Latest news with #contraception
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lily Allen Leaves Fans Livid After 'Disturbing' Comments About Multiple Abortions
What Lily Allen found amusing about her freedom to choose is making her fellow pro-choice fans disappointed. The 40-year-old's admission comes amid separation from her ex-husband, David Harbour after she discovered him running an account on a celebrity dating app earlier in the year. Lily Allen spilled some uncomfortable truths about her fertility and the steps she took to put a stop to her non-stop pregnancies. Lily Allen: 'I'd Get Pregnant All The Time' The English singer discussed the topic of contraception and unplanned pregnancies during a conversation with her pal, Miquita Oliver, on their "Miss Me" podcast. Allen revealed that she would get unplanned pregnancies all the time, till she decided to do something about her reproductive system, which she tagged "a complete disaster area." She disclosed that she now has an IUD (contraceptive coil) and it is her third or fourth year running. "I just remember before that it was a complete disaster area. Yeah, I'd get pregnant all the time, all the time." Allen shared. The singer then recalled a period in her life when her partner at the time paid for her abortion- a gesture she described as very romantic. Allen and Oliver went back and forth about their thoughts and perspectives on contraceptives and the issue of abortion. At some point in the discussion, the musician expressed her anger at having to justify or explain getting rid of a pregnancy to anyone. Allen declared on the podcast: "…You start seeing people posting things about extraordinary reasons for having an abortion. I don't want a f-cking baby right now. Literally: "Don't want a baby" is enough reason." The 'Smile' Singer's Statement Raised Dust Among Commentators The actress's transparent session on her podcast did not go well with listeners and fans, who shared their thoughts on the discussion. "This conversation is just disturbing on so many levels. May God help you two in the end," a commenter noted. Another fan shared that the discussion between Allen and her bestie is directly helping the "anti-abortion movement in so many ways." A third Instagram commenter expressed shock at the fact that Allen and Oliver are "laughing about having five abortions each" and "treating contraception like a comedy sketch." Others joined the commenter in describing the situation as "horrible" and a "trauma laugh response." "I find this conversation incredibly insensitive. I'm very much pro-choice, but I'm genuinely shocked by what was said," this perplexed listener emphasized. According to them, the joking remarks made about having ten abortions collectively come off as irresponsible and selfish. Their comment compared the pain of women who long for children with the casual tone of Allen and her friend's statements. The commenter questions the choice not to use protection when the speakers are aware of the consequences. The podcaster lost another angry fan, who expressed that they would no longer listen to their content after their "morally bankrupt" commentary. Allen Found A Connection Between Her Childhood Trauma And Motherhood The Grammy-nominated artist admitted on her podcast last September that, in retrospect, she feels she had kids for the wrong reasons. In September 2024, The Blast reported that Allen revealed she spent a large part of her life, both before and during her marriage, yearning for unconditional love, a void that had been missing in her life since childhood. Allen also felt that with kids in the picture, she would finally experience stability and press pause on her "high-speed" career, which was extremely overwhelming at the time. "I felt like the one way to stop people hassling me, it's not about me, it's about this other person that's inside me," the singer explained, shedding more light on her mindset during her pregnancies. Allen admitted that she indeed got the break she wanted from everyone, but on the bigger picture, she had no idea about the journey she was about to embark on. Women Are Always Stuck Between Two Difficult Choices Allen left behind a sociable life to move to a more discreet place to start a family after her marriage to Harbour in 2020. The singer explained that the option to choose between her job and her pop career left her in a tight spot. Allen then expressed her opinion on how she feels society places women in a position where they must prioritize their kids or their careers. She admitted to sticking to the former but at an indelible cost to the future of her career. "I love them and they complete me, but in terms of pop stardom, they totally ruined it. I get really annoyed when people say you can have it all because, quite frankly, you can't," the 40-year-old continued. Nevertheless, the singer does not regret her choice; in fact, she is completely thrilled with her decision to take a break from everything and focus on her children. Allen applauded her parenting skills, affirming that her kids are well-rounded and have turned out well. Lily Allen's Discovering Husband's Infidelity Left Her Struggling For Emotional Balance The English songwriter finally got candid about her split from the American actor on her podcast and how it has left her emotionally exhausted. In January, The Blast reported that Allen revealed how she has been trying to act tough since news broke of her estranged husband owning an account on the celebrity dating app, Raya. "I know I've been talking about it for months, but I've been spiraling and spiraling. It's got out of control; I've tried," the singer shared. She recalled suffering from a panic attack in the middle of an event and dashing out of a theatre performance due to overwhelming emotions. Allen added that the pain from Harbour's betrayal completely took over her system, and each moment felt worse than the last. What will Lily Allen be transparent about next? Solve the daily Crossword
CBC
a day ago
- Health
- CBC
Almost 50% more IUDs, implants dispensed after B.C. made birth control free: study
A new study out of UBC is looking at the use of contraception in B.C. after the province began covering the cost of prescription birth control in 2023. It shows a jump in birth control prescriptions overall. But it also reveals that users opted for longer-lasting options that cost more up front. The study's lead author, Laura Schummers, an assistant professor at UBC in the faculty of pharmaceutical sciences, spoke to CBC News about her research.
CBC
2 days ago
- Health
- CBC
New study finds almost 50% more IUDs, implants dispensed after B.C. made birth control free
Social Sharing More people started using IUDs and implants after B.C. made almost all forms of prescription birth control free, according to a new UBC research study. The study, led by Dr. Laura Schummers, found a 49 per cent jump in the number of "long-acting reversible contraceptives" (LARC) dispensed per month, 15 months after B.C.'s free contraception program began in April 2023. "This really tells us that there was a substantial cost-related barrier to using contraception as a whole," said Schummers, assistant professor at the University of B.C. in the faculty of pharmaceutical sciences. That "LARC" category — the most effective type of birth control — includes the IUD (intrauterine device), which is placed directly into the uterus, and the subdermal arm implant, placed under the skin in the upper arm. The implant lasts for three years, while the IUD can last for up to 12 years. The study found an additional 11,375 people using those methods within 15 months of the policy taking effect. Schummers said it shows that people across age groups and demographics will prefer more effective contraceptive methods when costs are removed. An IUD can cost between $350 and $450 in Canada, and the upfront cost can be a barrier, according to Schummers. Schummers said B.C.'s "landmark" policy has influenced discussions around free prescription medications in Canada. She noted Manitoba also started a free contraception program in October 2024. "Nearly a 50 per cent increase ... in the context of evaluating policy changes is huge," Schummers said. "This is not a few people at the margins whose insurance coverage wasn't quite right. This is telling us that there's a broad need for this kind of broad coverage, not just a limited sort of Band-Aid to maybe change an income threshold for coverage availability." The research study used two data sources, including a national database to look at prescriptions across B.C. for LARC and all contraception, as well as consider that data against a control group including all the other Canadian provinces that didn't make contraception free. Dr. Renée Hall, medical director of Willow Reproductive Health Centre in Vancouver, said her experience at the clinic tracks with the study's findings. "There has been a significant increase since universal contraceptives started," she said. The clinic has actually created a new phone line specifically for people calling in for long-acting reversible contraceptives like the IUD and implant. Hall said that the universal contraception program has given patients the chance to find the best contraceptive for them. "If the IUD didn't work out … they could easily switch to another until they found the one that could work," she said, "whereas that's really difficult to do if you have to pay the $400 for your first IUD and then another $200 for the next one." Hall said that she recommends more training for IUD insertion, which she said is "still a little bit lacking in our usual medical programs." Hall said the study shows the public wants access to effective, long-acting birth control.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Study finds more women opted for long-acting IUDs after B.C. made birth control free
A one-month dosage of hormonal birth control pills is displayed in Sacramento, Calif., Aug. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File) A new study finds significantly more women opted for long-acting birth control methods after British Columbia made prescription contraception free. Researchers found prescriptions for all types of birth control jumped significantly after the province began covering the cost of contraception in April 2023, especially for intrauterine devices (IUDs). The study published Monday in the BMJ examined the prescriptions of nearly 860,000 women in the 15 months after contraception coverage began and compared them to what would have been expected without coverage. It found a 49 per cent increase in prescriptions for IUDs, which are inserted into the uterus to prevent fertilization and considered 10 times more effective than pills or condoms. Reached in Vancouver, lead author Laura Schummers said IUDs can cost up to $450 out-of-pocket. 'This tells us that costs alone are a huge barrier to the most effective methods of contraception across Canada,' said Schummers, an assistant professor in the faculty of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of British Columbia. The study says roughly 11,000 additional women chose the more reliable option. It examined prescriptions for women aged 15 to 49 between April 2023 and June 2024. This report by Hannah Alberga, The Canadian Press, was first published July 28, 2025.
Daily Mail
23-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Breakthrough for MALE birth control pill: Experimental hormone–free tablet passes its first safety test in men
For decades, the responsibility of taking a birth control pill has been placed firmly on the shoulders of women. But that could soon change – as an experimental pill for men that works by blocking sperm production has just passed its first safety test in humans. The hormone–free contraceptive tablet, called YCT–529, has already been found to prevent 99 per cent of pregnancies during experiments in mice. It works by blocking access to vitamin A in the testes, preventing sperm production without affecting testosterone levels – meaning libido is not impacted. The male pill, which experts hope will be available this decade, is the only one currently being tested in humans. For the latest trial, researchers recruited 16 men who were put on different doses of the pill across several days. Instead of testing how effective it was in humans – all of the men had undergone vasectomies – the aim was to discover if there were any side–effects. Analysis revealed there were no concerning changes in heart rate, hormone function, inflammation, mood or sexual function. Next, the team will test the pill in larger trials that will look at how effective it is in preventing sperm production in humans. The results of the safety trial, published in the journal Communications Medicine, are a critical first step toward getting the pill approved, experts said. 'We really need more reversible contraceptive methods for men,' Dr Stephanie Page, an endocrinologist at the University of Washington School of Medicine and who wasn't involved in the study, told Scientific American. Currently, the other male birth control options are vasectomies – a surgical procedure that involves cutting and sealing the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles – or condoms. Vasectomies, also known as 'the snip', can be reversed but the success rate of reversal procedures vary widely. Earlier tests in male primates also found the drug lowered sperm counts within just two weeks. Crucially, both mice and non–human primates fully regained fertility after stopping the drug and no side effects were detected in either species. Mice regained fertility within six weeks, while non–human primates fully recovered their sperm count in 10 to 15 weeks. How does it work? Researchers have understood for decades that vitamin A is essential for male fertility. YCT–529 is a retinoic acid receptor–alpha (RAR–a) inhibitor that prevents production of sperm cells in the testes as well as their release. It does this by blocking RAR–alpha – one of three nuclear receptors that bind retinoic acid, a form of vitamin A. YCT–529 is being worked on as part of a collaboration between University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Columbia University in New York and San Francisco–based firm YourChoice Therapeutics. 'A safe and effective male pill will provide more options to couples for birth control,' Gunda Georg, chemist and pharmacist at the University of Minnesota, said earlier this year. 'It will allow a more equitable sharing of responsibility for family planning and provide reproductive autonomy for men.' Both the animal studies and the human trial results suggest that the approved pill would likely be taken once a day, but further trials will confirm that dosing. 'The positive results from this first clinical trial laid the groundwork for a second trial, where men receive YCT–529 for 28 days and 90 days, to study safety and changes in sperm parameters,' the study authors wrote in their paper, published in the journal Communications Medicine. Currently, around a quarter of women who use contraception take an oral birth control pill, but there are no equivalent methods available for men. If the male pill proves to be as effective in humans as it is in mice, it would be on a par with the female birth control medication. Lead author and YourChoice Therapeutics' Chief Science Officer Nadja Mannowetz said: 'A peer–reviewed publication for our first–in–human study reinforces YCT–529's strong safety profile. 'It also shows "the Pill for men" had no effect on sexual desire or mood.' Nearly half of all pregnancies globally are unintended, suggesting an urgent need for more male contraceptive options. There is also high demand for new methods. A recent study showed men are very interested in using new male contraceptive options and women are confident they'll take them correctly. 'Studies and surveys continue to show that men want to share the burden of pregnancy prevention with their partners,' Akash Bakshi, CEO of YourChoice Therapeutics, said. 'But they have just one non–permanent contraceptive option—condoms—and it's 170 years old. Innovation is long overdue. 'Data show men favour an oral contraceptive and one that's hormone–free, positioning YCT–529 as potentially transformative for a healthcare segment that's been stagnant for more than a century and a half.' Women have several birth control options available including short–term rapid methods like birth control pills and patches and a contraceptive cap or diaphragm. They also have long–term options such as implants, which produce hormones that stop the release of an egg. Some opt for an intrauterine device – a T–shaped device placed into the uterus to prevent an egg from implanting. The birth control pill or patches are about 93 per cent effective at preventing pregnancies. However long–term devices like the intrauterine device are more than 99 per cent effective. There have been few changes in male contraception compared with the range of options available to women. Although there's ongoing research into a male contraceptive pill, there is not one available yet. At the moment, the 2 contraceptive methods available to men are: Condoms – a barrier form of contraception that stops sperm from reaching and fertilizing an egg Vasectomy – a minor, usually permanent, surgical procedure that stops sperm from reaching the semen ejaculated from the penis The withdrawal method of taking your penis out of your partner's vagina before ejaculating is not a method of contraception. This is because sperm can be released before ejaculation and cause pregnancy.
