Sophia Yen, MD, MPH’s Post

Read the Forbes article by Eva Epker covering Pandia Health and why co-founder and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sophia Yen works to maintain access to birth control.

Okay, ladies, let’s talk about birth control. Why? Because easily accessing contraception remains tricky for women in some parts of Canada. In fact, fewer than half of Canada’s provinces and territories provide financial coverage for prescription contraception. Finances remain the most significant barrier to access, because it could cost someone as much as $10,000 to pay for prescription contraceptives over their reproductive life span. But remember that birth control is not just about avoiding pregnancy. For many women, it's about managing irregular and painful periods, or even endometriosis. We’d like to hear your thoughts on this. Have you faced issues related to accessing birth control? Should birth control be covered under universal healthcare? We’d love for you to share your stories with us here at The Honest Talk. https://lnkd.in/ekp2AgYU

Say hello to Opill – the game-changer in birth control! 🎉 It is the first FDA-approved over-the-counter birth control available, soon to be in stores and online at just $19.99 a month! Perrigo Company is making waves with this breakthrough, offering an easier, more accessible option for contraception. 💊 Opill is set to revolutionize reproductive health, especially for teens and young women. With its effectiveness surpassing other nonprescription methods, it's a win for convenience and affordability. While this is a monumental step forward, ensuring affordability for all remains crucial. Let's keep pushing for progress in access and coverage. Together, we can make contraception more accessible for everyone! #Opill #BirthControl #ReproductiveHealth #SexHealth

Power to Decide released the latest findings from an annual survey in advance of #ThxBirthControl day. They surveyed young people to ask about knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and sources of health information related to birth control and abortion care.   Some of the survey results include: 💠 83% have used a method of birth control at some point in their lives. 💠 25% of respondents age 20-29 said they’ve received information about birth control from social media in the last year. 💠 While the vast majority of those age 20-29 respondents want to get birth control information from their health care providers, less than half actually do. 💠 Nearly one quarter (24%) of respondents age 15-19 say they do not have enough information to make a decision about the birth control method(s) that is best for them. 💠 Three quarters (74%) of respondents agree that the benefits of birth control outweigh the side effects.    For more results from the survey and additional resources, visit: https://lnkd.in/ggiXc-2D #healthcare #equity #birthcontrol #contraception #pregnancyprevention

In a recent discussion around the side effects of traditional birth control pills, a crucial piece of the puzzle was notably absent: the underlying reason so many women are turning towards alternative methods and information sources for managing their period symptoms. The article missed a critical structural issue in our healthcare system. Did you know that only 50% of counties in the U.S. have a single OBGYN? Why? OBGYNs are the lowest-paid surgical doctors in the U.S. and face more litigation than other fields, often forcing them to work on the coasts where they stand to make more money.  This alarming statistic highlights a significant barrier to accessing specialized reproductive healthcare, especially for women in middle America. The scarcity of OBGYNs (and did I mention that the average wait time to see an OBGYN is three months) means countless women are left without the essential counsel of a licensed professional, forcing them to look for alternatives. This gap in our healthcare system isn't just inconvenient; it's a barrier to equitable health access. It underscores the need for innovative solutions to bridge these gaps and provide women everywhere with the support and care they deserve. As the founder of BINTO, a company dedicated to revolutionizing women's reproductive care, I've witnessed firsthand the transformative power of providing accessible care options. At Binto, we're not just filling a gap but creating a new paradigm for women's health. Currently, Binto is the only women’s health company that not only offers women personalized over-the-counter options to support their symptoms, but we are also the only company that offers these women access to licensed providers via telehealth consults at an affordable price point (the same amount or less than a co-pay). The absence of OBGYNs in half of our counties is a call to action. It reminds us that healthcare innovation must go beyond the pill, addressing the root causes of access inequality and finding new ways to support women's health holistically. Binto stands at the forefront of this mission, ensuring every woman has access to the care and support she deserves. Let's not overlook the systemic issues that push women to seek alternatives. Instead, let's work together to create a healthcare system that is accessible, equitable, and responsive to the needs of all women. https://lnkd.in/eMjicxNv

Did you know that 99 percent of women ages 15–44 in the United States use some form of contraception over the course of their lifetime? For more than 60 years, access to more reliable birth control has given many women greater reproductive and bodily autonomy and the ability to meet their family planning goals. This advancement in contraception and family planning services contributed to: Improved women’s labor force participation Increased college attainment and educational outcomes A narrowing of the gender pay gap Improved professional career growth among women Yet recent and persistent threats to reproductive care threaten to stifle this progress. Now is the time to bolster protections and expand access to contraception. Check out the second chapter of the “Playbook for the Advancement of Women in the Economy” for more details on: The progress in women’s right to comprehensive contraceptive care Potential threats to that progress Actions federal and state policymakers can take to protect and expand access to contraception

"Every November, we join in celebrating World Vasectomy Day to raise awareness about what is currently the only form of long-acting contraception designed specifically for men: vasectomies. This year, while we continue to change the global stigma around vasectomies, I’d like to challenge us to also look further out and envision a world where men regularly and actively participate in family planning. This world would not only require better access to traditional vasectomies but also access to some of the easily reversible, long-acting male birth control options that are on the horizon." L.R. Fox, NEXT Life Sciences, Inc. CEO #reproductivehealth #contraception #birthcontrol #reproductiverights #health #healthcare #lifesciences #biotech #medtech #innovation #worldvasectomyday #menshealth #reproductivejustice

Recent article by Nathaniel Weixel ✨The #opill is the first over-the-counter birth control pill in the US that is expected to hit stores "during the first quarter of this year". ✨Cost is a significant concern as it has the potential to be a game changer for those in rural and underserved communities ✨A KFF Women's Health Survey in 2022 found that a) 40% of reproductive aged women would be wiling to pay between $1 and $10 per month b) 34% would be wiling to pay between $11 and $20 c) Only 16% would be willing to pay >$20 ✨A retail price of $15 for a three-month supply was thought to be affordable by the steering committee for the Free the Pill campaign #contraception #birthcontrol #reproductivejustice #reproductivehealth #sexualhealth #gynecology #ACOG #womenshealth #obgyn

"...Opill is set to significantly lower the economic barriers to birth control, mirroring the positive outcomes observed in other countries where similar accessibility measures have been implemented." As the over-the-counter contraceptive "mini-pill" goes on sale in the U.S., Jadrian Wooten takes a look at the economic impacts of the scientific and regulatory advancements that made Opill possible. #Contraception #Contraceptive #FamilyPlanning #FP #SexualAndReproductiveHealth #SRH #SexualityAndReproductiveHealthAndRights #SRHR https://lnkd.in/gTaVBSgk

Women are getting off birth control amid misinformation explosion- By Lauren Weber and Sabrina Malhi Search for birth control on TikTok or Instagram and a cascade of misleading videos vilifying hormonal contraception appear: Young women blaming their weight gain on the pill. Right-wing commentators claiming that some birth control can lead to infertility. Testimonials complaining of depression and anxiety. Instead, many social media influencers recommend “natural” alternatives, such as timing sex to menstrual cycles — a less effective birth-control method that doctors warn could result in unwanted pregnancies in a country where abortion is now banned or restricted in nearly half the states. Physicians say they’re seeing an explosion of birth-control misinformation online targeting a vulnerable demographic: people in their teens and early 20s who are more likely to believe what they see on their phones because of algorithms that feed them a stream of videos reinforcing messages often divorced from scientific evidence. While doctors say hormonal contraception — which includes birth-control pills and intrauterine devices (IUDs) — is safe and effective, they worry the profession’s long-standing lack of transparency about some of the serious but rare side effects has left many patients seeking information from unqualified online communities. #health #women #socialmedia #newyorkiptv https://lnkd.in/gJUaefW6