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Cervical Cancer Prevention: What You Can Do

By Guest Contributor | January 25, 2019

by Gary A. Richwald, MD, MPH

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month. More specifically, January 21-27 is Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, and for good reason: nearly 13,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, and more than 4000 of them will die from it. Luckily, this form of cancer is now largely preventable. Women can take steps to reduce their chances of contracting human papillomavirus (HPV), a widespread virus that can cause pre-cancerous changes in the cervix.

How Does Cervical Cancer … More

headshot of Dr. Constance Chenheadshot of Dr. Constance Chen

Breast Reconstruction Options: What’s Best for You?

By OBOS | October 16, 2018

Some women decide to forego reconstruction and instead “go flat.” Read more->Women with breast cancer who undergo mastectomies often face difficult decisions about breast reconstruction. The first is whether or not to undergo reconstruction; the second, if reconstruction is chosen, is what kind of reconstruction to have?

Learn more about the risks of breast implants and the need for better research ->Breasts can be rebuilt using implants — either saline or silicone — or they can be rebuilt using autologous tissue, which means tissue … More

A Call for Women Who Experience Pain with Sex and for Health Care Providers Who Treat Them

By Guest Contributor | June 15, 2018

by Marta Milkowska

My name is Marta Milkowska and I am a graduate student at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. I am working on a project aimed to better understand the problem of pain during sex – something experienced by many women. This summer, with support from Our Bodies Ourselves and the Harvard Kennedy School’s Women in Public Policy Program, I am seeking interviews with individuals who fall into one of the following three categories:

  • Women ages 16 to 35 who experience pain during … More

A Message About the Future of Our Bodies Ourselves

By OBOS | April 2, 2018

Earlier this year, OBOS held a retreat to determine our future. We came to the painful conclusion that we don’t have the resources and infrastructure to continue our main programs using paid staff. Instead we will transition to a volunteer-led 501(c)3 that will mainly advocate for women’s health and social justice. More

Religion-Restricted Healthcare and its Effects on Reproductive Health Needs

By Guest Contributor | March 20, 2018

by Rebekah Rollston

In my last year of medical school, I began looking into residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology. My first interview of the season was at a Catholic-affiliated hospital.

As the daughter of a religion scholar and professor, I was already familiar with the stance of the Catholic Church on reproductive healthcare. I knew that Catholic hospitals follow a set of ethical guidelines that prohibit doctors from providing abortions, contraception, tubal ligations, vasectomies, and infertility services, and that patients seeking these services are generally referred … More