Self-care note: This wrap-up includes discussion of women’s health, miscarriage, racism, anti-LGBTQIA+ policies and behaviours, gender based violence, and more. If you find this distressing or triggering, remember to take it at your own pace. You may prefer to read small sections, wait until you feel ready to read it all, or choose not to read it at all.
1. Women call for inquiry into contraceptive injection after brain tumour diagnoses 💉
Women in Scotland are calling for a UK-wide inquiry into the contraceptive injection Depo-Provera after developing non-cancerous brain tumours known as meningiomas.
Around 150 women are in the early stages of legal action against manufacturer Pfizer, arguing they were not adequately warned about the risks of long-term use. A 2024 study found that women who used the injection for at least a year were 5.6 times more likely to develop meningiomas, and the medicine’s patient information leaflet was updated the same year to include the risk.
Pfizer said patient safety is its top priority and that Depo-Provera has a well-established safety profile. The UK medicines regulator said it continues to monitor the evidence, while the Scottish Government has said it will meet affected women to hear their experiences.
Source: BBC News
2. Scots fear morning-after pill is out of reach at night 💊
New YouGov polling has found that two thirds of Scots believe it would be difficult to access the morning-after pill after 10pm, prompting renewed calls for emergency contraception to be made available in shops.
The data, shared with The Herald, found that only 6 per cent of Scots thought emergency contraception would be difficult to access during a weekday daytime, rising to 38 per cent on a Sunday and 66 per cent after 10pm. The College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare is calling for the morning-after pill to be reclassified so it can be sold by retailers, alongside condoms and pregnancy tests.
Doctors say the current system can create barriers, particularly for people in rural areas or those worried about stigma in small communities. They stressed that wider retail access should sit alongside, not replace, Scotland’s existing free pharmacy provision.
Source: The Herald
3. Organised networks of men drugging and abusing women uncovered 🚨
UK investigators have warned of the “deeply concerning” international scale of organised networks of men drugging and sexually abusing women they know, before sharing footage of the abuse online.
The National Crime Agency said drug-facilitated sexual assault is increasingly being enabled by coordinated online communities and digital platforms. Since October, the agency has identified more than 270 people linked to one online forum, while an international operation led by UK and German authorities has identified 156 perpetrators and survivors across several countries.
Survivors told ITV News they were drugged and raped by husbands or partners while unconscious, with some later discovering the assaults had been filmed or shared online. The NCA said a coordinated response is underway to identify offenders, protect victims and dismantle the networks involved.
Source: ITV News
4. Women with PMOS should receive yearly NHS health checks, says NICE 🩺
Women with PMOS should receive yearly NHS health checks, says NICE 🩺
Women with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) should receive annual NHS reviews to monitor both their symptoms and longer-term health risks, according to new draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
PMOS, formerly known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), affects around one in eight women and is associated with infertility, irregular periods, excess hair growth, weight changes, diabetes, heart disease, anxiety and depression. NICE is also calling for faster diagnosis and more consistent care, saying the condition remains under-recognised despite affecting millions of women in the UK.
The proposed annual reviews would assess both physical and mental health, with tailored advice on lifestyle, fertility and pregnancy planning where appropriate. The draft guidance is open for consultation until August, with final recommendations expected later this year.
Source: BBC News
5. Women from minority backgrounds less likely to receive epidurals, research finds 🏥
Women from Black and Asian backgrounds in the UK are less likely than white women to receive an epidural while giving birth, according to research analysed by The Guardian.
The findings, based on data from more than 2.7 million births, found that women from Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Black Caribbean backgrounds were 24 per cent, 15 per cent and 8 per cent less likely respectively to receive an epidural during vaginal birth than white women. Researchers and campaigners say the figures point to a wider “ethnicity pain gap” in healthcare.
Medical bodies have called for better data collection on pain relief, interventions and outcomes by ethnicity, while maternity experts said women’s pain must be taken seriously and patients should be involved in decisions about their care.
Source: The Guardian
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6. Silicon Valley’s wealthy women turn to concierge sexual health care 💸
A Silicon Valley gynaecologist has attracted attention for a concierge practice reportedly charging wealthy patients more than $30,000 a year for personalised menopause, hormone and sexual wellness care.
According to the New York Post, Dr Sally Greenwald’s practice offers longer appointments, extensive hormone monitoring, advanced testing and individualised treatment plans, reflecting a growing interest among affluent patients in optimising sexual health and ageing.
Greenwald argues that women have long been underserved by traditional medicine, particularly around menopause and sexual wellbeing. But the high costs also highlight a wider inequality: while some can pay for intensive, personalised care, many people still struggle to access basic reproductive and sexual healthcare.
Source: New York Post
7. LGBTQ+ cruise reportedly turned away from Turkey 🛳️
An LGBTQ+ cruise ship has reportedly been banned from entering Turkey, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The Atlantis Events cruise, operated on Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady, had been due to stop in Istanbul during a Mediterranean route. Atlantis president Rich Campbell told CNN the company was informed the ship could not berth because it was a gay group, describing the decision as “pretty stunning.”
Broadway star Patti LuPone, who is scheduled to perform on the cruise, said she was “furious” but would still sail as the ship continues to other ports. The company said it was the first time in 36 years it had been refused entry because of who its passengers are.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
8. Niger arrests dozens under new anti-LGBTQ+ law 🏳️🌈
Dozens of people have reportedly been arrested in Niger for homosexuality after the country introduced a new penal code criminalising same-sex relations earlier this year.
According to The Guardian, the law allows prison sentences of up to 10 years and large fines for same-sex relations, marking the first time homosexuality has been criminalised in Niger. Local media reports suggest up to 40 people have been arrested, while LGBTQ+ organisations say many people have gone into hiding.
Human rights groups have warned that the crackdown could also undermine HIV prevention, with organisations serving men who have sex with men forced to stop work and access to condoms, testing and PrEP disrupted.
Source: The Guardian
