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TBH (To Be Honest) is a monthly newsletter dedicated to learning about our bodies, talking about sex and relationships, and challenging health inequity and injustice.

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IN THIS ISSUE:

Sex ed under attack + Fighting abortion misinformation + Rising rate of abortions

"[The data] doesn't tell the stories of patients who have to travel a long, long way, maybe arriving later in pregnancy with more health problems. Patients experiencing severe distress and trauma from the need to travel, who need extra attention and care as a result. "

— Dr. Ushma Upadhyay, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine professor and researcher.

A recent report from the Society for Family Planning shows abortion rates are up compared to last year. Researchers say the data doesn't tell the whole story.

Learn more via Jezebel

From the blog…

With so much misinformation flooding social media, it can be hard to know which resources about sexual and reproductive health you can actually trust. Check out our guide to separating fact from fiction.

Ask the Experts: How much vaginal discharge is normal?

When you find out you're pregnant — whether you're going to carry to term or not — a good first step is to calculate how many weeks along you are. Here's how to do the math.

Read more on the blog >>

What we're watching, reading, listening to, and taking action on:

Despite a sharp increase in abortion bans after Roe was overturned in 2022, experts report abortion rates are rising:

- A recent report shows abortion rates are slightly up compared to last year, but researchers say the data doesn't tell the whole story.

- Another study published in online journal JAMA Network Open found that the rate of self-managed abortions has increased by nearly 50% since 2022; here's what advocates and health care professionals have to say.

Comprehensive sex education is under attack (again). Watch Dr. Sara Flowers, Planned Parenthood's vice president of education, break down legislative attacks on sex education in schools across the country.

For the first time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has given providers guidance that they should talk to their patients about pain management before inserting an IUD.

Ask the Experts:

I'm pregnant. My boyfriend doesn't know yet, and he would want me to keep it. But I don't want to. What should I do?

This is a really tough situation. And while the opinions of those close to you are important, the decision whether to have an abortion is ultimately yours.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself that may help you decide what to do:

How will my decision affect my life and future?

How do I feel about being a parent right now?

How do I feel about going through pregnancy and childbirth?

How do I feel about adoption?

How do I feel about abortion?

What kind of support would I need to make any of these decisions?

Talking with someone you trust about your feelings can be helpful. Choose someone who you feel will listen to you without judgment, be supportive, respect your privacy, and not try to pressure you into anything.

If you’re having a hard time finding someone to talk to, you can check out All-Options. They have a free hotline that gives you a confidential space to talk about making decisions about a pregnancy.

*Note: Planned Parenthood is not responsible for nor does it endorse any legal, medical, or other advice or information provided by any of the entities identified or referenced herein or by any other third parties, whether referenced herein or not.

Check out Ask The Experts for more Q&As on a ton of different health topics.
Got a question in mind? Ask Roo, our sex ed chatbot, or one of our trained health educators.

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