Contents:
- Birth Control
- Abortion
- Anti-Abortion Centers (Crisis Pregnancy Centers)
- Women’s Health
- Sex Education
- Menstruation Poverty
BIRTH CONTROL
ACCESS (An Act Relative to Advancing Contraceptive Coverage and Economic Security in our State) is a Massachusetts law which provides that eligible people (those covered by a health insurance plan subject to Massachusetts law) can get a year’s supply of no-cost birth control and emergency contraception over the counter:
A year’s supply of no-cost birth control with just one trip to the pharmacy. The only exception is that if you are starting on this birth control for the first time. Then there is a 3-month trial period before a year’s worth of pills are given.
Emergency contraception, the “morning after pill” (like Plan B One-Step®), is available over the counter. It should be taken up to 3 days or 72 hours after unprotected sex to help prevent pregnancy. The sooner after, the better. If you get it over the counter, you’ll pay full price, but your insurance may cover it if you get a prescription from your provider or take advantage of a statewide standing order for dispensing by a pharmacist.
Recently the FDA changed the label to distinguish emergency contraception from abortion pills. The new labeling states, “Evidence does not support that [emergency contraception] affects implantation [of a fertilized egg] or maintenance of a pregnancy after implantation, therefore it does not terminate a pregnancy.”
For more info about the ACCESS law, to find out if you may be eligible, and for tips on how to talk with your provider or pharmacist, see https://www.mass.gov/info-details/access-to-birth-control-and-emergency-contraception
ABORTION
There are two types of abortions: medical and surgical.
MEDICAL ABORTIONS consist of two medications given no later than 10 weeks from the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP). These pills cause the pregnancy tissue to be expelled in a heavy period-like process. Medical providers on the Upper Cape have been unwilling to say whether they provide medical abortions, though some may for their established patients. If you’re interested in a medical abortion, check with your provider.
An exciting new development and victory for abortion access for the Cape and Islands is the announcement that Health Imperatives, an agency with seven clinics in SE MA, has received a grant to provide medical abortion at these sites. President and CEO of Health Imperatives, Julie Kehoe, told the Martha’s Vineyard Times that the organization is “very excited,” as the grant allows the organization’s locations to better address the existing gap in reproductive healthcare. Kehoe praised state Sen Julian Cyr, D-Truro, and Rep Dylan Fernandes, D-Falmouth “for their leadership on this issue.”
Another medical abortion option for women on the Cape is a telehealth appointment with Planned Parenthood League of MA. They offer appointments to patients up to 8 weeks from last menstrual period via an online visit which must be held no more than 7 weeks, 1 day from the first day of the last menstrual period to allow time for the pills to reach patients by FedEx. If you’re interested in telehealth for abortion, give them a call at 1- 800-258-4448.
SURGICAL ABORTIONS consist of a surgical procedure to remove the pregnancy tissue from the uterus. There are no surgical abortions done routinely on Cape Cod, but according to an article in the Provincetown Independent, Cape Cod Healthcare does provide abortions in the rare cases where there are serious underlying medical issues. If you have none of these serious issues, you must go off Cape to a clinic in the Boston area, Attleboro or Providence.
If you’re interested in a surgical abortion, Reproductive Equity Now has an Abortion Care Guide at https://reproequitynow.org/abortioncareguide.
Abortion Legal Hotline: reproequitynow.org/hotline
ANTI-ABORTION CENTERS (CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS or CPCs)
Anti-abortion centers are the forefront of the anti-abortion movement. Also known as crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs), these facilities present themselves as resources for people facing unplanned pregnancies, when in reality, they aim to manipulate and dissuade people from accessing abortion care.
These centers are often deliberately located near reproductive health clinics. They create websites that appear in online searches for legitimate abortion clinics and advertise online and in print media in ways that might appeal to those who are considering abortion.
Anti-abortion centers are typically managed and funded by organizations that oppose abortion in any and all circumstances.
Anti-abortion centers exist to draw in as many pregnant people as possible, especially those interested in learning about or seeking abortion care and stop them from obtaining abortion care by manipulating them into not seeking abortion care or delaying them until it is too late. And these centers are TARGETING states where abortion is protected, like Massachusetts.
For information on identifying anti-abortion centers to avoid, visit: reproequitynow.org/about-antiabortion-centers
For more information on anti-abortion center and how they operate, read a review of the new documentary film, Preconceived: ‘Preconceived’ Review: The Tangled Web of Anti-Choice Politics Preys on Prayer in Enlightening Documentary
WOMEN’S HEALTH
Sudden and Early Menopause
Sudden or early menopause can be induced by surgery involving the removal of both ovaries and by other medical treatments and health conditions. The term early menopause also refers to women who experience menopause naturally but earlier than usual (generally before the age of forty).
Menopause Transition
The transition to menopause, sometimes called perimenopause, is often a gradual process, involving the fluctuation of hormonal levels and some physical changes before the last menstrual cycle. It spans a period of one to six years or more. For most women, the menopause transition begins in our mid-forties and is completed in our early fifties.
Menopause
Menopause is defined as the end of menstruation. However, because our periods can be sporadic as we approach menopause, a woman is said to have reached menopause only after she has not had a menstrual period for twelve months. At menopause, we no longer ovulate and our ovaries produce significantly less estrogen. Menopause either occurs naturally or is induced by surgical removal of the ovaries or other medical treatments. Often people use the term menopause to refer to the entire menopause transition.
Postmenopause
Postmenopause refers to the time following menopause.
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum Depression (also called PPD) is a medical condition that many women get after having a baby. It’s strong feelings of sadness, anxiety (worry) and tiredness that last for a long time after giving birth. These feelings can make it hard for a woman to take care of herself and her baby.
Human Papillomavirus Infection
Human Papillomavirus (also called HPV), a group of more than 150 related viruses, can affect both
women and men. HPV is transmitted by skin-to-skin genital contact—full sexual intercourse is
unnecessary for infection. Unlike most sexually transmitted diseases, using a condom does not protect against infection—it only reduces the risk. HPV often causes no symptoms, but it can lead to warts on the genitals. In females, this includes the cervix, vulvar, and vagina, as well as the anus.
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are also called sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs. STIs are usually spread by having vaginal, oral or anal sex. More than 9 million women in the United States are diagnosed with an STI each year. Women often have more serious health problems from STIs than men, including infertility.
SEX EDUCATION
Massachusetts is not one of the states that mandates sex education. However, state law does require all public schools to teach health education. As a local control state, Massachusetts issues frameworks and guidance and allows local school districts boards to decide how to implement them.
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) is currently in the process of reviewing and revising the 1999 Massachusetts Comprehensive Health Framework.
The draft revised framework, now named the Comprehensive Health and Physical Education
Framework (CHPE), supports the design and implementation of comprehensive health and physical
education programs that are inclusive, medically accurate, developmentally- and age-appropriate. The framework emphasizes the skills students need to promote health and avoid risk and covers mental and emotional health; personal safety; physical health and hygiene; healthy relationships, nutrition and balanced eating; physical activity and fitness; substance use and misuse; gender, sexual orientation, and sexual health; and public, community, and environmental health.
For more information:
www.doe.mass.edu
www.siecus.org/stateprofiles
MENSTRUATION POVERTY
No one should have to choose between food, a roof over their head, their education, and access to
menstrual products. Yet every day in Massachusetts. Menstruators are forced to make exactly that
choice.
Non-menstruating people go into a bathroom expecting their basic bodily needs to be met—this is not the case for menstruators.
By ending period poverty, we’re tackling economic inequality, educational inequality and health
inequality.
Fall River Menstrual Equity Initiative: Mass NOW, in partnership with Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan, United Neighbors of Fall River and the Fall River Coalition Against Period Poverty was awarded a grant through the Commonwealth’s Community Empowerment and Reinvestment program to provide free menstrual products & menstrual equity workshops in Fall River schools, shelters and community centers.
The Massachusetts Menstrual Equity Coalition partnered with Fall River Public Schools and 17 community organizations to distribute over 30,000 quality, menstrual products. 100% of partner organizations reported having been asked for menstrual products by a menstruator who needed one and relied on donations to meet the need. MMEC partnered with Love Your Menses to hold workshops such as “Menstrual Equity 101 Train-the-Trainer,” as well as “Community Menstrual Equity 101,” and “Men for Menstruation.” 100% of participants surveyed found the presentation to be effective, engaging and learned new resources/references for period conversations in the future! MMEC surveyed menstruators in the community online, in focus groups and at Period Pop Up events. Over one third (36.71%) of participants shared that they had missed school, work, or other activities due to not having access to menstrual products.
For more information: www.mmecoalition.com