Our Bodies Our Blog
Occasional posts examining the intersection between health, politics, and reproductive justice.
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- Reproductive Technology & Genetic Engineering
Congress Wants to Give Companies the Right to Own Our Genes
June 18, 2019
Six years ago, on June 13, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court in AMP v. Myriad took a great step forward for women’s…
Putting Health First: The Global Business of International Commercial Surrogacy
December 28, 2017
OBOS has long been known for calling attention to women’s health concerns that are overlooked due to financial profit, insensitivity, or simple…
October 10, 2017
An earlier version of this article appeared on Biopolitical Times, the blog of the Center for Genetics and Society. There are few…
September 21, 2017
From widely accepted in vitro fertilization to recent (and more controversial) “three parent” babies, assisted reproductive technologies are rapidly evolving. Their advancement…
August 14, 2017
Earlier this year, my OBOS colleague Sally Whelan and I were offered a seat at a fascinating table – the 2017 Baby…
The Ongoing Tale About “The Handmaid’s Tale”
May 26, 2017
With the wild popularity of the new TV series “The Handmaid’s Tale,” surrogacy is back in the limelight. The Hulu show, based…
Is Surrogacy Always a “Win-Win” situation?
April 10, 2017
Surrogacy is an arrangement between a gestational mother and a person or couple (the intended parents) for whom she carries and births…
We Launched a New Website! Surrogacy360
December 14, 2016
As the journey to create a family takes more individuals and couples outside their own country in search of less-expensive surrogacy arrangements…
A Call for Protecting the Health of Women Who Donate Their Eggs
March 29, 2016
By Judy Norsigian and Dr. Timothy R.B. Johnson The egg market is growing. As couples and individuals continue to rely on assisted…
Informed Consent for Egg Donors Won’t Exist Unless We Track Donors’ Health
October 1, 2015
Both a recent article in the Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics and a related Ob.Gyn. News story have raised concerns about the…
Why Corporate Promotion of Egg Freezing isn’t a “Benefit” to All Women
October 28, 2014
Apple recently announced it was joining Facebook in covering costs for female employees who opt to freeze their eggs for non-medical reasons. Both companies are…
Forum on Cross-Border Surrogacy, Adoption Attracts Scholars, Human Rights Activists and Policymakers
September 18, 2014
Marcy Darnovsky of the Center for Genetics and Society and OBOS’s Sally Whelan recently attended a conference on international adoption and surrogacy…
Bringing Transparency to Cross-Border Surrogacy
August 5, 2014
Following multiple miscarriages, a U.S. couple considers in vitro fertilization (IVF), adoption and surrogacy options. They finally decide to employ a surrogate…
Center for Genetics and Society and Our Bodies Ourselves Receive MacArthur Foundation Award
June 11, 2014
by Judy Norsigian & Marcy Darnovsky We are delighted to announce that the Center for Genetics and Society and Our Bodies Ourselves…
Stillbirths and Infant Health Risks Higher in California’s Artificially Conceived Infants
February 28, 2014
A new study published in the Journal of Perinatology online has found that in California from 2009-2011 there was a 24- to 27-fold…
New Data Shows IVF Use Has Steadily Grown
February 20, 2014
The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology has released new data on in vitro fertilization (IVF) use in the United States during 2012, and…
Cross-Border Surrogacy: How OBOS is Advancing Public Discourse and Action
December 19, 2013
by Ayesha Chatterjee & Sally Whelan In an episode that aired on primetime television in 2007, America’s favorite talk show host portrayed…
Here’s What ABC World News Did, and Did Not, Get Right in Report on Egg Donors
November 8, 2013
ABC World News joined other media this week in addressing the astonishing 74 percent rise over the past 10 years in young…
California Governor Was Right to Veto Bill Allowing Researchers to Pay Women for Their Eggs
September 5, 2013
OBOS is publishing a series of posts on egg donors and the ethical, legal, and health aspects of egg donation. Also read…
August 2, 2013
Black women in the United States face many health disparities. The CDC recently provided data showing the average life expectancy for black…
Egg Donors Create Support Group for Women and Push for More Safety Data
July 30, 2013
I recently decided to retire as an egg donor. This choice is clearly right for me, and although I speak for myself…
