Abortion is controversial but ubiquitous. 1 in 4 American women will have an abortion by the age of 45 and around the world 40-50 million pregnancies end in abortion every year. Anti-abortion activists have long relied on moral and religious arguments to convince others that abortion is wrong, wrong, wrong.… read more "The Science of Abortion"
Menopause Isn’t Taboo
Menopause Isn’t Taboo Menopause is not a taboo subject, and the Care Package is a mixture of quack remedies, questionable products, and placebos. This is silliness, not science.I recently got an email with the subject line “Menopause shouldn’t be taboo – this gift can help.” I wholeheartedly agree that menopause… read more "Menopause Isn’t Taboo"
Laser Therapy for Vaginal Rejuvenation
Some doctors are offering laser therapy for “vaginal rejuvenation”. It is no more effective than placebo, can cause harm, and is very expensive. After menopause, the absence of estrogen may cause a number of symptoms. About half of women develop vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA). The lack of estrogen causes thinning and… read more "Laser Therapy for Vaginal Rejuvenation"
New Contraceptive Drug Makes No Sense
I subscribe to The Medical Letter to learn about new drugs. I am frequently appalled by their cost. For example, a year’s treatment with Ozanimod, a drug recently approved for multiple sclerosis, costs $84,800. And some new drugs cost much, much more than that. A gene therapy drug from Novartis currently holds the record: 2.1 million… read more "New Contraceptive Drug Makes No Sense"
Prenatal Screening Tests for Chromosome Abnormalities
Science has made remarkable advances in prenatal screening, but false positives and false negative results can occur, and there are ethical concerns.Having a baby used to be like opening a surprise package. You didn’t know anything about the baby until it was born. The obstetrician or midwife would announce “It’s… read more "Prenatal Screening Tests for Chromosome Abnormalities"
An Owner’s Manual for the Vagina
A book review of The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina – Separating the Myth from the Medicine by Jen Gunter, MD. New York: Citadel/Kensington Books, 2019. ISBN-13: 978-080653931. 432 pages. Paperback, $18.95. Considering that half the population has one, the vagina has been plagued by an inordinate amount of myth and misinformation. There… read more "An Owner’s Manual for the Vagina"
Cuidado Y Nutrición De La Vagina
En nuestra sociedad, el estatus de las mujeres continúa mejorando. Como dice la publicidad de cigarrillos, “Has recorrido un largo camino, muchacha”. Ciertamente, parece que ahora tenemos Igual Oportunidad de Charlatanismo. This article is available in English. El sexo vende. Siempre fue un objetivo popular para el charlatanismo, pero éste… read more "Cuidado Y Nutrición De La Vagina"
The care and feeding of the vagina
The status of women in our society continues to improve. As the cigarette commercial says, “You’ve come a long way, baby.” Indeed, it seems we now have Equal Opportunity Quackery. Este artículo está disponible en español. Sex sells. It’s always been a popular target for quackery, but the quackery used… read more "The care and feeding of the vagina"
Smart Jane Test of Vaginal Health: Clever Marketing, Questionable Science
Gonorrhea. The SmartJane test is not the way to diagnose this. The uBiome company’s SmartJane test claims to use state-of-the-art DNA sequencing technology, machine learning, artificial intelligence, statistical genetics, algorithms, and other proprietary innovations so women can assess their own vaginal health. Customers collect samples with vaginal swabs and mail… read more "Smart Jane Test of Vaginal Health: Clever Marketing, Questionable Science"
Estrogen Matters
Hormone replacement therapy in menopause is safer and more effective than we have been led to believe. A new book examines the evidence and sets the record straight. Estrogen replacement stops hot flashes cold and is a veritable Fountain of Youth. Estrogen replacement is dangerous: it kills women. It prevents… read more "Estrogen Matters"