News Round-Up - 3/11/07

D.C. moves closer to requiring HPV vaccine for girls entering 6th grade

Kroger groceries reiterates policy of providing access to emergency contraception. In response to questions, a Kroger spokesperson, "couldn't tell us which of the Nashville area's 60-plus Kroger pharmacies carry Plan B because those numbers are "strictly based on what kind of demand each individual pharmacy has...f they've never had a customer ask for that medicine, they may not have it."

Salon has a lengthy piece on sexual abuse of women soldiers and the military cultural barriers to reporting assault.

Some colleges may expel suicidal students.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute released an online guide to healthy sleep [download as PDF].

Older mothers more likely to deliver by c-section, and nobody can figure why. "Researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health have found that older mothers with normal, full-term pregnancies — particularly first-time older mothers — were more likely to undergo Caesarean delivery than were younger women with similarly low-risk pregnancies." Older mothers may be more likely to have certain complications, but c-section rates were higher in normal, uncomplicated pregnancies as well.

Belly Tales has a great post up discussion premature rupture of membranes at term, induction of labor, and the problems associated with active management in labor, and the evidence base on this topic, with lots of references. I hope The Student works this up for publication as a review article somewhere.

Feministing takes on "vaginal rejuvenation," which was featured in this recent article in the Washington Post. Although "the American Society of Plastic Surgeons began tracking vaginal rejuvenation in 2005 and recorded 793 procedures that year" and one doctor reports that "he has performed more than 3,000 in the past 12 years and has trained 140 doctors in a dozen states and 20 countries," one past president of Society of Gynecologic Surgeons states that "There is absolutely zero scientific literature that supports . . . the notion that firing a laser of any kind will tighten [vaginal] muscles," and calls the surgery 'a ripoff.'" Another doctor "who has operated on 18 patients, said he does not consider the lack of published studies to be problematic." Ladies, repeat after me, "If it doesn't cause me pain or otherwise have something medically wrong with it, spending $3,000 for unstudied, loosely regulated 'vaginal rejuvenation' is not going to fix what's really wrong with my self-esteem or relationship. If my partner thinks my vulva or vagina is not 'pretty' enough or 'perfect' enough, he can collect his stuff at the curb and look for a new one." Say it with me three more times. Got it?

High school girls suspended for saying "vagina."

If you're in Pennsylvania, you may want to contact your legislators to support a breastfeeding bill The Lactivist describes.

The Lactivist also notes that tv show SuperNanny may be trying to shock you with a baby still being breastfed at 14 months. Nevermind that the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding up to 2 years and beyond.

The Well-Timed Period wants to know why a reporter would let a faith-based assessment of Plan B side effects in his story not be balanced by actual evidence.

CNN reports on radiation for breast cancer and heart disease risk

More crap for you to spend money on that you probably don't need, again with making you feel insecure for no reason.