Mississippi Attempts to Challenge Roe V Wade though constitutional Amendment

Next month Mississippi voters will be asked to approve the “Life-At-Fertilization” amendment challenging Roe v Wade and likely to provoke a length court battle over the abortion issue nation wide. Supporters of the amendment say that plans are in the works for Ohio, Montana, Florida and Oregon to attempt to pass similar amendments in 2012.

The proposal being decided Nov. 8 has divided the medical community and bewildered some physicians.

"We feel like the docs and the patients are getting caught in the middle of a war between the anti-abortion folks and the pro-choice folks," said Dr. Wayne Slocum, head of the Mississippi section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Groups against the amendment emphasize that supporters of the amendment are impose their religious beliefs on others.
Medical organizations and groups concerned with women’s reproductive health say defining life as beginning at conception will also define some common forms of birth control as abortion. It may also deter Mississippi physicians from performing in vitro fertilization because of legitimate fear of criminal charges if an embryo doesn't survive.

The text of the measure proposes that the definition of "person" in the state constitution include "every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof."
The campaign for the Mississippi initiative is using emotionally manipulative images of glowing fetuses’ in utero and chubby-cheeked newborns. Groups such as Personhood USA claim they are trying to end a sin that blights America.

While amendments of this sort will doubtless be deemed unconstitutional almost immediately - and therefore unlikely to be enforces – the precedent is dangerous enough.  The attempt seems less about enforcement then about bringing another form of direct challenge to women’s reproductive rights.
Personhood USA and other groups supporting such legislation eventually want to amend the U.S. Constitution to say life begins at fertilization. This effort defies the fact that similar "human life" amendments have been introduced on the federal level repeatedly over the past 30 years and have failed.

Thad Hall, a University of Utah professor who has written a book about abortion politics, commented that making such statements is easier at a state rather then a national level.
"What you see here is a kind of difference between slowness and difficulty in policy changes on federal level ... and the ease with which states can change public policy," Hall said.

People concerned with women’s health contend that this type of amendment doesn't just put an end to abortion.  It has radical legal ramifications that will also ban birth control and in-vitro fertilization.

"There is the potential if this law is to be applied consistently, it will apply to all forms of birth control," said Felicia Brown-Williams, outreach director for Mississippians for Healthy Families, a statewide anti-26 campaign.

This is a serious concern in a state with high rates of teen pregnancy and limited state funds to support these new families.

Lessons for Conservatives: Being Anti-Abortion Doesn’t Always Pay

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Politicians love the spotlight – however, republican Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia is wishing that it was not aimed at him this week.

While Gov. McDonnell has carefully crafted a message about his Conservative Republican values which focuses on economic issues rather then social issues – this week’s controversy over the Virginia ultrasound “Rape Bill” may have tarnished his hopes for National office.

This goes to prove that in the complex climate of today’s political scene being anti abortion does not always pay – even for conservatives.

Having retired for the military and recently winning the Governorship of Virginia, McDonnell, according to the New York Times, has been considered a possible Vice Presidential candidate on a conservative bid for the White House this year.

Unfortunately for McDonnell, his anti-abortion stance is acting as a double edged sword now.
As a conservative Republican McDonnell has always been anti – abortion, so when state Republicans began working on the bill requiring ultrasound imaging before a woman could have an abortion he said he supported it.

When opponents of the bill pointed out that this would require most women to have a vaginal ultrasound, which requires inserting a sonogram wand internally, McDonnell had to back down.
“Mandating an invasive procedure in order to give informed consent is not a proper role for the state,” the governor said in the statement.

This boosted his credibility with Pro Choice groups – but has weakened his position in the Republican Party.

“Any hope he had of getting on a national ticket went out the window,” said a Republican strategist told the New York Times asking that his name not be used. “He’s the guy who pulled the plug on this and among conservatives; he’s going to be suspect.”

What this sort of conundrum shows is that taking a stance to limit women’s reproductive freedom through coercive measures does not pay.

If you stick with it you lose the middle ground of moderates and the left. If you back down you lost the confidence of conservatives and the right.
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Will Reproductive Rights ever be “Just a Part of Women’s Healthcare”?

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One of the statements I have made over and over again in my years working in women’s health care is that abortion and contraception are just another part of what OBGYN doctors provide as health care.

However, the abortion issue has been one of the most divisive political issues in the United States for most of our history. Can you imagine any other healthcare issues, except maybe universal healthcare insurance, causing such conflict?

Political scientists say that attitudes toward abortion in the United States have remained remarkably stable in the decades since the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade. And while actual peoples views embrace gray areas far more than the slogan- driven rhetoric around abortion, political scientists don't expect an end of the debate.

According to Ted G Jellen, Ph.D. in Political Science at University of Nevada, Americans attitudes towards abortion have stayed at the same levels since the early 1970s according to social research on the subject, even when other attitudes associated with pro-choice perspectives have increased.

According to the survey organization American National Election Studies (ANES), 15 percent of Americans in 2008 said abortions should never be permitted, only a slightly higher then the 11 percent who said the same in 1972, before Roe v. Wade.
Between 1972 and 1980, when the survey questions remained the same making comparison easier, the numbers barely budged: Between 43 percent and 46 percent of people said abortion should be allowed in the case of danger to the mother's life or health; between 16 percent and 18 percent said abortion should be allowed if a woman would have "personal difficulty" having a child; and between 24 percent and 27 percent said abortion should always be permitted.

So why not agree to disagree and move on? Why do anti-choice groups continue to attempt to legislate issues of personhood for zygotes against all scientific evidence? We would never ban all blood transfusions, organ transplants or other medical procedures based on the fact that some religions find then against their teachings.

"As long as there are really vocal minorities that regard [abortion] as the most important issue in our lifetime, and some of them do, there will be attempts to get it on the agenda," said Morris Fiorina, a political scientist and senior fellow of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
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IUDs and Implants Recommended for Younger Women

How much does an abortion cost
Cost of abortion
September 20, 2012 the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) announce that it was replacing the 2007 guidelines regarding IUDs and Implants which says they are an excellent option but did not stress the benefits for younger women.

IUDs and implants have been proven more effective and reliable then oral contraception and condoms for younger women according the reports by the ACOG’s Long Acting Reversible Contraception Working Group, Part of the Committee on Adolescent Health Care.

“There is a great deal of emerging data that these should be the top tier, the first line,” said Dr. Tina Raine-Bennett, research director for the Women’s Health Research Institute at Kaiser Permanente Northern California and the chair of the ACOG committee. “We’re saying to doctors, ‘Here is compelling evidence that should guide your practice.’”²

What makes these forms of birth control more effective for young women is that they help limit errors in use which account for approximate 20 % of unintended pregnancies according to the Guttmacher Institute research. ³

Given this information doctors are encouraged to discuss these options with their younger patients seeking effective contraception.

Unfortunately, some things do stand it the way of young women gain access to these methods of birth control.

“The cost varies, but an IUD device itself is anywhere from $500 to $700,” said Raine-Bennett.⁴ This does not include the cost of placement for the device added on by the office.  Compared to birth control pills which are around $20 - $30 per pack IUDs and hormonal implants seem out of reach for most young women with limited funds.

A 2010 Guttmacher Institute study supports that. When a large group of women in St. Louis were given information about various forms of contraception, and told they could choose any one, for free, two-thirds picked IUDs or implants.
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Interstitial Cystitis: A Cause of Chronic Pelvic Pain

If you think your on going pelvic pain is due to a chronic bladder infection - you might want to think again. Don’t let these symptoms go untreated and undiagnosed.
Interstitial Cystitis is one of the least understood and miss diagnosed causes of chronic pelvic pain. This mysterious condition which consists of sever inflammation of the bladder walls often takes up to four years to identify from the onset of symptoms because diagnosis main consists of ruling out other possible causes such as STIs, bladder cancer and bladder infection.
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Symptoms include chronic pelvic pain defined as pain below the belly button which lasts for six months or more. Chronic pelvic pain can be caused by many things which is why IC is often one of the last conditions ruled out. Pain during intercourse can also be caused by IC. Urinary symptoms, which often lead to confusion for doctors and patients include discomfort, frequency (up to 60 times a day in sever cases) and urinary urgency. Because these symptoms can be caused by bladder infection or bladder cancer, Interstitial Cystitis can go undiagnosed until these concerns are ruled out.
If you are presenting with chronic pelvic pain and your doctor is beginning to suspect CI there are a number of diagnostic test they may recommend.

·         Bladder biopsy – where a small sample of the bladder tissue is take for lab exams.

·         Cystoscopy (endoscopy of bladder) – where a tiny camera is inserted into the bladder to visually examine the bladder walls.

·         Urine analysis – a chemical analysis to make sure that signs of infection are diagnosed and treated.

·         Urine culture – which is where a sample of urine is placed in a medium and bacteria are allowed to grow to show signs of bacterial infections needing treatment.

·         Urine cytology – where a sample of urine is examined under a microscope to identify if abnormal cells are present.

·         Video urodynamics (shows how much urine must be in the bladder before you feel the need to urinate)

Unfortunately there is no cure of Interstitial Cystitis – but there are treatments which can lesson your discomfort and improve your life.
Elmiron is the only medication taken by mouth that is specifically approved for treating IC. This medicine coats the bladder like Pepto-Bismol coats the stomach.
Other medicines which are sometimes prescribed to help with symptoms of IC are:

·         Opioid painkillers for severe pain

·         Tricyclic antidepressants such as Elavil (amitriptyline) to relieve pain and urinary frequency

·         Vistaril (hydroxyzine pamoate), an antihistamine that causes sedation, helps reduce urinary frequency

Sometimes medication can be used in combination with dietary changes which reduce inflammation and irritation to the bladder - reducing symptoms and greatly improving your quality of life. 
Dietary modifications include avoiding the following:

·         Aged cheeses

·         Alcohol

·         Artificial sweeteners

·         Chocolate

·         Citrus juices

·         Coffee

·         Cranberry juice (Note: Although cranberry juice is often recommended for urinary tract infections, it can make IC symptoms worse.)

·         Fava and lima beans

·         Meats that are cured, processed, smoked, canned, aged, or that contain nitrites

·         Most fruits except blueberries, honeydew melon, and pears

·         Nuts except almonds, cashews, and pine nuts

·         Onions

·         Rye bread

·         Seasonings that contain MSG

·         Sour cream

·         Sourdough bread

·         Soy

·         Tea

·         Tofu

·         Tomatoes

·         Yogurt

Experts suggest that you do not stop eating all of these foods at one time. Instead, try eliminating one at a time to see if that helps relieve your symptoms.
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Other more invasive treatments include:

·         Bladder hydrodistention (expanding the bladder by over filling it with fluid while under general anesthesia)

·         Bladder training (using relaxation techniques to train the bladder to go only at specific times)

·         Instilled medications - medicines are placed directly into the bladder. Medicines that are given this way include dimethyl sulfoxide (DMS), heparin, Clorpactin, lidocaine, doxorubicin, or bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine.

·         Physical therapy and biofeedback (may help relieve pelvic floor muscle spasms)

·         Surgery, ranging from cystoscopic manipulation to bladder removal (cystectomy)

Often treatment is a combination medications, behavior modification and possibly surgery. However, it is worth the effort to find a way to reduce your symptoms and elevate your pain.