Research published in JAMA Health Forum shows a significant increase in young adults choosing tubal ligation and vasectomies as birth control following the Supreme Court's 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which ended the constitutional right to abortion. The study suggests that the increase in sterilization procedures is linked to the court's decision and subsequent abortion restrictions in 21 states. The data, however, does not provide a state-by-state breakdown. Experts note that young women may have felt a greater urgency to act due to the disproportionate impact of pregnancy on them. Further research is expected to provide a more comprehensive examination of contraception choices in the United States.
A study found that since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, there has been a significant increase in permanent contraception procedures, particularly tubal ligations, among young adults aged 18 to 30. The research highlights the indirect effects of the Dobbs decision on the reproductive autonomy of young people, with fears of restricted access to abortion and contraception likely driving the increase. Experts emphasize the importance of ensuring access to affordable, person-centered contraceptive care and supporting individuals in making informed decisions about permanent contraception.
A woman, known as Patient A, had her life "turned upside down" after being sterilized without her consent during an emergency caesarean section by gynecologist and obstetrician Dr David Sim. Dr Sim admitted to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service that the sterilization was unnecessary and violated the woman's reproductive rights. Patient A, who had been a longstanding patient of Dr Sim, had never consented to nor expressed any desire for sterilization. The tribunal heard that Dr Sim made assumptions about the patient's wishes, which were paternalistic, and he has since retired from all practice. The tribunal will determine if Dr Sim's actions amounted to misconduct and if his fitness to practice as a doctor is impaired.
Colombia has begun sterilizing the descendants of hippos brought to the country by Pablo Escobar in the 1980s. The population of over 100 hippos, which have no natural predators in Colombia, is considered an invasive species that could disrupt the ecosystem. The sterilization plan aims to control the population by sterilizing 40 hippos annually, transferring some to other countries, and potentially euthanizing them. The hippos' presence has already impacted the local ecosystem, changing river compositions and threatening endemic species. However, capturing the territorial and aggressive animals is challenging, and the sterilization process is expensive and carries risks for both the hippos and personnel involved.
Colombia has begun the sterilization of hippos, descendants of animals brought to the country by drug kingpin Pablo Escobar in the 1980s. The government aims to control the population of over 100 hippos, which have no natural predators in Colombia and are considered an invasive species. The plan includes sterilizing 40 hippos annually, transferring some to other countries, and potentially euthanizing them. The hippos, originally from Escobar's private zoo, have spread to nearby rivers and reproduce freely. Sterilization efforts are complicated due to the difficulty of capturing the territorial and aggressive animals, as well as recent rain events. Without intervention, the population could reach 1,000 by 2035.
The Colombian government has announced a three-pronged strategy to address the invasive spread of wild hippos once owned by drug lord Pablo Escobar. The plan includes sterilization, transfer to other countries, and euthanasia. Sterilization will begin next week, with 20 hippos to be sterilized in 2023 and 40 per year from 2024 onward. The government estimates that sterilizing each animal will cost around 40 million pesos. Colombia currently has an estimated 169 hippos, descendants of those brought in by Escobar, and experts warn that without intervention, the population could reach 1,000 by 2035, posing risks to biodiversity and local residents.
A scientific analysis using data from the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study suggests a potential correlation between canine sterilization and the development of hemangiosarcoma, a deadly cancer. The study found that the likelihood of diagnosing hemangiosarcoma remains low until about eight years of age, after which intact and neutered male dogs face a similar risk. Intact females consistently have a lower probability of diagnosis, while spayed females show an increased likelihood. Further research is needed to explore this correlation and its potential causative factors, which could also provide insights for studying hemangiosarcoma in humans.
Japan's Supreme Court has ruled that a government requirement for transgender individuals to be sterilized before legally changing their gender is unconstitutional. The law, enacted 20 years ago, also requires transgender individuals to have genital organs resembling those of the opposite sex. While the court struck down the sterilization provision, it declined to rule on the requirement for genital surgery. The ruling is seen as a victory for the LGBTQ community, but activists express concern about remaining surgical requirements and broader societal attitudes. Discrimination against transgender individuals in Japan is still prevalent, and the country lacks legal protection for same-sex unions.
Cyprus is combating disease-carrying mosquitoes by introducing hundreds of thousands of sterilized insects, bred through radiation, to prevent their migration to continental Europe. The effort targets the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transmit diseases such as dengue, Zika, yellow fever, and West Nile virus. The male mosquitoes are sterilized through ionizing radiation and released on the island, reducing the mosquito population without the need for harmful insecticides. The program, supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency, will continue until the end of the year.
Argentina is using radiation to sterilize mosquitoes before releasing them into the wild to combat one of its worst outbreaks of dengue in recent years. The country has recorded over 41,000 cases of the disease transmitted by mosquitoes this year. The National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) is sterilizing 10,000 males per week and aims to increase that to 500,000 to reduce the population of the vector mosquito. Dengue is transmitted through the bites of aedes aegypti mosquitoes and its symptoms include fever, eye, head, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.
Argentina is using atomic radiation to sterilize mosquitoes before releasing them into the wild to combat one of its worst outbreaks of dengue in recent years. The country has recorded over 41,000 cases of the disease transmitted by mosquitoes this year. The National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) is sterilizing 10,000 males per week and aims to increase that to 500,000 to reduce the population of the vector mosquito. Dengue is transmitted through the bites of aedes aegypti mosquitoes and its symptoms include fever, eye, head, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed to limit the use of ethylene oxide, a chemical used to sterilize billions of medical devices each year, after finding higher than expected cancer risk at facilities that use it. The proposal will reduce ethylene oxide emissions by roughly 80% by targeting 86 medical sterilization facilities across the United States. The companies will also have to test for the antimicrobial chemical in the air and make sure their pollution controls are working properly. Ethylene oxide is a gas used to sterilize roughly half of all medical devices and is also used to ensure the safety of certain spices and other food products.
