The 19th

Carevix — a portmanteau of “care” and “cervix" — was tested against the standard cervical tenaculum in a randomized controlled trial involving 100 women undergoing IUD insertion, who were asked to rate their pain levels throughout the process. These trials found that Carevix reduced pain during IUD insertion by up to 73 percent and bleeding by 78 percent, compared to the tenaculum.

For decades, single mothers have been kept from homeownership by a market that was not designed to deliver them the American Dream. That could all be about to change thanks to a bipartisan unicorn: A massive housing bill — the largest this century — that passed Congress and is about to become law.

For decades, single mothers have been kept from homeownership by a market that was not designed to deliver them the American Dream. That could all be about to change thanks to a bipartisan unicorn: A massive housing bill — the largest this century — that passed Congress and is about to become law.

Men in the Navy have one year to shave their beards — or get medical treatment to lose their facial hair, according to Stars and Stripes, a partially government-funded newspaper that covers the military. If shaving is still a problem after that, they will be asked to leave service. The same thing is happening in the Marines. Men in the military, including those with skin conditions, must be clean-shaven after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared last year that there would be “no more beardos.” But what does that actually look like? Per Marine grooming guidelines from last year, soldiers with pseudofolliculitis barbae, which looks like painful razor bumps or ingrown hairs, can get treatment that includes Nair or government-funded laser hair removal. Pseudofolliculitis barbae is especially common among Black men, often due to more coarse or curly hair. Skincare products like exfoliants and retinoids can also help. But the only FDA-approved method of permanent hair removal is electrolysis, a pricey procedure that uses electric currents to destroy follicle growth cells. It’s a common method of hair removal for blondes, since laser removal tends to be less effective on lighter hair tones. Since electrolysis is permanent, many transgender women go through it as part of their gender transition. The Navy did not respond to a request for comment about whether sailors' treatment will include government-funded electrolysis or laser-hair removal. Notably, the costs of funding gender-affirming care for troops — like electrolysis — was cited as one reason why the Trump administration banned transgender people from the military. ✍️: Orion Rummler, LGBTQ+ reporter 📸: Stacy Godfrey/U.S. Navy

This week, Grammy-winning singer SZA, née Solána Imani Rowe, shared that she had received a formal autism diagnosis. It may help more Black women and girls see themselves in a community that often overlooks them. https://lnkd.in/ea66368w

For decades, Climate.gov was the go-to resource that translated complex climate science data into accessible public information — until the Trump administration shut down the NOAA’s official climate information website last year. Rebecca Lindsey, who had been Climate.gov’s program manager since 2023, became one of the roughly 280,000 federal workers to lose their jobs after the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, took aim at diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and scientific-focused fields. She knew something had to be done. Lindsey joined forces with former NOAA employees Anna Eshelman, and Mary Lindsey, her older sister, to become the core team behind the deactivated site’s successor, Climate.us, preserving over 15 years of key climate data and resources. The trove features key maps, educational materials and climate indicator reports, including the now-deleted Fifth National Climate Assessment, the government’s most comprehensive analysis of climate change that was at risk of being lost to the public. Lindsey told The 19th that the venture came out of a need for more science-backed climate information. “It’s not a pretty picture for climate communication and climate journalism right now,” Lindsey said. “We just felt like it was really important that there be a mature, robust, comprehensive online platform to serve as a hub. She said that after a non-peer-reviewed Department of Energy report created by a panel of climate denialists published last summer, it raised alarms among NOAA employees about what could happen to Climate.gov. Federal courts later deemed the convening of the panelists unlawful. She said that the former Climate.gov, which is now rerouted to NOAA.gov, remains vulnerable to political influence. Since its June 23 launch, Climate.us has raised more than $400,000 through a mix of crowd funding and individual donations. Lindsey said that while there’s uncertainty ahead for the long run, it is enough to keep the project running until early 2027. ✍️: Jenae Barnes, Climate Reporter 📸: Courtesy Rebecca Lindsey, Anna Eshelman and Mary Lindsey

Tenaculum forceps are routinely used on 120 million patients a year despite causing pain in 90% of patients. It has remained largely unchanged for over 135 years. A new medical device is part of a broader effort to make gynecological care less painful. Co-published with Truthdig: https://bit.ly/4w4UAqj

A deadly heat wave blanketed 40 million people across the East Coast during the Fourth of July weekend, millions more in the Southwest are under extreme heat warnings — and summer has only just begun. If men are feeling hot, women are very likely feeling hotter. Why? Their bodies regulate heat differently from men's. As Dr. Amir Khan told the BBC in an interview last month: “Ladies, it is absolutely fair that you complain about the heat to us men. We need to hear it, because you are suffering more than us.” There’s plenty of science to back it up. Several studies show that while men and women have the same number of sweat glands, women generally sweat less than men, making it harder for their bodies to cool down. Hormones also play a big role. During menstrual cycles, progesterone raises the core temperature in women’s bodies. During perimenopause and menopause, drops in estrogen make the brain mistake even the tiniest temperature changes for overheating, prompting an uncomfortable rush of heat and sweat. Pregnant women are also particularly heat sensitive due to fluctuating hormone levels. Basically, at pretty much every stage of a woman’s life, there’s no escaping the heat. Band-aid calls to action like “drink more water” or “stay indoors” don't always work for women, who have less consistent access to water and experience energy scarcity at higher rates than men, meaning their indoors aren’t necessarily air-conditioned. Meanwhile, public health messaging and heat preparedness tend not to take women’s particular needs into account, advocates say. The solution is often improvised: a chilled towel draped around the neck, a portable fan blowing at its highest speed — and lots and lots of ice in that water bottle. What are some ways you’re keeping cool this summer? ✍️: Jenae Barnes, climate reporter 📸: Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images

A year ago, abortion opponents were celebrating one of their biggest victories under the Trump administration: Planned Parenthood, the movement’s arch-villain, had been temporarily kicked out of Medicaid. But a year later, abortion opponents’ biggest win has expired and has little chance of being renewed any time soon, and Planned Parenthood’s most dire predictions did not come to pass. The ban ended July 3, and Americans insured through Medicaid can once again use that coverage at a Planned Parenthood affiliate. https://bit.ly/4vWTLzT

House Democrats are launching a task force to coordinate legislation, oversight and public education as they respond to Trump administration attempts to weaken the 14th Amendment’s protections. They are considering activities like field hearings and the creation of know-your-rights materials.