Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Trump Administration Weighs Narrowing Pregnancy-Related Workplace Protections
The New York Times: Trump Administration Said To Plan Rolling Back Pregnancy-Related Job Protections
The Trump administration is preparing to scale back workplace accommodations for women related to pregnancy and reproductive health, seven people with knowledge of discussions of the plans said. The moves will limit the impact of a 2022 law that was meant to fill a gap in disability and discrimination protections that employees are guaranteed at workplaces. It was intended to provide accommodations for pregnant workers, such as bathroom and water breaks, reprieves from heavy lifting or time off for prenatal appointments. (Davenport and Davis O’Brien, 11/2)
KFF Health News: Expecting A Baby? Five Tips To Help You Prepare For Pregnancy Costs
Grace and Daniel Griffin, both 26, knew money would be tight once they had their first child. So, even before the Calumet, Michigan, couple tried to conceive, they began crunching the numbers to figure out the cost of pregnancy. “We wanted to save up enough to pay for those medical bills right away, if possible,” Grace said. (O'Neill, 11/3)
On IVF, endometriosis, and menopause —
Stat: Scientists Rethinking 'Three-Parent IVF' Over Ethics And Safety Issues
The news out of the U.K. last year that eight healthy children had been born to mothers carrying disease-causing mutations in their mitochondria showed the promise of a pioneering reproductive technique known as “three-parent IVF.” The long-anticipated results seemingly showed the procedure, formally called mitochondrial replacement techniques, or MRT, could reduce the risk of babies inheriting sometimes fatal diseases, and raised hopes that other countries, such as the U.S. where MRT is banned, might soon permit it. (Molteni and Chen, 11/3)
Connecticut Public: Jackson Lab Discovers How Pain Pathways Work In Endometriosis
New findings by researchers at The Jackson Laboratory in Farmington show a deeper understanding of the excruciating pain women experience from endometriosis, a chronic inflammatory disease. (Srinivasan, 11/2)
AP: What Women Need To Know About New Guidance On Menopause Symptoms
For the first time in a dozen years, a leading OB-GYN group has updated its guidance on managing hot flashes, night sweats, sleep changes and other disruptive symptoms that often come with menopause. Doctors stressed the importance of hormone therapies, which many women are considering again after the removal of federal safety warnings. On Friday, federal officials said the Food and Drug Administration has been taking steps to ensure there’s an adequate supply. (Ungar, 10/31)
euronews: Spain Introduces Paid Menopause Sick Leave
From December 1, female workers with impairing conditions linked to the menopause can access specific medical leave. Other European countries still do not provide a similar measure. (Thykjaer, 11/3)
