Sexual & Reproductive Health: PCC LIBRARY BOOKS

At a time where reproductive rights are at risk, these vital stories of diverse individuals serve as a reminder of the importance of empathy, finding community and motivating advocacy. This book collects these stories as they've been told to Dr. Meera Shah, Chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, to humanize abortion and to combat myths that persist in the discourse that surrounds it. Today, a healthcare issue that's so precious and foundational to reproductive, social, and economic freedom for millions of people is exploited by politicians who lack understanding or compassion about the context in which abortion occurs.

With little access to childcare, family leave, health care - especially in the US - and with insufficient male participation, women are conducting a spontaneous birth strike. In other countries, panic over low birth rates has led governments to underwrite childbearing with generous universal programs, but in the U.S., women have not yet realised the potential of their bargaining position. When we do, it will lead to new strategies for winning full access to abortion and birth control, and for improving the difficult working conditions U.S. parents now face when raising children.

Today, a new generation of researchers is turning its gaze to the organs traditionally bound up in baby-making--the uterus, ovaries, and vagina--and illuminating them as part of a dynamic, resilient, and ever-changing whole. This paradigm shift is made possible by the growing understanding that sex and gender are not binary; we all share the same universal body plan and origin in the womb. That's why insights into the vaginal microbiome, ovarian stem cells, and the biology of menstruation don't mean only a better understanding of female bodies, but a better understanding of male, non-binary, transgender, and intersex bodies--in other words, all bodies.

. . . a unique perspective on the days of back-alley abortions-one of which the author experienced in 1956 following what would today be known as workplace rape-and includes contemporary stories that indicate those grim days are returning. It is written for lay readers, making a strong case for reproductive choice and a plea for informed dialog. Perilous Times expands on the issue through true stories of women and men whose lives have been impacted by unplanned pregnancies, and comments from leaders in the field of reproductive rights.

Get the right care for your body -- and avoid treatments that can endanger women -- with this important manual from a physician who is a leading expert on sex and gender medicine. Sex Matters tackles one of the most urgent, yet unspoken issues facing women's health care today: all models of medical research and practice are based on male-centric models that ignore the unique biological and emotional differences between men and women -- an omission that can endanger women's lives. Not only does Dr. Alyson McGregor explore these disparities in depth, she shares clear, practical suggestions for what women can do to protect themselves. A work of riveting exposé with revelatory insights and actionable guidance for navigating the medical establishment, Sex Matters is an empowering roadmap for reinventing modern medicine -- and for self-care.