🩷🔥 Burned Birth Control, Chemical Pads & Who the Hell Designed That Speculum?

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👀TITS UP THIS IS IMPORTANT:

💥 U.S. Set to Destroy $9.7M in Contraceptives—Aid Blocked by Ideology

The Trump administration plans to incinerate nearly $9.7 million worth of U.S.-funded contraceptives—including pills, implants, and IUDs—stored in a Belgian warehouse, instead of distributing them to people in need. This decision stems from reinstated Mexico City Policy restrictions and the dismantling of USAID, affecting aid originally intended for women in refugee camps and low-income countries. Critics slam the move as both ideologically driven and wasteful: it costs more to dispose of the supplies (~$160–167K) than to donate them, and offers from UNFPA and NGOs to handle distribution were rejected. Supplies still have shelf life—some expiring as late as 2031. Advocacy groups warn this move undermines global reproductive autonomy and U.S. humanitarian leadership.The Washington Post+5The Washington Post+5Reuters+5

🔍 WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

• The contraceptives were acquired by USAID for distribution in crisis zones across Africa and beyond—but now face destruction due to the Mexico City Policy and other ideological constraints.AxiosThe Washington Post

• U.S. lawmakers across the aisle, along with international health groups, urged officials to redirect the supplies to other distributors—but their offers were rebuffed.AP News

• The financial calculus is as grim as the political one: destroying the supplies costs nearly $167,000—more than the logistics of donating them.doctorswithoutborders.org+6Reuters+6The Washington Post+6

🚨 WHY IT MATTERS

• This is a textbook case of reproductive rights as collateral damage in foreign policy wars.

• It's also a reminder that unused resources expire in warehouses—but lives expire without access to care.

• When U.S. aid is weaponized, women in war-torn zones are the casualties.

📚 NEXT STEPS

• Follow the fate of U.S. Senate legislation aiming to halt the destruction.

• Watch the evolving policy around USAID’s role in global reproductive health.

• Amplify demands for donation as an urgent alternative: talk to your representatives, tag advocacy campaigns, demand accountability.

📰MORE NEWS ABOUT YOUR BODY

❤️‍🩹The FDA Chief Finally Admits Women’s Health is Starved for Funding

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary called out decades of neglect and called for more research into menopause hormone therapies and tailored treatments. This statement echoes mounting frustration that women’s health hasn't gotten the investment it needs. Read more here.

🧠 Stay Abreast Take: When regulators speak up, it’s a sign—a system built by men is finally feeling the pressure women have felt for decades.

🥀PFAS in Reusable Period Products Still a Toxic Problem

New testing reveals persistent "forever chemicals" in reusable menstrual pads (25 %) and underwear (33 %). These toxins are linked to reproductive and endocrine disruption—and oversight remains minimal. Read more here.

🧠 Stay Abreast Take: Eco‑friendly doesn’t equal safe. Until regulation catches up, a reusable label might come with chemical baggage.

🩼ACL Tears Are Not a Women’s Fragility Problem

Female athletes are 3–4× more likely to tear ACLs due to hormone‑cycle effects (like relaxin), movement patterns, and underfunded sports research. Proven interventions cut injury rates by up to 88%, but adoption lags. Read more here.

🧠 Stay Abreast Take: It's not weakness—it's absence of science. Training tailored to women’s anatomy and cycles isn’t optional—it’s essential.

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🧪🔬Science Wins To Celebrate!

💡 👏Your Yearly Exam Just Left the 1800’s and Entered 2025 - Dutch Engineers Rethink the Speculum!

Researchers at TU Delft have redeveloped the traditional speculum—cold, metal, and dreaded—into a patient-first design meant to reduce anxiety and discomfort during pelvic exams. Their prototype features smoother materials, ergonomic form, and fewer alarming clicks, aiming to replace a medical staple unchanged for over a century. Early feedback suggests this approach could significantly improve experiences—especially for people with trauma histories or menopausal sensitivity. Despite its promise, broad clinical adoption will require clinician buy-in and redesigning exam process. Read more here.

See a headline or tip we should include? Or do you have a question you want us to explore? Tag us @stayabreasthq

—The Stay Abreast Team 🩷
Stay informed. Stay empowered. Stay Abreast.