BPA linked to polycystic ovary syndrome; anti-choice “Black Children Are An Endangered Species” campaign headed to California; Rep. Pence’s “No Title X For Abortion Providers” bill will increase abortions; and more.

• A recent study accepted for publication into the Journal for Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM) found higher levels of Bisphenol A (BPA) in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is the most common endocrine disorder of women of reproductive age. BPA is the chemical compound used in plastic food and drink containers among other things but has been outlawed for use in baby bottles, in certain states. “Our research shows that BPA may be more harmful to women with hormonal and fertility imbalances like those found in PCOS,” said Evanthia Diamanti-Kandarakis, MD, PhD, study co-author and professor at the University of Athens Medical School in Greece.

• The Radiance Foundation is partnering with Issues4Life to spread its anti-choice message of racism and fear with another “Black Children Are An Endangered Species” billboard campaign – this time in California. The campaign will be unveiled on Saturday, January 15th at a press conference.

• Anchorage Republican Senator Kevin Meyer is introducing a bill to create a “Choose Life” license plate option; the state will “consult with Alaska Choose Life on the design and color of the plate.”  He needs help choosing a color that will convey a sense of obstruction and lack of access, I suppose?

• Testimony was shared today, at the Institute of Medicine’s Open Session on Preventive Services for Women, to address the new health care law’s potential for ensuring prescription birth control availability with no co-pays. Planned Parenthood Federation of America released a statement:

“One of the great promises of the new health care law is the potential for prescription birth control to be covered with no co-pays.  Making birth control available with no co-pays will significantly increase access to birth control for millions more women and help reduce the high number of unintended pregnancies in this country. 

“Today, as major medical organizations, including the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and The American Academy of Pediatrics, shared testimony with the IOM panel, they reiterated the fact that covering birth control with no co-pays leads to positive health outcomes for women and children.”

• In an article on Muncie, Indiana’s Starpress.com, the question is asked, “Would Pence bill curb or increase abortions?” They are referring, of course, to Indiana Republican Rep. Mike Pence’s “No Title X for Abortion Providers” bill which seeks to bar funding for any organization that also provides abortions. Title X is our federal family planning program and it’s known to be one of the most – if not the most – cost-effective federal health program we have. It helps prevent abortions, Rep. Pence. Therefore, if you deny organizations funding, which are known to provide a huge proportion of this country’s family planning and contraception to people, you will increase abortions. If you are anti-choice and believe abortion should be illegal, then de-funding family planning and birth control programs is counter-productive. It’s really, truly, honestly not rocket science. Then again if you are also anti-contraception or anti-women having any autonomy over our bodies at all, then maybe this is exactly what you’d do, huh?