TBH (To Be Honest) is a monthly newsletter dedicated to learning about our bodies, talking about sex and relationships, and challenging health inequity and injustice.
Send us your feedback. đź‘Ť đź‘Ž
Send us your feedback. đź‘Ť đź‘Ž
IN THIS ISSUE:
Anniversary of Roe v. Wade + Cervical Health Awareness Month + Perimenopause
Anniversary of Roe v. Wade + Cervical Health Awareness Month + Perimenopause
"For the first time ever can we eliminate a cancer?"
January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. Watch this video from the World Health Organization (WHO) on how vaccination programs, screening, and preventative treatment could save millions of lives and make cervical cancer the first cancer ever in the world to be eliminated.
From the blog…
- On the 50th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade: Where We've Been, and Where We Need to Go: Roe v. Wade was an important step for reproductive health and rights — but for millions of people, it wasn't nearly enough.
- How to Know if You're Going Through Perimenopause: Perimenopause usually starts in your 40s, and may last anywhere from a few months to 10 years or more.
- January is Cervical Health Awareness Month: Do you have a cervix? That means you can get cervical cancer. Here's what you need to know.
What we're watching, reading, listening to, and taking action on:
- Roe is not only a Supreme Court ruling, but also a cultural symbol in a movement that continues.
- The New Harris poll reveals significant gaps in women's knowledge about cervical cancer.
- Why are abortions so expensive? Experts answered the question with a look into the future of abortion in America.
- We've created a new section on our website dedicated to navigating and understanding gender identity!
Ask the Experts:
"Are vasectomies reversible?"
Someone asked us: Can I get a vasectomy reversed if I decide I want kids later?
A vasectomy is meant to be permanent, so it's not the best birth control method for people who think they might want to have biological kids in the future. If you're already thinking about reversal before you get a vasectomy, it's probably best to hold off.
There are procedures that can sometimes reverse a vasectomy, but there's no guarantee they'll work. They can also be pretty expensive, and they're usually not covered by health insurance. Vasectomy reversals can cost around $5,000-$15,000, not including other possible fees.
To reverse a vasectomy, a doctor will make a small cut on each side of your scrotum and either reconnect the ends of the vas deferens (the tubes that are cut during a vasectomy), or connect the vas deferens to the epididymis. The type of reversal procedure you'll have depends on your individual situation and what your doctor thinks will work best for you.
The rates of success vary depending on the type of procedure and the skill of the doctor. But in general, vasectomy reversals work in about 85 out of 100 people. But just because the vasectomy worked and there's sperm in your semen again, doesn't mean your partner is guaranteed to get pregnant: after a vasectomy reversal, about 55 out of 100 partners get pregnant. The rate of success can also depend on how long it's been since you had your vasectomy — pregnancy rates are higher when you get a reversal sooner after your vasectomy. It can take a few months to more than a year after your reversal for pregnancy to happen.
Your partner's fertility can also affect whether or not pregnancy can happen. So it's a good idea for your partner to see a doctor to check whether they're still ovulating and/or if they have a good chance of getting pregnant before you get a vasectomy reversal.
— Kendall at Planned Parenthood
*Note: Planned Parenthood is not responsible for nor does it endorse any legal, medical, or other advice or information provided by any of the entities identified or referenced herein or by any other third parties, whether referenced herein or not.
Check out Ask The Experts for more Q&As on a ton of different health topics.
Was this email forwarded to you by a friend? Subscribe