Posts lament the disappearance of a federal reproductive rights resource
Other conversations corrected misconceptions about Plan B and proposed strategies for dealing with increasing abortion restrictions.
Other conversations corrected misconceptions about Plan B and proposed strategies for dealing with increasing abortion restrictions.
This past week, articles and posts discussed the recent removal of a federal reproductive rights website and questioned where people can access accurate information about abortion laws. Other posts discussed the difference between emergency contraception (EC) and abortion and suggested that more men should get vasectomies in response to increasing abortion restrictions.
In light of these conversations, communicators may recirculate information about local abortion laws, outline the difference between EC and abortion, and share information about vasectomies.
Insights brought to you by the reporters and science writers of Public Good News (PGN), a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to improving community health.
What’s trending nationally in reproductive health conversation:
On January 20, a U.S. representative shared an X post that read, “Just hours after taking the oath of office, Donald Trump took down http://reproductiverights.gov — a website to help women find health care and understand their rights. They’re wasting no time assaulting freedom.” The website, launched in 2022 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, contained information about accessing abortion and other forms of reproductive health care, as well as a “know your rights” fact sheet. Articles reported that while it was “not clear exactly when the site went down,” it had been active as recently as January 15. While commenters on the X post primarily debated whether the website was actually down and which administration was responsible for the change, some also worried that more federal resources related to reproductive rights would disappear and questioned where people should search for accurate information about abortion laws.
On January 13, an X user shared a video of an impromptu interview in which the interviewee was confused about the difference between Plan B and abortion. The interviewer corrected the interviewee’s statements and offered them free EC. The caption stated that people in the U.S. need TikTok, a popular social media app, because some TikTok videos provide sex education. While TikTok is now banned in the U.S., the ban is not currently enforced. The X post received approximately 769,000 views, 26,000 likes, 2,200 reposts, and 75 comments as of January 22. Most comments discussed the difference between EC and abortion and debated when EC is most effective.
Earlier this month, an Indiana senator introduced a bill that would add further restrictions to the state’s near-total abortion ban, which currently allows exemptions when the pregnant person’s health or life is in danger, when the fetus is not expected to survive, and when the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. The new bill would make it a misdemeanor to prescribe, possess, or send “abortion-inducing” drugs and would require people who have been raped to provide an affidavit in order to access abortion. The bill would also stop organizations in the state from helping people cover the cost of abortion pills. Plus, Idaho, Kansas, and Missouri are moving forward with a lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration to restrict access to the abortion pill mifepristone. Several recent social media posts discussed these legal actions that could impact access to abortion pills, with some posts receiving thousands of likes. Many comments condemned restrictions on medication abortion, and some suggested that men should take more accountability for preventing pregnancy by getting vasectomies.
Recommendations brought to you by the health communication experts behind Infodemiology.com.
Recommendations for public health professionals
Each week, the Infodemiology.com team will provide messaging recommendations in response to some of the trending narratives outlined above. These helpful tips can be used when creating content, updating web and FAQ pages, and developing strategy for messaging about reproductive health.
Concerns about where to find accurate information about reproductive rights provide an opportunity to recirculate materials outlining abortion laws in your state. Sharing the Repro Legal Hotline, which provides free, confidential legal services for people seeking abortions and other forms of reproductive health care, and Plan C, which helps people access abortion pills in their state, is recommended.
IIn response to ongoing confusion about emergency contraception, communicators may share information about the types of EC and how they work. There are two types of EC pills: Ulipristal acetate—sold under the brand name ella—requires a prescription and can be taken up to five days after unprotected sex. Levonorgestrel is sold over the counter under several brand names—including Plan B—and works best when taken within three days of having unprotected sex. However, it can be taken up to five days afterward. Messaging may explain that ella may not prevent pregnancy in people who weigh 195 pounds or more and that levonorgestrel pills may not prevent pregnancy in people who weigh 165 pounds or more. Emphasizing that all EC pills work best when they are taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex is recommended. Communicators may also note that getting an IUD up to five days after having unprotected sex reduces the risk of getting pregnant by 99.9 percent, continues preventing pregnancy for years, and is effective for people of all weights. Communicators may also want to explain that EC and abortion are different: EC prevents a pregnancy from occurring, whereas abortion ends a pregnancy.
Conversations about vasectomies may prompt questions about this form of birth control. Communicators may explain that these minor surgical procedures prevent pregnancy by stopping people with penises from releasing sperm into semen. Vasectomies are meant to be permanent. They are more than 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy, but it can take at least two months for the procedure to fully prevent sperm from entering semen. Patients who get vasectomies should have their semen tested by a health care provider eight to 16 weeks after their procedure to ensure that sperm is not present. People can get a vasectomy and other forms of birth control from their health care provider or at a local Planned Parenthood or health clinic.