2017 News & Announcements

November 2017

New research: Servicewomen report the US military’s abortion policy harms physical and emotional health

Servicewomen in the US military report a lack of support and fears about confidentiality, stigma, and negative career impacts when they choose to have an abortion, according to a paper published in Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health . US servicewomen have a significantly higher rate of...
October 2017

Response to efforts to strip away women’s rights and access to health care

Recent actions by the Trump administration have further reinforced its disdain for women and disregard of proven scientific evidence. Ibis condemns efforts to strip away women’s rights and access to health care. These include the following: The Department of Health and Human Services’...
September 2017

New study shows medication abortion via telemedicine is as safe as in-person provision

In a landmark study that reviewed seven years of patient data, researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and Ibis Reproductive Health have demonstrated that medication abortion provided by telemedicine is just as safe as when women are in the same room as the physician. The...
September 2017

Celebrating World Contraception Day

September 26—On World Contraception Day, we celebrate that women in over 100 countries can access birth control pills without a prescription—and American women are closer to this goal than ever before. A revolution in how contraception is delivered is underway. From apps that connect...
August 2017

Updated report: States with most abortion restrictions have the fewest supportive policies for women, children

States with the highest number of abortion restrictions tend to have the worst women and children’s health outcomes and fewest supportive policies that would actually advance the health and well-being of families—according to an updated report released by the Center for Reproductive...
August 2017

Fighting white supremacy and advancing equity and justice/En respuesta a eventos recientes

Last weekend's events in Charlottesville horrified us beyond words. We are heartbroken that lives were lost and devastated by the violence inflicted on the community of Charlottesville, the effects of which reverberated far beyond. We condemn these actions and the white supremacists who committed...
June 2017

Washington Post op-ed: Pharmacy access today, and OTC access on the horizon

The Washington Post published an op-ed by Ibis's Vice President for Development and Public Affairs Britt Wahlin which celebrates the new law in Maryland that will soon allow pharmacists to prescribe contraception, but reminds readers that an over-the-counter (OTC) birth control pill is on the...
May 2017

Mmoho campaign featured on popular South African TV show

On May 4, Communications and Outreach/Research Coordinator Bongeka Cutshwa and Research Coordinator Maureen Mtimkulu appeared on SABC 3, a South African national television station, to speak about our work to address the sexual and reproductive health needs of young people and the mmoho campaign...
April 2017

Ibis responds to elimination of US UNFPA funding

We at Ibis are deeply disappointed by the Trump administration’s decision to cut all funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). UNFPA provides life-saving and critical services like family planning, midwife training, and safe childbirth; the organization also works to put an end...
March 2017

Removing unnecessary barriers to medication abortion

Ibis President Kelly Blanchard joined a group of experts from several disciplines to release a commentary published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine highlighting the harms caused by overregulation of mifepristone in the United States. The FDA regulation mechanism known as REMS (Risk...
February 2017

Mmoho campaign recognizes National Condom Week in South Africa

The mmoho campaign held its fourth media engagement workshop last week to recognize National Condom Week in South Africa. The workshop was themed around condom use and negotiation, as well as the taboos of sexual pleasure, especially among young people. Guest speakers presented on a variety of...
January 2017

Speaking out against the Global Gag Rule

We at Ibis are angry and disappointed that President Trump chose to reinstate the Mexico City Policy, commonly known as the Global Gag Rule. The Global Gag Rule prevents health care providers around the world who receive US funding from offering comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care,...