In This Issue:
Stand with Black Women + The Title X Gag Rule could happen any day now + Meet our new sexual health chatbot

Meet a few of the Black women who power Planned Parenthood — and read in their own words how, in the work they do, they stand with Black women every day.

Title X is the nation's program for affordable birth control and reproductive health care. It ensures that people struggling to make ends meet can access birth control, STD testing, cancer screenings, and other essential reproductive health care. And 41% of the 4 million people who receive care at Title X health centers go to Planned Parenthood.

Despite being a critical source of affordable health care for millions, the Trump-Pence administration wants to dismantle Title X by instituting a "gag rule."This would make it impossible for patients who count on Title X to get birth control or other preventive care from going to health care providers like Planned Parenthood.

The administration's gag rule, which could come out any day, would make it illegal for health care providers in the Title X program to refer their patients for abortion — even if they're asked directly. Forcing medical providers to withhold information from their patients is unethical and dangerous. Because of our commitment to ethical patient care, it would be impossible for Planned Parenthood to continue participating in the program.

Anti-abortion proponents claim the gag rule is an attempt to stop federal funds from being used for abortion, but Title X already bars this — a restriction like others across federal programs that forces patients with low incomes seeking abortion to carry the pregnancy to term or pay for care out of pocket. This isn't about federal funding for abortion or patient health — it's simply an attack on patients by preventing them from obtaining the information they need.

The gag rule could put care for millions at risk. We'll work to ensure Planned Parenthood's doors will remain open to everyone. Learn more.

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Read More:

+ How Trump's 'Gag Rule' Impacts Black Communities And Why We Must Fight To Keep Title X

+ Governors threaten to withdraw from Title X program over "gag rule" targeting abortion providers

+ Trump's Plan to Punish Abortion Providers Is Deadly, Horrific, and Totally Predictable

+ Dr. Leana Wen: It's Time to End the Global Gag Rule

The abortion pill (AKA "medication abortion") is often confused with emergency contraception (AKA the morning-after pill) — but they are not the same thing. Emergency contraception helps prevent pregnancy, while medication abortion ends a pregnancy.

At Planned Parenthood, medication abortion is a two-part process. First, you take a pill called mifepristone. Often, this step happens at the health center. Next, you take a second medicine, called misoprostol, up to 48 hours later. You'll want to be somewhere comfy for this, and make sure you have some over-the-counter pain relievers and pads on deck.

Every abortion is different. For most people, medication abortion feels like having an early miscarriage. You might experience lots of cramping, very heavy bleeding with large clots (up to the size of a lemon), an upset stomach or vomiting, diarrhea or a mild fever. For most, the cramping and bleeding lasts for 4-5 hours, for others it lasts longer. There are two ways of ending a pregnancy: in-clinic abortion and the abortion pill.

To learn about your options, make an appointment at your local Planned Parenthood health center.

— Emily at Planned Parenthood

Did you know?

Brazilian women first discovered the potential of misoprostol, a widely used peptic ulcer drug, in the 1980s. Circumventing the restrictive policies of their county, they spread the word about this easily obtainable pill that could help safely end a pregnancy.

  Michyah Thomas & Aman Tune
Hampton University Over the past two years, Michyah Thomas and Aman Tune have led their Planned Parenthood Generation Action chapter at Hampton University, a historically black university in Virginia.

Michyah and Aman have been challenging the university administration to expand freshman consent and sex education trainings, making them mandatory for all class levels and available in person and online. This work was sparked by a campus town hall last spring where the university president silenced survivors by preventing them from sharing their stories, and blamed victims for not doing a better job of protecting themselves. Students took to social media, using the hashtag #HUTownHall to air their concerns.

Hampton University Generation Action was the first Planned Parenthood Generation Action chapter to receive the Champion for Women's Health Award from Planned Parenthood Federation of America. In their acceptance speech, which was shared by BET, Michyah and Aman called upon the attendees to tweet using #ISupportHUGA to send the message to the school's administration that they need to recognize their Planned Parenthood Generation Action chapter as an official student group on campus. #ISupportHUGA has garnered tremendous support — including from Symone D. Sanders and Charlene Carruthers.

Planned Parenthood is thrilled to announce the launch of Roo, our new sexual health chatbot! The first tool of its kind, Roo is designed to help young people get personalized information instantly and anonymously — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Meet Roo at Roo.PlannedParenthood.org or learn more about the project.

"Cost shouldn't be a determining factor when choosing a birth control method." Great news! Thanks to a new initiative, eligible Planned Parenthood of Illinois patients can now access their preferred method of contraception at no charge. Contact your local Planned Parenthood health center to find out about birth control costs near you.

What we're reading:

+ Powerful Photo Series Raises Awareness on Mortality Rates for Black Moms and Babies

+ Stats About HIV/AIDS In The Black Community Show Why Breaking Stigma Is So Important, According To Actor & Activist Jay Ellis

+ 8 black women on how they're portrayed in pop culture

+ Former Planned Parenthood President Faye Wattleton on Why We're Still Fighting for Reproductive Healthcare

+ How To Talk To A Trans Parent About Their Pregnancy

+ What Is Late-Term Abortion? Trump Got It Wrong

TBH (To Be Honest) is a monthly newsletter dedicated to learning about our bodies, talking about sex and relationships, and challenging health inequity and injustice. Send us your feedback.

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