PROTECTION: It's Time For Women To Have Better Choices | Saundra Pelletier | TEDxSanDiego

TL;DR

Women need better birth control options that they can use only when necessary, rather than having to take daily medication with potential side effects.

Transcript

foreign [Applause] there are so many ways that we protect ourselves when we ride in cars we use seat belts we get vaccinations to protect our health we have home security systems to protect our belongings and our family and if you are a woman and you don't want to get pregnant you protect yourself with birth control the difference is that since 196... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥳 Women have been advised to protect themselves from pregnancy every day, even when not sexually active, leading to overmedication.
• 👩‍🔬 Medical research historically neglected women's specific healthcare issues, resulting in a lack of innovation.
• 🧔‍♀️ Inadequate funding is allocated to women-specific healthcare, despite women being half of the population.
• ❓ The burden of responsibility for contraception should be shared equally by both partners.
• 👩‍⚕️ Empowering women with better birth control choices will ensure more control over their reproductive health.
• 🖤 The lack of hormonal contraception options can be challenging for women with cancer diagnoses.
• 🧔‍♀️ Investing in women's healthcare and innovation will benefit society as a whole.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why do women have to take birth control every day, even if they are not having sex every day?

The need to take birth control every day stems from the requirement for daily use for the products to be effective. This has become normalized, but it may not be necessary for everyone and can result in side effects.

Q: Why has there been a lack of innovation in women's healthcare?

Historically, medical research focused on men, as women's hormonal fluctuations were considered too challenging to study. Additionally, only a small percentage of funding is allocated to women-specific healthcare issues.

Q: How can we change the narrative about women's bodies?

By eliminating shame and stigma around girls' bodies, as well as involving both parents and boys in discussions about reproductive health, we can change the narrative and empower women to make informed decisions about their bodies.

Q: What are the implications of women taking unnecessary daily medication?

Overmedicating women with birth control pills can result in side effects such as headaches, weight gain, and emotional highs and lows. It is essential to demand better choices from healthcare providers that are tailored to women's specific needs.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Women have been advised to protect themselves from pregnancy every day, even when they are not sexually active, leading to overmedication and potential side effects.

• Medical research historically focused on men, neglecting women-specific issues and creating a lack of innovation in women's healthcare.

• Only a small percentage of funding is dedicated to women-specific healthcare issues, despite women being half of the population.

• The speaker, a CEO of a women's health company, advocates for changing the narrative around women's bodies, reducing the burden of responsibility on women for contraception, and demanding better birth control options.