Women's reproductive health in the United States

Women's reproductive health in the United States refers to the set of physical, mental, and social issues related to the health of women in the United States. It includes the rights of women in the United States to adequate sexual health, available contraception methods, and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. The prevalence of women's health issues in American culture is inspired by second-wave feminism in the United States.[1] As a result of this movement, women of the United States began to question the largely male-dominated health care system and demanded a right to information on issues regarding their physiology and anatomy.[1] The U.S. government has made significant strides to propose solutions, like creating the Women's Health Initiative through the Office of Research on Women's Health in 1991.[1] However, many issues still exist related to the accessibility of reproductive healthcare as well as the stigma and controversy attached to sexual health, contraception, and sexually transmitted diseases.[2][3]

The Department of Health and Human Services has developed a definition for sexual health in the United States based on the World Health Organization’s definition of sexual health.[4]

“Sexual health is a state of well-being in relation to sexuality across the life span that involves physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual dimensions. Sexual health is an intrinsic element of human health and is based on positive, equitable, and respectful approach to sexuality, relationships, and reproduction, that is free of coercion, fear, discrimination, stigma, shame, and violence.[5]

The United States government recognizes that gender is a factor which plays a significant role in sexual health.[5]

With this being said, there is a war on women's rights in the United States. It is based on politics in the United States and for candidates to be able to get votes or funding for certain area agendas. With this being said, one of the first pushes with making laws tighter for agendas would be the law in Louisiana. This allowed women who have had abortions in the past to be able to sue the doctor who did the procedure for up to ten years past the abortion date. The law stated that they could sue for damages not only done to the women, but also to the emotional damages of the fetus. This was a political move that has gotten the ball rolling for more states to put laws into place against abortions or for abortions depending on the political agenda they are pushing in each state.[6]

  1. ^ a b c Rosser SV (December 2002). "Overview of Women's Health in the U.S. Since the Mid-1960s". History and Technology. 18 (4): 355–369. doi:10.1080/0734151022000023802. S2CID 144004991.
  2. ^ Borrero S, Schwarz EB, Creinin M, Ibrahim S (2008-12-15). "The impact of race and ethnicity on receipt of family planning services in the United States". Journal of Women's Health. 18 (1): 91–96. doi:10.1089/jwh.2008.0976. PMC 2743980. PMID 19072728.
  3. ^ Wellons MF, Fujimoto VY, Baker VL, Barrington DS, Broomfield D, Catherino WH, et al. (August 2012). "Race matters: a systematic review of racial/ethnic disparity in Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology reported outcomes". Fertility and Sterility. 98 (2): 406–409. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.05.012. PMC 3409320. PMID 22698638.
  4. ^ World Health Organization (January 2002). Defining sexual health: report of a technical consultation on sexual health (PDF) (Report). pp. 28–31. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  5. ^ a b Department of Health and Human Services (May 2012). CDC/HRSA Advisory Committee on HIV, Viral Hepatitis, and STD Prevention and Treatment (PDF) (Report). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  6. ^ Yeoman B (2001). "The Quiet War on Abortion". Mother Jones. 26 (5): 46–51. ProQuest 213811750.