Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Doctors Close To Launching Novel Male Contraception Gel Technique That Would Be Reversible And Affordable
Doctors are on the cusp of launching the first new male contraceptive in more than a century. But rather than a Big Pharma lab, the breakthrough is emerging from a university startup in the heart of rural India. Years of human trials on the injectable, sperm-zapping product are coming to an end, and researchers are preparing to submit it for regulatory approval. Results so far show it’s safe, effective and easy to use—but gaining little traction with drugmakers. That’s frustrating its inventor, who says his technique could play a crucial role in condom-averse populations. (Altstedter, 3/29)
Climate change is not only harmful to our physical health — it can be debilitating for our mental health as well, according to a report published Wednesday. Severe weather events and natural disasters linked to climate change have the most dramatic impact on mental health, according to the report by the American Psychological Association and EcoAmerica: Natural disasters cause intense negative emotions in people who are exposed to them, primarily fear and grief. Anxiety, depression and unhealthy behavior are also common responses. (Naqvi, 3/29)
For more than a decade, growing numbers of women diagnosed with cancer in one breast have been opting to get both removed. Experts have been trying to discourage this radical approach, because for most women, it adds to surgical risks and medical costs without improving survival. It also defies decades of advances, such as lumpectomy, that have made surgery less aggressive. Now, the first study to look at the double mastectomy trend state by state finds wide geographic  variation, with startlingly high rates among younger women. (McCullough, 3/29)
A baby born recently in San Diego County is the first in the region to suffer birth defects after the infant’s mother contracted the Zika virus while traveling abroad. Public health officials said the case, announced Tuesday by the county government, is a reminder that the risk of Zika infection continues in warmer climates even though mosquitoes are dormant in San Diego. (Sisson, 3/29)
