skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Sunday, October 6, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The Bureau of Land Management updates a proposed Western Solar Plan to the delight of wildlife advocates, grant funding helps New York schools take part in National Farm to School Month, and children's advocates observe "TEN-4 Day" to raise awareness of child abuse.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Biden voices concerns over Israeli strikes on Iran, Special Counsel Jack Smith details Trump's pre-January 6 pressure on Pence, Indiana's voter registration draws scrutiny, and a poll shows politics too hot to talk about for half of Wisconsinites.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Cheap milk comes at a cost for residents of Washington's Lower Yakima Valley, Indigenous language learning is promoted in Wisconsin as experts warn half the world's languages face extinction, and Montana's public lands are going to the dogs!

AZ sees increased demand for vasectomies post-Roe

play audio
Play

Monday, April 8, 2024   

Planned Parenthood Arizona is expanding vasectomy services to its Central Phoenix health center, a year after it launched a similar program in Tucson, with increased requests following the Dobbs decision.

Dr. Jill Gibson, chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood Arizona, said her organization remains committed to its mission of protecting and expanding reproductive health care access in Arizona. She pointed out nearly half the patients seeking services in Tucson were coming from Phoenix and Northern Arizona.

"So many patients were saying that the traditional methods of birth control that were available really didn't work for them," Gibson explained. "They tried them and had adverse side effects or they couldn't afford them, they didn't have insurance, and really the method that so many people wanted to rely on for their families and for their partners was a vasectomy."

Gibson pointed out vasectomies are an effective form of permanent birth control amid constant attacks on reproductive health rights in Arizona and nationwide. Vasectomy services are available for those with insurance or self-pay, with a $750 cost. She emphasized it was a "real no-brainer" to bring the service line to the Phoenix area. Appointments can be scheduled at 602-277-7526.

Gibson stressed Arizona is facing a significant shortage of providers and added the Dobbs decision has opened the door for further restrictions in medical professionals' ability to practice, which she contended is pushing providers away.

Every county in Arizona is what is called a partial health professional shortage area, meaning there are 3,500 or more patients for every one provider. She said it is hard to find people who are willing to work within the reproductive health care space, even for family planning services which have nothing to do with abortion, such as vasectomies.

"I do think that is part and parcel of the whole picture of how we have to look at bodily autonomy and access to reproductive health care and sexual health care," Gibson asserted. "If we continue to have all these regulations and restrictions, we won't have providers to provide this service at all."

Gibson added it is "overwhelming" to see elected leaders and officials play politics with Arizonans' health care and threaten access to birth control and abortion. But just last week, backers of an initiative to ensure abortion rights in the state got enough signatures to put the measure on the ballot in November.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
To date, the Bureau of Land Management has permitted clean-energy projects on public lands adding 29 gigawatts of electricity, or enough to power more than 12 million homes, according to the agency. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

A new federal proposal details which public lands across the West would be open to solar development. Wildlife advocates are glad to see that some - …


Environment

play sound

October is National Farm to School Month, and New York schools are using grant funding to participate. School districts statewide have received …

Social Issues

play sound

As Florida recovers from Hurricane Helene, the state's network of Community Health Centers continues to provide crucial care statewide. Community …


Helene ranks among the nation's deadliest hurricanes, as the death toll surpasses 200. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

A week after Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc across the Southeast, the North Carolina town of Boone is facing an uphill battle. With many roads still …

Social Issues

play sound

The most recent census figures show a significant drop in poverty in the Richmond metro area - and are being met with skepticism. The American …

In 2020, 36% of Wisconsin voters told the Marquette Law School Poll that political disagreements negatively affected personal interactions with another voter. That number jumped to 46% in the current election cycle. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

A new poll out this week shows nearly half of Wisconsin voters stopped talking about politics with someone because of disagreements over the president…

play sound

Experts say a diverse workforce is crucial for creativity and social justice, and equally good for a company's bottom line. But reluctance to hire …

Social Issues

play sound

By Marilyn Odendahl for The Indiana Citizen.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Indiana Citizen-Free Press India…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021