Thursday, November 10, 2016

Some Thoughts for an Emotionally Charged Time

I promise, I'm not here to chastise or scold. I'm not even asking you to feel differently than you do.We are comprised of a delightful blend of different hopes and ideals, and that can be wonderful! I'm coming from a place of sincere hope of spreading a little understanding and education. This has been a divisive, ugly time, and it's time to mend the schism and come together again.

Please do take care when telling people to 'get over it.' Emotions are high, and the implications of the election will be felt in very real ways. Chances are that a lot of the people you're gloating at are people you actually care about; friends, relatives, even a partner.

Here are just a couple of the ways in which this outcome could affect people.

There is a vacancy in the supreme court. The president-elect has said that he will appoint an anti-choice, anti-equality judge. This could mean a number of things, namely:

1. The reversal of Obergefell v. Hodges, the supreme court decision that legalized same sex marriage. It would go back to being a state issue, which means many states would ban it altogether. That would be devastating to so many people. Also, how is it okay to say, 'you're married here, but not there?' Married is married! Also, couples would lose access to federal benefits, like social security.

2: The repeal of Roe v. Wade. Women will no longer be able to obtain safe and legal abortion. It will go back to being a state issue, and places like Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, et al will ban it altogether, returning us to a time of back alley abortion where women die of sepsis or perforation of the perineum. Those who oppose abortion are well within their rights to do so, but if you think banning it will stop it, you're delusional.

3. Family Planning Centers could lose Title X funding, which was established by Richard Nixon in 1970, allocating federal funding for family planning services. This does not include abortion. Nixon understood the importance of making sure young men and women had access to education and preventative care so that they could better plan their families. Numbers 2 and 3 of this list combined could result in the mass-closing of family planning centers and jobs will be lost (potentially my own, but I'm probably safe here in New York). This is why people are freaking out and getting IUDs now; because they would be covered for several years if they lose access to birth control. Also, google what has happened to states that have cut off funding for preventative care; the STD and teen pregnancy rates go through the roof. It's not good.

There's so much more I could go into, but this is just a slice of it. You might not care about these things, but if you care about someone who would be affected by any of the above, please take a moment to consider their feelings. Now, there is the possibility that the future POTUS will choose not to go after any of these things, and even appoint a more moderate judge, but right now we just don't know. But if anything happens to his presidency, which-- considering he has to stand trial-- is a real possibility, and Pence takes over, that would be very bad for advocates of equality and choice. This is a guy who pushes for gay conversion therapy-- a draconian practice that is actually banned in five states because it has been proven to be so harmful. He also wants to overturn any and all anti-discrimination laws protecting the LGBT community. These are all things that could really, genuinely hurt people.

The election didn't go as I hoped, but I'm choosing to shake it off and move forward with hope. One thing is for sure, OUR DOORS REMAIN OPEN!

Please. Lets stop the divisive rhetoric. We're all in this together. I quote the great prophet John of Liverpool when I say, 'give peace a chance.' BE NICE!

Monday, October 3, 2016

Zika 101: A Health Update From Our Medical Director

Health Update: Dr. Mary Diana, Medical Director

Zika virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus). These species are common in Central and South America, but have now made their way north and have been found in Puerto Rico and Florida. New York State has one of the highest numbers of Zika cases in the U.S., although all of these are associated with travel.

While Zika is primarily a mosquito-borne infection, it can also be transmitted sexually through bodily fluids. The vast majority of sexually transmitted cases are from a male traveler to a female partner. There have recently been cases of female-to-male and male-to-male transmission. No one knows how long the virus stays alive in the blood/semen.

The CDC recommends that men who have had a symptomatic Zika infection use condoms for 6 months.
 If they have traveled to an area where Zika is common, but don’t develop any symptoms, they should use condoms for 6 weeks.

Symptoms of Zika infection are headache, fever, joint or muscle pain, conjunctivitis (pink eye), rash, and vomiting. Some people don’t have any symptoms. There is no treatment or vaccine for Zika virus. The infection is self-limited, and usually resolves by itself within a week. Routine testing/screening of the general population for Zika virus is not recommended. Recently, Zika virus infection has been associated with development of Guillain-BarrĂ© Syndrome, a rare neurologic condition involving weakness and sometimes, paralysis. Research is being done to better understand this link.

Zika is a very serious problem in pregnancy. It is passed from the mother’s blood through the placenta to the fetus. Fetuses who become infected during the late first trimester or early second trimester develop severe microcephaly (a condition in which the brain is markedly underdeveloped) as well as other serious irreversible neurologic birth defects. Zika infection later in pregnancy can lead to low birth weight and stillbirth.

Since there is no treatment for Zika virus infection, preventing infection is paramount. Women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant should avoid travel to areas where Zika is endemic and should avoid having unprotected sex with men who have travelled to these areas. Women who live in endemic areas are advised to prevent mosquito bites by using insect repellants, window screens and mosquito netting, and by wearing long sleeves and pants. If a woman has had a Zika virus infection, she should wait at least 8 weeks before trying to become pregnant.



Policy Update: Katherine Bruno, VP Public Affairs 
Recently the Senate finally passed a bipartisan Continuing Resolution (CR) and Zika funding package and the House is expected to pass the bill before the end of the week, averting a government shutdown and funding the government through December 9, 2016.

We can’t believe it took Congress more than 220 days to approve funding to fight the Zika virus without excluding some of the providers most qualified to help. It shouldn’t have taken this long, but this is still welcome news for women in the Capital Region and around the country.

With the serious risks Zika poses for pregnant women, we are not surprised that medical experts have consistently said that family planning providers must play a central role in preventing the spread of this virus. What surprises us is that some in Congress managed to ignore that guidance for months, trying to jam through a bill that excluded family planning providers. Thankfully, this funding demonstrates importance of family planning providers in combatting Zika, and more broadly, in providing basic health care to women, men and young people.

Planned Parenthood is here to make sure that all women, men and young people the Capital Region and all over the nation have access to the information, health care and support necessary to decide to prevent unintended pregnancy, safely end a pregnancy, or carry a pregnancy to term and raise a child. We believe that all people should be empowered to make decisions for themselves and their families, including the decision of whether to have a child, no matter who they are or where they live.

Thursday, September 8, 2016

The Real Truth about Mycoplasma Genitalium, the "New STI." A Word from our Medical Director.

By Mary Diana, M.D.
Note: this article has been minimally edited for public consumption.

I’m writing to let you know about a “new STI” which you might be reading about in the media.

Mycoplasma is a class of bacteria, of which there are six different species. Five of them inhabit the genitourinary tract. The species Mycoplasma pneumoniae infects the respiratory tract, causing what is commonly referred to as “walking pneumonia.” Mycoplasma hominis is another well-known species in Ob/Gyn, and is often related to pregnancy complications including miscarriage, pre-term labor, low-birth weight, neonatal infection, and stillbirth.

Mycoplasma genitalium is the species that is recently in the lay press and is being called the “new STI”. This species was first identified in the early 1980s and has been recognized as a common cause of male urethritis, representing 15-25% of nongonococcal urethritis in men. Symptoms include pain during urination and discharge from the penis. In women, it is less clear what role it plays, and has not been well-studied. It can be found in the vagina, cervix, and endometrium. Much like Chlamydia and Gonorrhea, there are usually no symptoms in women. There is some evidence that it may cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), although it appears that this only occurs in 5% of women who are infected. Studies looking at its relationship to infertility are conflicting. More research needs to be done.

There is good evidence that M. genitalium is transmitted sexually. As far as incidence of infections goes, it is more common than Gonorrhea but less common than Chlamydia, depending on the population studied.

Currently there are no FDA-approved tests for Mycoplasma genitalium. Cultures can take up to 6 months and there are only a few labs in the world that can do this. In research settings, M. genitalium is diagnosed using a method called NAAT (nucleic acid amplification test) which detects the genetic material of the bacteria (this is the same type of test we currently use for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea). It can be detected in urine as well as cervical, vaginal, and urethral swabs. Again, this test is not FDA-approved and is not commercially available. Even if it were available, screening the general population would not necessarily be recommended, and testing would be limited to patients who have symptoms of urethritis, cervicitis, or PID.  Unfortunately, treatment is not straightforward. 

Hopefully we will be able to test for this infection in the near future, but at this time, testing is not available. This is another great reason to encourage condom use!!

If you have further questions, please contact your local Planned Parenthood Health Center.

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Thank you, Olympic Condom Guy.

As reported by Distractify and other news sites, officials will be handing out half a million condoms to athletes at the Olympics this summer, which averages out to over 40 condoms per athlete.  I get it-- all of these people are young, fit, full of stamina, and they're on a big trip away from home, so excitement levels are high. Things happen.  And while it may not be the first time officials have done this-- the first time was in 1988, when they handed out 8,500 condoms-- it is the first time condoms are being given directly to women. Hooray to Olympic officials for finally realizing that women can annihilate an 800 meter freestyle world record, and also initiate sex. Wow!

Zika has been classified as a new STI directly linked to birth defects, so the increase in condom distribution isn't a total shock. Regardless, the efforts should not be overlooked. In conjunction with Olympic officials, people also have this fellow to thank:


Thank you, Eric. Olympians, go forth and sex safely.

Monday, August 15, 2016

Volunteer Opportunities!



Get Involved!

Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood is looking for volunteers to get involved and to help us engage in our community through outreach efforts and get out the vote opportunities!

In addition, we look forward to working side by side at other community events and continue to fight for reproductive freedom and help educate our community on the importance of safer sex! Together, we can demostrate our power, engage our people and move our work of expanding access to sexual and reproductive healthcare and rights forward.

For the next few months as we lead up to the election, we are looking for volunteers who want to work on My Vote, My Voice, our voter registration campaign! Get Out The Vote volunteers are needed in Albany, Columbia, Greene and Rensselaer counties. If you are interested in helping us GOTV, please respond below or email Amy at amywolff@uhpp.org.


Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities!

August
  • 15:  Letter to editor on Women’s Equality Day (Anniversary of the adoption of the 19th amendment) (copy to be provided by UHPP)
  • 18:  Tabling at Back to School Night @ LaSalle School, 174 Williams Road in Troy from 6 to 9pm.
  • 20:  Tabling and GOTV Voter Registration at the Carnival on the Hill @ Star of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, 513 Clinton Avenue, Albany from 12 to 3 pm.
  • 20:  Tabling and GOTV Voter Registration at the Carnival on the Hill @ Star of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, 513 Clinton Avenue, Albany from 2 to 5 pm.
  • 24:  Tabling and GOTV Voter Registration at Josephs House, 74 Ferry Street in Troy from 4 pm to 5:30 pm.
  • 30:  Tabling and GOTV Voter Registration at the Rensselaer County Dept. of Social Services in Troy from 10am to 12pm.

September
  • 1:  Letter to editor on National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month (content to be provided by UHPP)
  • 24:  GOTV Voter Registration at LarkFEST in Albany. Times to be determined.
  • 30:  Tabling and GOTV Voter Registration at SUNY Albany, Information Studies Department Annual Program Symposium (Uptown Campus) from 12:30 pm to 2:30pm.

October
  • 1:  Letter to editor on Planned Parenthood's 100th Anniversary (copy to be provided by UHPP)
  • 9:  Tabling and GOTV Voter Registration at the Troy ChowderFest from 12 to 4pm

GOTV
  • Get Out the Vote tabling in the Albany Health Center (any day in August or September)
  • Get Out the Vote tabling in the Troy Health Center(any day in August or September)

Copyright © *|2016|* *|UHPP|*, All rights reserved.

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

The Ongoing-Yet-Completely-Curable Epidemic




By Youth Health Promoter Omiyea Stanford


Omiyea Stanford
Did you know that one out of every four teens becomes pregnant at least once before age 20? Did you know that despite a dramatic decline in teen birth rates and teen pregnancy, the United States still has one of the highest teen birth and pregnancy rates in the industrialized world? Do you know why? Well there are a mess load of reasons, but, a lack evidence-based sex education plays a huge part. Discuss, dissect, and digress? Yes we shall.

A lack of Evidence Based Programming (EBP), is an enormous part of the problem. Abstinence Only Education (AOE), EBP’s bitter enemy and arch nemesis that just won't die, is still used in classrooms across the country. There are so many reasons why AOE programming doesn’t work, including its misogynistic foundations and messages, idealism of heterosexual marriage, sex and gender bias and oppression, lack of consistency in teaching even the most basic aspects of sexual health like anatomy and reproduction, and lack of regulation of information accuracy and bias. However, one of the most prominent problems, is that it is just plain unrealistic! It’s not enough to offer one solution, especially one where the only answer is to do nothing, which is completely impractical and futile. Sex and sexual stimulation are basic human wants and needs, and AOE teachings disregard and create shame around that fact. AOE teachings leave students who become sexually active as teens with zero knowledge of how to protect themselves. EBP, however, works a little bit differently. Ok, actually, it works a lot differently. 

Evidence Based Programming (EBP) teaches that abstinence is an option, but not the only option. EBP prepares students for any path they choose by providing them with accurate, inclusive, and unbiased information that spans every aspect of sexual health, sexual safety and responsibility, and even the aspects of healthy relationships. Despite the facts indicating that EBP is effective in reducing teen pregnancy and STD/HIV rates, it is still is meet with googolplexes of opposition. A common critique, is that if you teach kids about sex, then they will be more likely to have sex. My reply is, "and?"  Firstly, EBP obviously doesn't encourage and teach kids how to have sex. It teaches them what sex is, and how to be safe if/when they have it. Come on people, that one was a given. Secondly, why do adults feel like it is their solemn duty to keep teens from being sexually active? That’s half of the problem in the nutshell! Teens having sex isn’t the issue! That isn’t what we should be trying our very hardest to prevent. It’s ignorance! This urge in adults to stop teens from becoming sexually active is more about keeping teens “innocent” then it is about keeping them safe. Leave them in the dark and hurl a “just don’t do it” at them every time sex comes up, and I guarantee you they’ll be defenseless. Make sure that they are given the information they need about all the aspects of sexual health, and they will have the ability to make informed, safe and healthy decisions about their own sexual health based on what they want for themselves. Sounds like EBP is our cure-all right? Well, not exactly. There is still something vital to sexual health education that is missing from even the EBP curriculum. And what is that? Pleasure and sex positivity! 

Obviously sex isn’t just about reproduction. If it was we’d barely do it, and we’d probably have a lot less humans on earth than we currently do. Humans are one of the very few species of animals on earth that have sex for fun. If this is true, then why is it that pleasure and sex positivity are missing from EBP curricula in our classrooms? Even with EBP, information about sexual health is given in sex negative ways; in other words, sex is only ever really talked about as it relates to anatomy, reproduction, and preventing the negative consequences. The topic of pleasure is treated similarly. This is an extension of our inability to accept and acknowledge true human sexuality and sexual nature. Pleasure positive sex education curricula really means not disconnecting pleasure and positivity from sex. It’s all a matter of keeping a balance between teaching young people that, yes, sex can be dangerous and it can have very serious consequences, but it can also be fun, pleasurable, satisfying, and enjoyable as well. Sex and pleasure positive EBP would provide the information young adults need to be safe, and dispel shame around sexual desire. Four words: two birds, one stone. 

Fellow YHP Blinky Lawrence
making his voice heard
And now for the big question: what do we do? Education is an enormous factor in the teen pregnancy epidemic, but in the larger scheme of things, our issues with sex education is just a symptom of a bigger issue. Our culture and society’s lack of ability to accept and acknowledge true human sexuality and nature is not a problem that can be repaired overnight, and as an extension, neither will the teen pregnancy epidemic. Want to know how you can do your part? Be an advocate for sex positive EBP education! If you’re a parent, make sure your kids are informed. If their school won’t teach them, you teach them. Teens; fight for your right to be educated! Get the right information from anywhere you can. Fight for sex positive EBP in your schools and communities. Last but not least: spread the word. A huge part of why the teen pregnancy epidemic is an epidemic at all is that people don’t know what they’re up against. So get the real numbers and statistics, and put the information into circulation in and around your communities. 

May is National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, but efforts shouldn’t end after May 31. Be an advocate 365 days a year! The teen pregnancy epidemic is an incredibly large issue to tackle, but it’s the small efforts of individuals that will bring it down to size. So go ahead people-- get out there and knock this epidemic down a peg or ten.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Letter to the Editor: Prevention starts with conversation

By Letters to the editor on April 26, 2016 at 3:31 AM - Reprinted from the Albany Times Union.

Most people have ideas about what sexual assault looks like. Two strangers, physical force, male perpetrator and female victim.

But this isn’t reality. Sexual assault takes on countless forms of verbal, physical or mental abuse, from vicious shaming to the slightest touch.

Anyone can be a victim or a perpetrator, be they male, female or intersex, friend, foe, acquaintance or stranger. It is sexual assault anytime one receives sexual contact or attention of any kind without having given consent to receive it.

Part of the reason sexual assault plagues us is that we put more focus into teaching our kids to abstain from sex than we do teaching them how to be healthy, safe and responsible when they become sexually active.

Consent is an immeasurable part of sexual health, safety and responsibility. It’s lack of knowledge of, and respect for, consent that is the issue in the case of sexual assault.

Without proper understanding of consent, our young adults are vulnerable to either being sexually assaulted, or sexually assaulting another person.

It’s time we learn that sexual assault isn’t a rarity that affects certain people. It happens every day in countless ways, and many of us cannot recognize sexual assault when we see, or even inflict it.

Change is long overdue. We are Planned Parenthood, and we are taking a stand. It’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and it’s time to spread the word.

Prevention starts with having the conversation about consent.

Omiyea Stanford

Youth Health Promoter, Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood

Albany

Monday, April 25, 2016

Sex Toys Part I : Why All The Shade?



By: Omiyea Stanford, UHPP Youth Health Promoter

Here’s the golden question: Why are sex toys taboo? Believe it or not, sex toys go back as far humans do. The world’s oldest dildo was 20 cm long and made of siltstone. Found in the Hohle Fels cave near Ulm, Germany, it dates back to the Upper Paleolithic Period (30,000 yrs. ago). Wealthy Renaissance women would show off their expensive dildos made of materials like silver, gold, and ivory. Olive oil was used as lube as far back as 350 BC. Yea! And guess what? Sex toys are found in every culture. All around the world they vary in design, function, and type. In ancient Greece, women prior to 5th century BC had dildos they called “Olisbos”. Chinese women in the 15th century used dildos made of lacquered wood with textured surfaces. In ancient China people used penis rings made of goat’s eyelids. Ben Wa Balls, or Kegal balls have been present in Asian culture since 500 AD. There are even strap-on’s depicted in the Kama Sutra! Sex toys are even found in nature. That’s right, some animals masturbate using a sex toy. Those sex toys may not be that high tech, but they are sex toys none the less. Our ancestors and wild friends get the message, so why all the shade? The reason sex toys are so taboo is the fact that they are outright expressions of sexuality and desire, which, unfortunately, is something we don’t handle so well in our culture. 


The Hohle Fels cave phallus

Despite the reality, the majority believes that sexual stimulation is an indulgence or a choice, and that sexuality is simply just a blanket term that covers sexual orientation and desire. This misconception exists because sex and sexuality are culturally unaccepted. Let’s take a closer look, and break down the bass-awkwardness of this logic. The fact is that with the exception of complete asexuality, sexual stimulation is a basic human want and need, period point blank. Believe it or not, it’s right up there in line with eating, and sleeping. Accept it, it’s true! You are a sexual being. It’s not just an indulgence, it’s a necessity. This disconnection makes all the difference in our perceptions. Consequently, our perceptions make all the difference in our actions and views. Imagine if sleeping and eating were suddenly considered indulgences the way sex and sexual stimulation are. Seems unfathomable does it not? That’s because it is! And what about sexuality? Sexuality is the realm of sexual desire or interest as it pertains to an individual. Our very identities as individuals are actually rooted in our sexuality, and vice versa. It’s NOT just as simple as just sexual orientation and desire. Your sexuality isn’t only about sex and desire, it’s part of you! It’s the essence of YOU as it pertains to sexual identity, intimacy, sensuality, sexualization, sexual and reproductive health, AND pleasure and desire. So go ahead people, embrace it! Get in touch with every aspect of your sexually! And what better way to do that than with trying a sex toy?

An ancient Greek vase depicting a woman and her olisbos

Sex toys can be extremely empowering, and can be a huge help in accepting, and exploring the depths of your own sexuality. BUT, most people get stuck on the negative stereotypes and ideas surrounding sex toys. I’m quite sure you can think of a couple. Do any that come to mind sound like: they’re dirty, weird, freaky, or unnecessary? How about: penetrative sex toys are for females and gay men, not straight men? Or: you shouldn’t need them if you’re in a relationship?

This art from a church pamphlet from the Middle Ages appears to
depict women shopping at a "dildo store"

Tune out all of the background noise for a sec and listen to this: If you’re NOT in a relationship, and/or are not sexually active, using a sex toy can give you the means to take charge of your own pleasure. If you ARE in a relationship, they can drop kick the living daylights out of boredom and spice things up to the point of flames. They can allow for pleasure where pleasure once seemed impossible to achieve. They can be used to explore the extent of sense stimulation and pleasure. They can expand and reshape your views on pleasure itself! Some sex toys, like Ben Wa Balls, more commonly known as Kegal balls, can be used to strengthen the muscles of your whole pelvic region, AND intensify sexual sensitivity and orgasm. Talk about two birds with one stone. They can even be the perfect aids to abstinence! Contrary to popular belief, if you’re trying to be abstinent, using sex toys with masturbation can actually help with temptation. Why? Because the need for sexual stimulation isn’t being suppressed. Sexuality is still able to be embraced and explored. Add some sexual and reproductive health education to that, along with some healthy relationship training and you have a responsible adult ready to navigate the sexual world when they’re ready. Imagine that. Have I beat this dead horse long enough? 

An actual "steam-punk" dildo.

In conclusion; start tuning out all the background noise. Know that sexual stimulation IS a basic human want and need for many people. Know that sexuality is a part of who you are, and a part of everything that makes you uniquely YOU. Know that it’s your right to explore your sexuality and find out what might make you feel good, and sex toys are an amazing way to do that, so go nuts! Take advantage of them, you sexual creatures you. Go forth from here and prosper.

PS: Wanna know about more about sex toy types, safety, and more? Stay tuned for Sex Toys Part II: The ABC’s & 123’s Of Sex Toys and learn your sex toy basics!

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Letter to the Editor: Protect women's right to abortion

Hi everyone! I just wanted to share this letter to the editor of the Times Union, written by a loyal donor and advocate for Planned Parenthood on our behalf.  Read it at TimesUnion.com or just continue on after the jump.

Monday, March 14, 2016

Study: teens who live near a Planned Parenthood are less likely to drop out of high school

From UHPP CEO, Chelly Hegan:
"We have had so many conversations over the past few years (maybe more), about the relevance of Planned Parenthood and why what we do is so different than what FQHCs [Federally Qualified Health Centers] have to offer...This article from Vox referring to an even larger article from the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology focuses on this very question."

Highlights from the Vox article include:
Teenage girls who live near a Planned Parenthood clinic are 16 percent less likely to drop out of high school, a new study finds. 
Lots of studies have found that teen moms are significantly less likely to graduate from high school than non-parents; 30 percent of female dropouts cite "pregnancy" and "parenthood" as key reasons for discontinuing their education. 
This new research, published Wednesday in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, looked at both Planned Parenthoods that provide abortions and those that do not. And it found that in either case, living close to one (within a neighborhood of 100,000 people) was associated with fewer female high school dropouts.
 The full study is here in abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To assess whether geographic access to family planning services is associated with a reduced female high school dropout rate. 
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study. We merged the location of Planned Parenthood and Title X clinics with microdata from the 2012-2013 American Community Surveys. The association between female high school dropout rates and local clinic access was assessed using nearest-neighbor matching estimation. Models included various covariates to account for sociodemographic differences across communities and male high school dropout rates to account for unmeasured community characteristics affecting educational outcomes. 
RESULTS: Our sample included 284,910 16- to 22-year-old females. The presence of a Planned Parenthood clinic was associated with a decrease (4.08% compared with 4.83%; relative risk ratio 0.84, P<.001) in female high school dropout rates. This association was consistent across several model specifications. The presence of a Title X clinic was associated with a decrease (4.79% compared with 5.07%; relative risk ratio 0.94, P=.03) in female high school dropout rates, an association that did not remain significant across model specifications. 
CONCLUSION: Local access to Planned Parenthood is associated with lower high school dropout rates in young women. 
(C) 2016 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
There you have it. Just one more item to add to the growing list of reasons why having a Planned Parenthood health center is beneficial to your community!

Monday, February 1, 2016

Buzzfeed: 21 Things You Should Know About Herpes


If herpes isn't on your radar, it should be.  After all, "the World Health Organization released a study that estimates that two thirds of people in the world (67%) have the HSV-1 strain of the herpes simplex virus — that’s approximately 3.7 billion people worldwide."  That is a mind-blowing statistic.  67% percent of all the people. Wow.

A genital herpes diagnosis can be devastating.  Here at our Albany health center, we once received a letter from a patient who admitted that she had considered suicide after a herpes diagnosis. However, after receiving compassionate education from UHPP staff about what it means to live with this disease, she realized that it doesn't need to alter her quality of life. Also, knowing that she was not alone helped erase part of that terrible taboo.

However, despite the fact that it is so prevalent, herpes does-- like most STIs-- remain taboo. Arming yourself and your loved ones with education should help dispel a lot of the myths and mistruths that surround this disease.  

Another thing the article mentions is that it is possible to have herpes and not know it, so if you're not sure, please visit your physician or make an appointment at your local Planned Parenthood center. Remember-- knowledge is power!  

Without further ado, here is the terrific list of facts that Buzzfeed put together for us.  Tell your friends!


Click the picture to find out!