Tracking reproductive health-related narratives for public health professionals

A recent study found that tampons from popular brands in the U.S. contain arsenic, lead, and other toxic substances. The researchers wrote, "Tampon use is a potential source of metal exposure…Our findings point towards the need for regulations requiring the testing of metals in tampons by manufacturers....

A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that after Texas banned abortions after six weeks of pregnancy with no exceptions for congenital abnormalities, infant death rates in the state increased by 12.9 percent, while infant death rates only increased by 1.8 percent throughout the rest of the...

On June 13, the Supreme Court voted to uphold access to the abortion pill mifepristone. Voting against this case would have reversed the FDA's decision to expand access to mifepristone. The decision sparked online conversation across several social media platforms—primarily on X. One post on X from...

In a recent series of investigative articles, STAT reported that many pregnant people with sickle cell disease have received tubal ligations from health care providers without being adequately informed that the procedure would be permanent. Although patients must sign consent forms before undergoing these kinds of procedures, experts quoted in...

The American Academy of Pediatrics issued new guidelines stating that HIV-positive birthing parents can safely breastfeed if they are undergoing antiretroviral treatment and their viral load is undetectable. In response to news articles about these guidelines, some social media users claimed that breastfeeding as an HIV-positive birthing parent is “not...

Last week, the Maternal Mental Health Task Force recommended creating maternity care centers to combat the maternal mental health crisis, as cases of postpartum depression have dramatically increased since 2010. News articles about this recommendation, which have been circulating on social media, explain that there is inadequate screening and support...

This week, Louisiana legislators introduced a bill that would criminalize giving abortion pills to a pregnant person without the pregnant person’s consent. The bill also categorizes abortion pills as controlled dangerous substances, a class of drugs that includes narcotics, steroids, and depressants. A group of Louisiana doctors sent a...

Last week, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs signed a repeal of the state’s 1864 law banning nearly all abortions. The repeal will take effect 90 days after the end of the legislative session. After that, a 2022 statue banning abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy will go back into place....

Last week, Tennessee's governor signed into law the Baby Olivia Act, which will require Tennessee schools to show students a video about fetal development that does not align with the U.S. medical standard. The social media response to the new law is mixed, with some social media...

This week, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced emergency legislation that will permit physicians from Arizona to provide reproductive health care—including abortion care—in California. This announcement came after Arizona's Supreme Court voted to uphold a law from 1864 that bans all abortions, with no exceptions for rape...

This week Arizona's Supreme Court voted to uphold a law from 1864 that bans all abortions, with no exceptions for rape or incest, unless the pregnant person’s life is threatened. The ruling makes abortion a felony punishable by two to five years in prison for anyone who...

A recent article highlights the prevalence of misleading information about birth control online. The article states that social media influencers are raising concerns about alleged side effects of hormonal birth control and promoting “natural,” less effective birth control methods. The influencers’ target audience is made up of girls and women...

In a recent news interview, former President Donald Trump falsely claimed that Roe v. Wade allowed for abortions “after birth.” Both before and after Roe v. Wade was overturned, no state allowed abortions after birth. A recently trending social media post from Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene also made false claims...