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The Health Capsule is PPFA’s weekly roundup of news and recently-published articles that address timely and critical sexual and reproductive health care and education topics.

HOW PPFA PRESIDENT & CEO PARENTS POST-ROE: October is Let’s Talk Month, an observance that focuses on normalizing and encouraging open, honest and ongoing family communication about sex, bodies, and relationships. Last week, Planned Parenthood Federation of America president and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson joined host Carol Sutton Lewis on the Ground Control Parenting podcast for a transparent, refreshing conversation on parenting in a post-Roe world. Alexis is a mom to two daughters — ages 10 and 13 — and shared:

“…It’s important to talk to them about what bodily autonomy is… What does it mean to actually have the right to govern your own body?”

While discussing a situation involving one of her daughters and pink hair dye, Alexis also speaks about how she creates opportunities for her daughters to learn and exercise agency: 

“What’s the low stakes way of creating agency in a way where you let them have the experience, let them experiment in ways, and have conversations around how that made them feel…and build that muscle. So as the decision points get harder, particularly in a time [where]…we’re building that muscle for how to have those conversations.”

Listen to the episode here.

TEENS INTEREST IN BIRTH CONTROL SOAR IN POST-ROE WORLD: Three months after the overturn Roe v. Wade, the changes in the way people approach their sexual and reproductive health continue to show up. A recent article by AP News highlighted the increase in birth control use among teens, which largely includes long-acting reversible contraception like IUDs and implants.

On the day the Supreme Court overturned Roe, Planned Parenthood saw twice as many birth control questions as normal on Roo, Planned Parenthood’s online chatbot that provides teens with unbiased answers to their questions about sexual and reproductive health.

According to Julia Bennett, senior director, digital education & learning strategy at Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

“Online birth control appointments also skyrocketed that day — up 150% from a typical day, with an even-larger 375% surge for IUD-seekers and by mid-July, several weeks after the ruling, birth control appointments remained up about 20%, although the data isn’t broken down by age group.”

The increase interest in long-acting reversible contraception was attributed to growing concern over changing laws in states either banning or severely restricting access to abortion, including states that don’t include exceptions for sexual assault.

Read the full article at AP News here

OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world. This year, more than 287,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the U.S alone. It’s important that all people have accurate information about their breast cancer risks and screening recommendations, as well as access to affordable, lifesaving preventive health care so they can get diagnosed and treated at an earlier stage. 

Anyone with breasts should receive a breast exam every one to three years, starting at the age of 25. After the age of 40, an annual breast exam is recommended, and a mammogram every one to two years. Screenings are especially important for Black and Latino people with breasts, who face more barriers to getting care and are more likely to be diagnosed at later stages when cancer is less treatable. People should speak to their doctor if they, or someone in their family, has a history of breast or ovarian cancer, as this may mean they should get screened at a younger age or more regularly.

Everyone should understand breast cancer risk factors as well as how to identify symptoms. Planned Parenthood is here to help with education and resources in English and Spanish, and people can call their local health center to schedule an in-person appointment for a breast exam

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