Women can now fight in combat. This is a big change and a welcome one – but just because women have broken this barrier doesn’t mean everything is all peaches and cream for females in the military.

According to NPR, once the military lifts its “women in combat” restriction next year, nearly 245,000 jobs will become available to capable females. Although these jobs will technically be open to women, that doesn’t mean these positions won’t have inherent challenges. For one, these jobs are dangerous (and incredibly demanding). And secondly, getting coverage for certain women’s health issues while in combat is difficult.

NPR reports that it’s extremely hard for women in combat zones to obtain contraceptives. While some people may brush off this issue like it’s no big deal, it really is. Nearly 15 percent “active-duty service members are women, and 97 percent of them are of childbearing age.”

The article states that the “rates of unintended pregnancy among women in the military are about 50 percent higher than those of women in the general population. And because of strict federal rules, their health insurance does not generally cover abortion.”

And many women in combat have a difficult time obtaining certain kinds of birth control, too. Under Tricare, “the health care plan for more than 9 million active and retired members of the military,” some methods of birth control aren’t available at all military hospitals and clinics. Also: When women are overseas, other types of birth control methods aren’t always available, either.

In addition to having a difficult time getting certain types of birth control, women also face challenges when taking medication and refilling prescriptions.

“There is the problem of trying to schedule a daily birth control pill when traveling across time zones; and desert conditions may make a contraceptive patch fall off. Although women are allowed a 180-day supply of contraceptives before deploying, obtaining refills of the same pill can be difficult, some servicewomen reported in a 2012 survey,” reports NPR

So far, no solutions have been discovered to alleviate this problem, but we can fix that: Put a woman on this contraception job and she’ll get it done not just for herself, but for her fellow women in the military.

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Image of female soldier from Shutterstock

The post Contraceptives are Hard to Get For Women in Combat appeared first on EcoSalon.

A weekly look at sex and culture, by the numbers.

What a week it’s been for sex. We got to hear Rush Limbaugh apologize to “sluts” and it turns out everyone in your yoga class is doing it.

Here’s a few more sex statistics and facts for you this week:

Cost of a year’s supply of hormonal birth control: $160-$600

Average cost of a condom: <$1

Two: number of states that have eliminated their family planning programs within the last year

130,000: low-income Texan women who stand to lose Medicare-funded contraception and examination coverage as a result of the latest round of state budget cuts

$231 million: projected financial burden to state and federal taxpayers as a result of the 20,500 estimated additional babies that will be born as a result

1/4: women of reproductive age who receive health and contraceptive assistance through a publicly supported family planning center

51 to 48: vote on the Blunt Amendment, which failed to clear the Senate last week and would have allowed employers to withhold contraceptive coverage from employees’ health plans

The post Sex by Numbers: An Aspirin a Day appeared first on EcoSalon.

People tweet about how Planned Parenthood changed their lives.

Friday night, one of the remaining issues on the table before an uneasy truce prevented a government shutdown was Planned Parenthood funding.  Ultimately, to avoid halting government services, Planned Parenthood funding – which accounts for less than 1 percent of the total budget – survives to be debated another day.

This weekend, people on Twitter are voicing many opinions on both sides of the issue, ranging from staunch support for the organization to outright hatred for its very existence. Many have had the misguided belief that government funds for Planned Parenthood pay for abortion services (they don’t), and others seem to believe Senate Minority Jon Kyl’s assertion that abortions are 90% of what Planned Parenthood does. He has since retracted that statement, and the facts show that abortions account for about 3% of their total services. (The Washington Post has an infographic that accurately depicts what Planned Parenthood actually does.)

However, through all the #plannedparenthood argument clutter emerged many comments from both women and men whose lives were impacted by Planned Parenthood (and not due to abortions). Here are their stories:

NicoleBell @queenofspain I had a pre-cancerous tumor caught and treated, thanks to #PlannedParenthood. My life and my kids owe them everything.

Mahmeme @cecilyk My name is Amy & I used #PlannedParenthood to get the pill when I worked at a Catholic health system who’s insurance wouldn’t cover.

tarastantrums My name is Tara and #PlannedParenthood diagnosed my PCOS when #mayo doctors couldn’t figure it out. @QueenofSpain

alectoincarnate I am a woman who has gone to #plannedparenthood since I was 16 for my annual check-ups & birth control…

chelseatalks Me 2! “@sharonburton: My name is Sharon and I used #PlannedParenthood in my 20s and 30s for basic health care @speakerboehner. #keepitgoing”

tubaville I’ve used #plannedparenthood to monitor my health because no insurance company will cover me after uterine cancer @SpeakerBoehner #passiton

Colo_kea #raiseyourhand First gyn exam (21) was #PlannedParenthood. No insurance/money -never thought could go to “doctor” http://raiseyourhand.org/

sitarmdas I’m Sitaram Das, I’m male, and I’ve used #PlannedParenthood services.

improvperson My Name is Katie and I’ve used #plannedparenthood #duh #happymomofthree

WhetherWhatever My name is Avery and I have used services at #PlannedParenthood. Don’t cut federal funding for those with no health care.

wingwit @speakerboehner I am Carolyn and I am one of the 1 in 5 US women who has been helped by #PlannedParenthood #keepitgoing #PPNYCAction

cvharquail RT @jonniker: #plannedparenthood was there for me in 1 of darkest times of my life, & has earned my respect. Unlike many of you, congress.

lauradstead My name is Laura and I used #plannedparenthood for oral contraception & reproductive health as a teen. W/O #PP I may have been a teen mom.

sammidoll #plannedparenthood is safe for now. for all you conservative idiots, i’ve personally used it for health care and preventatives #notabortion

AshleySieb #PlannedParenthood saves lives. I’m proof and I will always fight for the the education and services the org. provides young woman and men.

NonaNelson @Cecilyk I’m Nona & I went to Planned Parenthood for birth control because I didn’t have insurance or it wasn’t covered.

thatkristen The best (and cheapest) women’s health care I ever got was at #plannedparenthood.

andreagrimes I’m Andrea and #PlannedParenthood gave me support, care and resources when I was scared to talk to my parents about sex. @speakerBoehner

purplecrazies @Cecilyk I’m Laura and I went to Planned Parenthood for annual check ups in college because I couldn’t trust Student Health.

andrewpatner My name is Andrew and I’ve used #PlannedParenthood @speakerboehner, RT if you have too #keepitgoing @PPNYCAction

BeingMama @Cecilyk For years, the only way I afforded pelvic exams was through Planned Parenthood. Poor women’s health care is at stake.

awkwardlysocial @cecilyk and @queenofspain #plannedparenthood was my only doctor’s office while I had no insurance. UTIs are pretty painful if untreated…

noluckalaskan @Cecilyk: My name is melissa, and I’ve used #PlannedParenthood services. Consequently, my parenthood’s been planned.

starshollowgzt @CasualWednesday @QueenofSpain PP saved my life in ’71, found a pre-cancerous ovarian tumor on a routine check up

KAIZENcoach As a young woman I received the BEST care from #PlannedParenthood in contrast to private suburban M.D.’S that did not @queenofspain

karenebayne @QueenofSpain My husband and I got married very young & broke. We used #plannedparenthood to get our blood tests and birth control pills.

Cecilyk Again, with hashtag: My name is Cecily, and I have used services at #PlannedParenthood. Will again, thanks to no health insurance.

Along with these personal stories was a wave of tweets for Speaker Boehner with this message: My name is [insert name here], and I’ve used #PlannedParenthood @speakerboehner, RT if you have too.

image: clockworknate

The post Dear Congress: I’m on Twitter and I’ve Used Planned Parenthood appeared first on EcoSalon.