#Contraception

The struggle to access contraception in the United States has become more difficult in recent years, prompting advocates in New York to devise novel solutions such as vending machines dispensing Plan B pills and other over-the-counter products on university campuses. As the national landscape of reproductive rights continues to shift—especially in the wake of clinic closures and new legal hurdles—New York’s approach offers fresh hope and urgent lessons for other regions, including Thailand, where access to reproductive healthcare is an ongoing concern.

A growing number of Thai women are choosing to skip their periods for months or even years by using birth control methods designed for continuous use. According to the latest research and interviews with leading reproductive health experts, forgoing menstruation in this way is both safe and effective—a message that stands in contrast to widespread myths circulating on social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook. As misinformation about hormonal contraceptives proliferates online, the scientific consensus is clear: medically supervised continuous birth control poses no long-term health risks and does not cause infertility.

A new study published in BMC Public Health has cast a spotlight on Ghana’s journey in expanding access to modern family planning methods, drawing attention to both impressive achievements and lingering disparities over the past decade. The research, titled “Demand for family planning satisfied by modern methods in Ghana: trends and inequalities (2013–2022),” provides updated insights into how Ghana is addressing reproductive health—a topic with growing resonance for policymakers and public health experts across the developing world, including Thailand (BMC Public Health).

A sweeping funding freeze by the Trump administration targeting the federal Title X family planning program has left key healthcare providers—including three Planned Parenthood clinics in Virginia—without critical support, raising concerns over access to affordable reproductive health services for low-income Americans. The sudden move, announced in late March, reflects a profound policy shift that could affect millions reliant on the half-century-old safety net program for basic healthcare ranging from contraception and cancer screenings to sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and pregnancy care (Washington Post; Virginia Mercury).

Some common medicines and dietary supplements could reduce the effectiveness of hormonal birth control, putting Thai women at unseen risk of unintended pregnancies, according to updated research and expert guidance from global health agencies. The expanding use of both pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter supplements in Thailand means understanding these interactions is more important than ever.

Hormonal contraceptives—whether pills, patches, injections, or implants—remain among the most popular choices for family planning in Thailand, recommended by healthcare providers for their convenience and high success rate. However, new evidence and official health warnings reveal that a handful of widely-used substances can lower the reliability of these contraceptives, sometimes drastically. For Thai readers, recognizing how everyday medicines or herbal remedies—often purchased at pharmacies, traditional medicine vendors, or online—can compromise birth control is crucial for informed, safe reproductive health choices.

A team of engineers from MIT, in collaboration with Brigham and Women’s Hospital, has developed an innovative drug delivery system that could significantly extend the duration of drug efficacy, a breakthrough that may transform patient care globally. The study, published in Nature Chemical Engineering, reveals methods to achieve long-lasting medication effects through simple, injectable formulations. This advancement is particularly impactful in the context of developing nations, where access to healthcare services and resources can be limited.