| National HIV Testing Day on June 27 is a reminder to get tested. Enter your ZIP code and find a testing site near you. Visit AIDS.gov to learn more about HIV/AIDS, including how to reduce your risk and available treatment options. Download or order a FREE print copy of the following publications on USA.gov: |
Tag Archives: Sexually transmitted disease
Birth control makes you “sterile or dead”?
 |
|
|
High school principal George Aulenbacher should be ashamed of himself. First, Aulenbacher and his school district decided to subject his students to a misleading “abstinence-only” program. And then he threatened student Katelyn Campbell when she spoke out against it. To make matters even worse, right now the Kanawha County Board of Education is siding with Principal Aulenbacher.1 This is no way to treat a brave young woman who’s speaking out for what’s right. Help us put pressure on the Board of Education to censure Aulenbacher, and tell them that students need comprehensive sex education. Your message today will go directly to the Kanawha County Board of Education and superintendent of schools, where it can make a big impact. Aulenbacher’s school recently brought in an “abstinence educator” who says taking birth control can lead to becoming “sterile or dead.”2 Katelyn fought back against these outrageous lies. She talked with the local newspaper, and even went on CNN. How did Aulenbacher respond? He tried to shut her down. Katelyn says Aulenbacher called her into his office to berate her, even threatening to call her future college to tell them she has “bad character” and is a “backstabber.”3 At a Board of Education committee meeting last night, it’s been reported that members of the board stuck up for Aulenbacher and the misleading “abstinence-only” program. It’s ridiculous that a principal would threaten a student like this, and absurd that the Board of Education would stand for it. Tell the Board of Education to censure Aulenbacher and provide students with comprehensive sex education. Katelyn knows, like we do, that teens need accurate information about abstinence and birth control so that they can make responsible decisions that are right for them. One in four teen girls has an STD, and one third of young women will become pregnant before they’re 20 years old. These young women need information that will keep them healthy. I applaud Katelyn for speaking out for what she knows is right. She deserves our respect and encouragement, not threats and intimidation. Thanks for standing up for Katelyn and helping make choice real for young people like her.
|
Share this:
Celebrate Free Preventive Services!
As of August 1, 2012, all new health plans must cover eight women’s preventive services, including birth control, without cost sharing. To celebrate, we’re hosting a virtual party on Facebook – and we want you to sign the guestbook!
Preventive services are critical to a woman’s health, and cost has remained a burden for far too long. With the Department of Health and Human Services regulations going into effect on August 1, the following services will now be available without copays:
- Breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling;
- Screening and counseling for interpersonal and domestic violence;
- Screening for gestational diabetes;
- DNA testing for high-risk strains of HPV;
- Counseling regarding sexually transmitted infections, including HIV;
- Screening for HIV;
- Contraceptive methods and counseling; and
- Well woman visits.
Take Action!
Tell us why you are celebrating these new requirements! You can share a personal story about the importance of preventive services, talk about why you are passionate about women’s health care, or write notes of congratulations to your fellow activists for getting the job done and passing health care reform legislation that includes these necessary services!
Each week of the party will have a different theme, so you can sign the guestbook as many times as you want. August starts on a Wednesday, so our themed weeks will also start on Wednesdays:
- August 1-7: Contraception
- August 8-14: Screening and counseling for interpersonal and domestic violence
- August 15-21: Maternal care (breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling)
- August 22-28: Health education (screening for gestational diabetes; DNA testing for high-risk strains of HPV; counseling regarding sexually transmitted infections, including HIV; and screening for HIV)
- August 29-31: Well woman visits
The celebration continues all month, but you don’t want to show up late to the party! Sign the guestbook today and share with your friends and family.
Learn more about what preventive services will be covered at Healthcare.gov, as well as the other benefits for women such as the end of higher premiums for pre-existing conditions.
Follow AAUW on Twitter, and read our award-winning AAUW Dialog Blog for discussion, information, and advocacy for women and girls!
Share this:
Run For Coverage!
How New Health-Care Laws Affect You … from Marie Claire
It’s health plan enrollment season again. And those who actually take the time to read the literature may save a heap of cash next our. Why? The benefits mandated by the
Affordable Care Act, a law requiring private plans to cover an array of preventative services and treatments at zero out-of-pocket cost. Women, especially,stand to gain, so read on.
__ What’s Covered Now: Mammograms and cervical cancer screenings;depression screening and counseling;obesity screening and counseling;folic acid supplementation;smoking interventions and counseling;breast-feeding support; chlamydia and gonorrhea screening
__ Coming Soon! Additional coverage for women,effective August 2012 -most significantly,100% covered FDA-approved prescription contraceptives. Also added were a doctor’s visit to determine which preventive services are recommended;rental of breast-feeding supplies;domestic violence screening;HPV DNA testing;sexually transmitted infection counseling; and HIV screening and counseling
__The Fine Print: Many plans(specifically,those created before March 23,2010)are grandfathered from providing such coverage. And coverage may not apply if you go out of network. Plus, some plans may choose not to cover brand-name contraceptives if a generic is available(unless the brand-name is doctor-recommended).
__Get What You’re Entitled to: Not sure if your insurance is up to par? Ask your benefits dept, or check out www.healthcare.gov/prevention
Share this:
Contraception Without Co-Pays Within Reach!
We women already know it, but it’s nice to have a panel of experts confirm it: contraception is preventive health care!
For many years, the National Women’s Law Center has been working to get contraception covered in all health insurance plans, and we’re finally within reach of achieving this critical goal. But we’re not done yet – Obama Administration officials will decide soon whether to accept the expert recommendations released yesterday.
Sign our petition asking Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to accept these medically-based recommendations and to support no-cost contraception.
http://action.nwlc.org/site/R?i=Y4FlXXSd9ELx_vg0CFxZ4g..
Women are one step closer to having access to affordable health care, and the nation is one step closer to realizing the promise of the Affordable Care Act, thanks to yesterday’s announcement by a non-partisan, independent panel of experts. These experts brought their scientific and medical knowledge to bear to identify contraception, yearly well-woman visits, support for breast feeding, screening and counseling for domestic violence, and counseling for sexually transmitted infections, among others as essential preventive health care for women, and therefore health insurers should be required to cover them at no-cost to the woman.
We’re one step closer to making contraception more affordable than ever. But we still need your help to say – we’ve got you covered.
http://action.nwlc.org/site/R?i=c0XishDUTxZXpPtucE5qvg
Yesterday’s decision means that couples who want to plan and space their children, college students who decide to go to graduate school before starting families, and millions of other women trying to prevent an unintended pregnancy are one step closer to getting the affordable birth control they need. Help make it happen by urging HHS Secretary Sebelius to accept these expert recommendations and then forward the petition to your family, friends, and co-workers!
http://action.nwlc.org/site/R?i=IND1UTAHfWJieOhCFNgmuw
Thank you for all you do on behalf of women and their families.
Sincerely,
Judy Waxman
Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights
National Women’s Law Center
P.S. Your generous donation allows us to continue to work for women and their families. Support our work on reproductive health and other issues today.
Be a Seed for Change 
You must be logged in to post a comment.