By Anna Nelson, Maria Tzanou and Tsachi Keren-Paz In the previous blog, we introduced the issues associated with healthcare professionals (HCPs) recommending privately-developed FemTech apps. In this second blog, we turn our attention to regulatory considerations associated with this practice. There are two distinct questions which could be asked here: (1) whether HCPs should recommend […]
Category: screening
Recommending Privately-Developed FemTech in Healthcare Part 1: Promises and Pitfalls
By Anna Nelson, Maria Tzanou and Tsachi Keren-Paz Introduction FemTech refers to apps and wearable devices (eg. smart breast pumps and bluetooth-enabled fertility monitors) purporting to empower women and non-binary users to manage their sexual, gynaecological and reproductive health. During their recent review of the data practices of period and fertility tracking apps, the […]
Creating a consolidated EMAH (Early Medical Abortion at Home) medication pack: What has the impact been?
By Nathan Burley Background Up to seven medicines are provided for an early medical abortion, similar to the amount supplied after a heart attack. Abortifacients, analgesia, an anti-emetic, contraception and an antibiotic could be supplied, with each attendance resulting in at least four packs being given. Clinics providing this service may store a variety […]
Defending the use of the term ‘obstetric violence’
By Ezio Di Nucci Here I defend ’obstetric violence’: not the practice, but its name – and more generally the idea that some obstetric practices deserve to be called acts of violence, contrary to what has recently been argued. This question is relevant beyond sexual and reproductive health: what is at stake is the very […]
Application of a novel abortion care quality measurement tool (ACQTool) in Bangladesh
By Laura E Jacobson, Sarah E. Baum, Erin Pearson, Rezwana Chowdhury, Nirali M. Chakraborty, Julia M. Goodman, Caitlin Gerdts, & Blair G. Darney Measuring and improving quality of care is an essential part of ensuring safe and effective health services; however, until recently measuring the quality of abortion care has been hampered by a lack of shared definitions […]
On Men’s Duty to get a Vasectomy under the Patriarchy
By Ezio Di Nucci Last night I was running with my public health colleagues (the token philosopher ended up being faster than our Head of Department from Biostat, by the way – which sure must have a symbolic meaning in the modern academy). After the race, conversation turned to my forthcoming vasectomy (anecdotally, […]
Interest in Advance Provision of Abortion Pills: A National Survey of Potential Users in the USA
By Julia Tasset, Klaira Lerma and Paul Blumenthal Access to safe and legal abortion services is a fundamental aspect of reproductive health care and bodily autonomy. While medication abortion is safe and effective, pregnant people face mounting access barriers. In the United States (US), since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, 13 states […]
The Bogus Privacy in FemTech: circumventing consent when collecting sensitive sexual and reproductive health data
By Manna Mostaghim FemTech products (or Female Technology products) are digital tools that claim to empower individuals to take control of their health and wellbeing. But at what cost? FemTech products are facing more scrutiny because of a lack of clarity on how their privacy policies protect sensitive information that are inputted by users. […]
Experiences using an over-the-counter progestin-only pill in a trial in the United States
By Kate Grindlay Read the research papers here and here. In 2021, two progestin-only oral contraceptive pills (POPs) were approved in the UK as “pharmacy medicines,” becoming available without a prescription. Efforts are also currently underway to make a POP over the counter (OTC) in the United States, with an application under review at the […]
Menstrual blood: no longer just a waste product
By Dr. Sara Naseri, Dr. Ryan Brewster and Professor Paul D. Blumenthal For decades, glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) has been the diagnostic and prognostic standard for primary management of diabetes mellitus (DM).1 It serves as an index of long-term glycemic control and a predictive indicator of preventable micro- and macrovascular complications, making routine monitoring an essential […]