February
2023
Issue 2


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The Wyoming Health Council works to ensure that all people can access safe, unbiased, high-quality sexual and reproductive health care.
Black History Month
Each February we acknowledge the struggles, adversity, strength and history of the Black American experience in the United States with Black History Month.

This year's theme, "Black Resistance," recognizes African Americans' resistance to historic oppression in pursuit of self-determination and equality.

Nearly 179 years ago, the Rev. Henry Highland Garnett proposed that the only path to freedom, justice, and equality; self-determination; and/or social transformation is resistance. In thunder tones, Garnett shouted, “Let your motto be resistance! resistance! RESISTANCE!"

By resisting Black people have achieved triumphs, successes, and progress as seen in the end of chattel slavery, dismantling of Jim and Jane Crow segregation in the South, increased political representation at all levels of government, desegregation of educational institutions, the passage of Civil Rights Act of 1964, the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History in DC and increased and diverse representation of Black experiences in media. Black resistance strategies have served as a model for every other social movement in the country, thus, the legacy and importance of these actions cannot be understated.

As societal and political forces escalate to limit access to and exercise of the ballot, eliminate the teaching of Black history, and work to push us back into the 1890s, we can only rely on our capacity to resist.

History Cannot Be Forgotten or Ignored
Promoting Black Girls’ and Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Requires Acknowledging Their History and Experiences

For over two centuries, enslavement denied Black girls and women ownership of their bodies and mothers’ rights for their children. As far back as 1662, colonial Virginia legislators made Black girls’ and women’s childrearing central to the system of chattel slavery through a law stating that a child’s enslaved or free status would be the same as that of their mother. In other words, as part of a system of forced reproduction to advance slaverymothers and their children were the property and wealth of slaveowners. The use of Black girls and women in the United States to expand the enslaved population significantly increased after the 1808 Act Prohibiting the Importation of Slaves.

Without legal recognition as human beings with rights to sexual and reproductive privacy and choice, enslaved Black girls’ and women’s bodies were also used to fuel medical advancements to which they were denied access. Before emancipation from slavery, many advances in obstetrics and gynecology resulted from high-risk surgeries performed on enslaved and freed Black women who were viewed as “savages,” unable to feel pain. Between 1845 and 1849, for example, James Marion Sims’ surgical experimentation to treat vesicovaginal fistula was repeatedly performed on enslaved Back girls and women, without their consent or the palliative effects of anesthesia.
The US medical system is still haunted by slavery
‘I Don’t Want to Die:’ Fighting Maternal Mortality Among Black Women

The doula program began in St. Louis about four years ago when a group of Black women working at Parents as Teachers noticed a familiar refrain from clients fearful of the health care system.
“I don’t want to die,” Aminah Williams, one of the first of the group to be certified as a doula, recalled more than one Black expectant mother telling her.
“That shouldn’t be the thing that comes to Black women’s minds,” Ms. Williams said. “And it breaks my heart that it is.”

The concerns are not hyperbole. Nationally, Black women are nearly three times as likely to die from a maternal cause as white women: The National Center for Health Statistics reports that in 2020, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 55.3 deaths per 100,000 live births. The 2020 rate for white women was 19.1 deaths per 100,000 live births.
Black women are also more likely to have C-sections, have their pain minimized or ignoredreport mistreatmentand have stillbirths than white women.
Over the years, mounting research and high-profile cases of fatal or near-fatal experiences — from that of the tennis superstar Serena Williams to an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — have shown that the grim statistics are often a result of a health care system that leaves Black mothers to fend for themselves.

“Racial and ethnic inequities in obstetrics and gynecology cannot be reversed without addressing all aspects of racism and racial bias, including sociopolitical forces that perpetuate racism,” the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said in a statement last year. “We have an obligation to work to overhaul currently unjust systems that perpetuate unacceptable racial inequities in health outcomes.”
Why are pregnancy and childbirth killing so many Black women in Texas?

“Nakeenya Wilson was at a meeting of Texas’ maternal mortality review committee when she got the call: Her sister, who had recently had a baby, was having a stroke.
Wilson raced to the hospital, leaving behind a stack of files documenting the stories of women who had died from pregnancy and childbirth complications. Many of the women in those files were Black, just like Wilson, who experienced a traumatic delivery herself.

“The whole thing just reminded me, if you change the name on those files, it could be me. It could be my sister,” said Wilson, who serves as the committee’s community representative.
We’re still dying and being disproportionately impacted by hemorrhage when everybody else is getting better,” Wilson said. “Not only did it not improve, it didn’t stay the same — it got worse.”

The causes of these disparities aren’t always simple to identify, and they’re even harder to fix. It’s a combination of diminished health care access, systemic racism, and the impact of “social determinants of health” — the conditions in which someone is born, lives, works and grows up.

Wilson said she and her sister are prime examples. They grew up in poverty, without health insurance, routine doctor’s visits or consistent access to healthy food.

“We started behind the ball,” she said. “We’ve had so many hard things happen to us that have contributed to our health by the time we’re of childbearing age.”
Black Mommas Matter Alliance

The Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) is a Black women-led cross-sectoral alliance that centers Black mamas and birthing people to advocate, drive research, build power, and shift culture for Black maternal health, rights, and justice.
SisterSong

SisterSong is the largest national multi-ethnic Reproductive Justice collective. Our membership includes and represents Indigenous, African American, Arab and Middle Eastern, Asian and Pacific Islander, and Latina women and LGBTQ people. Membership also includes allies who support women’s human right to lead fully self-determined lives.

SisterSong defines Reproductive Justice as the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities.
The Tuskegee Study
The Tuskegee Study is a syphilis research experiment that began in 1932 and lasted 40 years. It’s one of the most infamous cases of medical racism and abuse in U.S. history. With no informed consent, hundreds of Black men with low incomes were used as test subjects — enticed with offerings such as free meals, health care, and burial stipends. This highly unethical syphilis experiment was conducted by the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) and the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. 

The history of the Tuskegee Study is just one valid reason why Black communities still mistrust the health care system. The horrors experienced by the Black men and their families in Macon County shows how white supremacy and racial injustice are systemic issues with life or death consequences. 

To this day, Black people’s experiences and pain are too often dismissed or ignored by doctors and other health care providers, which, alongside the historical dehumanization of Black people, contributes to staggering and avoidable disparities in health outcome
Progress and Resilience

Black communities have made great progress in reducing HIV. Yet, issues such as racism, discrimination, and mistrust in the health care system may affect whether Black people seek or receive HIV prevention services. These issues may also reduce the likelihood of engaging in HIV treatment and care.

To continue to reduce the burden of HIV and other health risks, people need adequate housing and transportation, employment, access to culturally competent health services that are free of stigma and discrimination, and more.
The Black AIDS Institute

BAI was founded by a Black, gay man living with HIV, a Black, gay doctor, and a Black, lesbian doctor. They established BAI in 1999 to mobilize and educate Black Americans about HIV/AIDS treatment and care.

They envisioned an organization that directly challenged the systems of oppression that marginalize Black health and that also developed culturally specific programming to address the unique needs of Black people. With a foundation in advocacy and policy work, BAI works towards improving the health and wellness of Black people through research, community efforts, and clinical work. 
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
Dating violence is more common than you may think, especially among teens and young adults: 1 in 3 U.S. teens will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from someone they’re in a relationship with before they become adults. And nearly half (43%) of U.S. college women report experiencing violent or abusive dating behaviors.

Each February, young adults and their loved ones across the nation raise awareness about the issue of teen dating violence through Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM). This annual, month-long effort focuses on advocacy and education to stop dating abuse before it starts.

Love is Respect is excited to announce the 2023 theme for TDVAM is Be About It. Be About education, engagement, safety online, empowerment and your community.
Addressing Teen Dating Violence in Schools

Relationships are a core part of everyday life, especially for young people. As they move through their teens, some students begin to explore romantic relationships. While this can be an exciting and happy time, risks are also involved.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 16 million women and 11 million men who report experiencing intimate partner violence say it first happened before they were 18. These include instances of physical violence, sexual violence and stalking.
Youth who are female, LGBTQ or unsure of their gender identity are all at a higher risk of experiencing youth intimate partner violence, also known as teen dating violence, the CDC says.

Healthy relationships programs in schools aim to prevent or reduce teen dating violence by increasing awareness. “The only way we will change these statistics is if we get ahead of the issue and teach people earlier how to identify – and what to do when they see – the signs of an unhealthy relationship in their or their friends’ lives,” says Megan Shackleton, chief program officer at One Love, a national nonprofit that seeks to end relationship abuse.

Whether as part of a sex ed or health class or a standalone intervention, healthy relationships curricula typically cover positive communication skills, consent, how to recognize healthy and unhealthy relationships, and available resources for those in an abusive or potentially abusive situation.
What You Should Know about Reproductive Coercion
It's a form of abuse.

Many women are already suffering the loss of reproductive autonomy within their intimate relationships as victims of reproductive coercion.

This type of abuse involves an abuser exerting power and control over a victim’s reproductive health and reproductive decisions, according to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). While it’s not a particularly mainstream term at this point, it’s actually quite common — particularly among young women.

study conducted by researchers at University of Pittsburgh and Michigan State University (MSU) and published this year in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, found that nearly one in eight sexually active females between the ages of 14 and 19 had experienced reproductive coercion in the last three months alone. A 2011 survey of more than 3,000 people conducted by The National Domestic Violence Hotline found that 25% of participants had experienced this type of abuse in some form. But what exactly is reproductive coercion — and what are the long-term impacts? Here’s what you should know.

It can take many forms.
Reproductive coercion is an umbrella term that encompasses a wide range of abuses, all meant to “maintain power and control in a relationship,” according to the ACOG. It commonly takes the form of active birth control sabotage — like hiding, destroying, or withholding contraception (or, according to The National Domestic Violence Hotline (The Hotline), withholding finances for purchasing birth control); poking holes in a condom or removing a condom during sex without consent (an act known as “stealthing”); failing to carry out the agreed-upon pull out method; and even physically removing contraception like IUDs, vaginal rings, and patches.
The abuse can also take the form of pregnancy pressure and coercion. “The most common form of reproductive coercion we see in study after study is a partner telling a young person not to use birth control,” Heather McCauley, an assistant professor at MSU’s School of Social Work and one of the researchers of the MSU study, tells Teen Vogue.
National Condom Month!
With February being national condom month, it’s a great time to talk about how the simple act of using condoms can support safe sex and protect against unwanted pregnancy and STDs!

When used properly, condoms have an impressive, effective rate of 98%, and they serve as an extremely affordable way to practice safe sex.

Condoms are the only form of contraception that help to prevent sexually transmissible infections (STIs) like chlamydia and gonorrhoea. However, condoms don't protect you from all STIs such as herpes, genital warts, syphilis and monkeypox which can be spread from skin-to-skin contact.
So its a great idea to get tested regularly!

Let's educate on the different types of condoms out there!
Most people use condoms made of latex, but if you or your partner have a latex allergy make sure to try out these alternatives!
What about Flavored Condoms?
You might think flavored condoms are a sales tactic, but there’s a great reason why they exist that’s also why you should consider using them.

Flavored condoms are actually designed to be used during oral sex. The flavored coating helps mask the taste of latex and makes oral sex more enjoyable.


Remember, many STIs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, can be spread through oral sex.

However, the chances of giving or getting STIs during oral sex can be lowered by using a condom or dental dam! This means that flavored condoms are a great way to enjoy oral sex and to stay safe!

It’s also important to remember that flavored condoms are designed primarily for use during oral sex!

You shouldn’t use them for vaginal or anal sex unless the directions on the package state otherwise, especially since any added sugars in the flavored coating could contribute to a vaginal yeast infection.
Find The Right Fit!
People aren’t all built the same, and neither are condoms. Finding the right-sized condom will increase your comfort level while wearing it. Furthermore, condoms are most effective when they fit properly.

The body of most condoms is roomy enough to accommodate almost any penis size. But even though most are super stretchy, if you buy a condom that is too small, you may feel discomfort and even pain. Moreover, there is a greater possibility that the condom will burst.

Similarly, if a condom is too short, the head of the penis may flatten the reservoir tip at the end meant to catch the ejaculated semen. If this happens, the semen will seep to the sides of the condom and possibly ooze out at the base.
Many condom companies have size and fit guides for their products!

(Trojan also provides great Sex Tips and Wellness information on their website!)

(One Condoms also has a education blog on their website!)
With any condom, don't forget to use lubrication!

Using lubrication with condoms makes them both more enjoyable and less likely to break!

Lube also reduces friction which can cause tiny tears in the skin, which make it more likely for the person to get an infection if their partner has one.

Lube can also make sex feel better, whether having intercourse, masturbating, having oral sex, or using sex toys!
Side Note...
Unfortunately, even with so many options, research shows that condoms aren’t used as often as they should be and with declining condom use comes a steady increase in STIs. 
Condomless Sex Is On The Rise. This Is Why Some People Don’t Use Them Anymore.

“Condoms are uncomfortable; maybe I haven't found the right [fit] for me, or like the best condoms that could work.”
Sentiments echo how other people I spoke to feel about condom use, which has been declining, according to the Guttmacher Institute. The institute published a report last April documenting adolescent trends around safe sex from 2006 to 2019. The report found that contraceptive use overall had increased, but consistent condom use declined over time. This particular progression isn’t only unique among teens, as older adults have started flouting condom use as well, per a Cosmopolitan article from 2019.

The gradual shift away from condoms as the primary means of protection against STIs and pregnancy aligns with individual stories from people I interviewed for this story. Some chalked up their irregular condom use to forgetfulness or a creeping angst about spoiling a hot and steamy moment, while others said it simply just feels better to participate in sex without a barrier.
Why Are So Many Teens Ditching Condoms?

It’s not all abysmal education at fault. Significant medical advances have made condoms feel less critical for some people.
Instead of relying on condoms to prevent pregnancy, 60 percent of women of reproductive age use contraception. And birth control is better than ever. Long-lasting options have increased, such as intrauterine devices (IUDs), and many don’t need to be taken daily like the birth control pill.

“There’s been fantastic developments in finding the treatment and prevention for HIV. In the 80s and 90s, the contribution of the real fear of getting HIV and AIDs [led to a higher condom use rate],” said Alexandra Stockwell, MD, a relationship and sex expert.
Research has linked PrEP — medication that lowers the risk of contracting HIV — to a decline in condom use.

While experts point to multiple, layered reasons that condom use may be declining, the United States’ abysmal sexual education is a clear culprit — if not for downward trend, then a low baseline.

“There are only 13 states in the country that require sex education to be medically accurate,” Stockwell told Healthline. She points out that there are multiple states with abstinence-only sex ed — or no sex education at all.

“There’s clear research that shows quality sex ed correlates with higher incidents of condom use, consent, and pleasure,” Stockwell added.
Stop by your local Title X Family Clinic and pick up FREE condoms today!

You can also order them right to your door at knowyo.org
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