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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.

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IN THIS ISSUE:

Lawsuit Update + Latinx Heritage Month + Universal Childcare

"We need to be thinking about this as a blueprint. Texas is taking this unprecedented action. It's the first of its type to really target out-of-state abortion providers, and I think we will see more states do this."

– Jessica Waters, legal scholar at American University.

Learn more about the new Texas bill that threatens access to abortion pills by mail.

From the blog…

Ask the Experts: Do I ovulate while taking birth control pills?

From tampons to period underwear, there's no shortage of menstrual products on the market. But which option is best for the environment?

Calling all parents and caregivers who feel anxious when talking about sex, sexual health, and relationships with young people! Check out Sex Ed To Go from Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest to help you navigate with confidence.

Read more on the blog >>

What we're watching, reading, listening to, and taking action on:

Last week, a federal appeals court sided with the Trump administration's effort to "defund" Planned Parenthood health centers. This means Planned Parenthood health centers cannot receive reimbursements for care provided to patients who use Medicaid.

- Patients across the country should have the right to visit their trusted Planned Parenthood provider. But now, care for more than 1.1 million patients is in limbo, and as many as 200 Planned Parenthood health centers are at risk of shutting down.

- In more than a century of empowering people with the care and resources they need, we have faced unending attacks and setbacks. And always, we kept fighting. We’ll keep fighting now.

- If you have an appointment or need information or care, reach out to your local Planned Parenthood health center or visit plannedparenthood.org/get-care.

September 15 – October 15 is Latinx Heritage Month. To celebrate, support organizations doing critical work right now:

- The Frontera Fund is an abortion fund that provides financial support and a sense of community for those seeking reproductive health care in the Rio Grande Valley and Texas border community.

- Latina Institute centers and amplifies Latino/a/e voices as they transform systems of power and shift culture to achieve reproductive justice. Plus, they support policies to improve the reproductive health and well-being of all people, like protecting Medicaid.

- Poder Latinx empowers Latino communities to build power and participate in democracy through voter engagement, issue advocacy, and leader development.

HB 7 is set to become law later this year in Texas and could become the blueprint for states seeking to restrict access to abortion pills by mail. Here's what you need to know.

Good news: Earlier this month, New Mexico became the first state to offer free universal childcare to all families. Thanks to the new initiative, New Mexico families are expected to save over $12,000 per child each year.

Ask the Experts:

What you need to know about the over-the-counter birth control pill.

Opill is a progestin-only birth control pill approved for over-the-counter (OTC) use for people of all ages. This means you can get Opill at your local drugstore without a prescription from a nurse or doctor. Here’s everything you need to know.

How does Opill work?

As with all birth control pills, Opill works by stopping sperm from joining with an egg a few different ways. If sperm and an egg don’t meet, pregnancy can't happen. The hormones in Opill safely stop ovulation. No ovulation means there’s no egg released from the ovaries for sperm to get to.

Opill's hormones also thicken the mucus on your cervix. This thicker cervical mucus blocks sperm so it can't swim to an egg — kind of like a sticky security guard.

Is Opill as safe and effective as other birth control pills?

Like all birth control pills, Opill is safe and effective at preventing pregnancy.

If you use it perfectly, the pill is 99% effective. But people aren't perfect, and it's easy to forget or miss pills — so in reality the pill is about 93% effective. That means about 7 out of 100 pill users get pregnant each year.

Opill is safe for most people to use — even if you have high blood pressure, migraine headaches, and if you're over 35 and smoke or use other forms of tobacco. But if you have breast cancer or if you've had breast cancer in the past five years, don't use Opill.

How do I use Opill?

Opill is a progestin-only pill (AKA POPs or mini pills). You must take Opill at the same time every day — within 3 hours of when you took it the day before. This means you need to take Opill every 24-27 hours to be protected from pregnancy.

Does Opill have side effects?

Many people use the pill with no problems. But after starting the pill, some people may have: headaches, nausea, sore breasts, changes in periods, or spotting (bleeding between periods or brown discharge). The good news is that these side effects usually go away in 2-3 months.

How old do you have to be to get Opill and where can I get it?

You can buy Opill at any age, and no one should ask you for I.D. If you're wondering where to buy Opill, you can get it from the Opill website and in many pharmacies around the country and online

How much does Opill cost?

The "suggested retail price" for a month’s supply of Opill is $19.99, but it's possible that some stores will charge you more. You can also buy it in bulk from the Opill website which costs less in the long run.

If you're worried about the cost of birth control, check with your nearest Planned Parenthood health center — they can help you find a birth control that best fits your budget!

*Note: The information contained herein is for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing contained in this letter should be construed as medical advice.

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.
Got a question in mind? Ask Roo, our sex ed chatbot.

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