Birth Control

Birth control and the Affordable Care Act are back on the Supreme Court's docket, in what could be called a sequel to the Hobby Lobby ruling.

Bet you never thought you'd see IUDs promoted on cheery subway posters. New York City's health department wants women to realize that the long-term birth control is a good choice for many.

The Food and Drug Administration approved Essure for sale in 2002. But with health complaints on the rise from women using the device, the agency's expert panel now urges more study on complications.

It's the only available, nonsurgical permanent birth control option that's FDA-approved. But thousands of women have complained of serious side effects like severe pain, heavy bleeding and depression.

Thousands of women say they've been harmed by the permanent contraceptive. But it's unclear whether the problems were caused by the device. The Food and Drug Administration is taking a closer look.

The average user of birth control pills saved $255 in the first year after an Affordable Care Act requirement that insurers cover contraceptives without copays went into effect, a study finds.

And when the use of intrauterine devices and hormonal implants by young women goes up, the number of unplanned pregnancies sharply drops, researchers find.

An analysis of health plans in five states found limited or no coverage for some forms of contraception. Insurers sometimes imposed copays or required women to pay the full cost of the contraceptives.

The court has ordered a federal appeals court to take a second look at Univeristy of Notre Dame's challenge to the birth control mandate in Obamacare, including opt-out rules for religious groups.

On his return from a weeklong trip to Asia, Pope Francis emphasized the church's ban on artificial means of birth control and said Catholics should practice "responsible parenthood."

The Orthodox church may not like it, but the powerful government is pushing family planning.

In the village of Mereto, one imam is in favor of family planning while the other is not. Ngour Sen and his two wives, with a total of 11 children, knew which leader's advice they wanted to follow.