It’s been a year since the passing of the Affordable Care Act. While many of us can agree that the bill is far from perfect, I think that many can look at this bill and see the benefits that will make a difference for Minnesota women and families.

On Wednesday night, I had the opportunity to attend a great community forum that discussed this bill and how it’s implementation is affecting so many Minnesotans. The event was lead by Congressman Keith Ellison and a panel of Phillip Cryan, Organizing Director of SEIU Health Care Minnesota, Elizabeth Frost, M.D., and Senator John Marty. The Congressman and panel gave great information about what the bill contained and the benefits to Minnesotans, however hearing from many of the attendees on what the bill meant for them was the most inspiring.

One man spoke about his god daughter who was diagnosed with leukemia last year and who’s medical costs and treatments cost over $1.7 million dollars. Now through the Affordable Care Act lifetime spending caps have been removed, his god daughter’s family doesn’t have to worry if she’s reached her maximum and can’t get treatments if she were to get sick again. Another woman spoke about her son who recently graduated college, who now through the Affordable Care Act can stay on her insurance until he is 26 and doesn’t have to worry about medical costs while also looking for a job. Another man told the story of his son who was born very premature and now through the Affordable Care Act he doesn’t need to worry about his son being denied coverage because of pre-existing condition. These stories were only a few of the many I heard last night that captured the importance of this bill.

The Affordable Care Act also includes many benefits to women's health, including:

• Extending health care coverage to tens of millions of women and families who currently don’t have insurance.

• Guaranteeing affordable access to lifesaving screenings for breast and cervical cancer.

• Stopping the discriminatory practice of charging women more than men for health insurance.

• Ending the practice of denying insurance coverage because of pre-existing conditions, including breast cancer and pregnancy.

• Significantly increasing access to reproductive health care, including family planning.

• Including $75 million dollars for sex education.

• Providing women with direct access to ob/gyns, no longer requiring them to get a referral from another physician.

But the work on this bill isn’t over yet, we must continue to fight the abortions restrictions within this bill as well as ensure that birth control and contraception get covered under preventative care.

Women’s health care coverage is vitally important and without a doubt, health care reform is a step forward for women.

 

--by Sam, Minnesota Public Affairs Manager, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund

 

Here's to Your Health!

By Amy Jacobson, North Dakota Public Affairs Manager for Planned Parenthood

One year ago today health care reform was passed- happy anniversary! The President and the United States Congress took a giant leap forward in correcting unfair and dangerous health insurance practices. As we reflect on health care reform is it important to acknowledge the Affordable Care Act is the single biggest legislative advance for women’s health in forty-five years!

But what does this mean for you, for your family? If means…

• More women can receive live saving, preventative health care services.
• Young adults can stand under their parents plan until the age of 26.
• No longer will children be denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition.
• Insurance companies can no longer overcharge to boost profits.

Actress Julianne Moore explains what's in the law and how it advances women's health care. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOpN-_Pt9MY&feature=player_embedded#at=36

Health Care Reform brings more freedom and choice to the American people when it comes to caring for yourself and your family- this is a good thing! Arm yourself with knowledge about the real (life saving) benefits of this historic legislation http://www.healthcare.gov/

Here’s to your health!