Chelsea Polis
@cbpolis.bsky.social
Reproductive health epidemiologist @guttmacher.org. Contraception, abortion, FemTech, HIV/STIs, infertility, global public health, & research integrity. Alum of WomenLift Health 2024. Maddox Prize awardee 2023. Anti-SLAPP law advocate. www.chelseapolis.com
Reposted by Chelsea Polis
This week, the Trump administration finalized a new sweeping rule that broadens the Mexico City Policy.
@spsaki.bsky.social explains how the policy represents the most expansive—and potentially disruptive—version of ideological restrictions on foreign aid to date.
@spsaki.bsky.social explains how the policy represents the most expansive—and potentially disruptive—version of ideological restrictions on foreign aid to date.
Expanding the Mexico City Policy Undermines Global Health | Think Global Health
A new rule prohibits U.S. foreign assistance from projects supporting or discussing abortion, gender identity, diversity, equity, and inclusion
www.thinkglobalhealth.org
January 28, 2026 at 7:18 PM
This week, the Trump administration finalized a new sweeping rule that broadens the Mexico City Policy.
@spsaki.bsky.social explains how the policy represents the most expansive—and potentially disruptive—version of ideological restrictions on foreign aid to date.
@spsaki.bsky.social explains how the policy represents the most expansive—and potentially disruptive—version of ideological restrictions on foreign aid to date.
Today, @govpritzker.illinois.gov launched the Prairie State Access Fund, to strengthen infrastructure and resources for Illinois’ reproductive healthcare ecosystem. More info here: gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com/gov-pritzker... 👏 👏 👏
Illinois is one of the few states in the middle of the country that protects the right to comprehensive reproductive healthcare.
Supporting care here means supporting access for people who have nowhere else to turn.
Supporting care here means supporting access for people who have nowhere else to turn.
January 29, 2026 at 5:08 AM
Today, @govpritzker.illinois.gov launched the Prairie State Access Fund, to strengthen infrastructure and resources for Illinois’ reproductive healthcare ecosystem. More info here: gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com/gov-pritzker... 👏 👏 👏
Reposted by Chelsea Polis
Autonomy News is a reader-powered publication that will never be paywalled. If you've been thinking about supporting us with a paid subscription, now's a great time!
Get a free book when you sign up for annual in the next 7 days:
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Final days to get a free book!
Sign up for a new, paid annual subscription and you’ll receive a free copy of "Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood" by Gretchen Sisson.
Last chance, offer ends January 31! Get yours now: www.autonomynews.co#/portal
Sign up for a new, paid annual subscription and you’ll receive a free copy of "Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood" by Gretchen Sisson.
Last chance, offer ends January 31! Get yours now: www.autonomynews.co#/portal
January 24, 2026 at 5:16 PM
Autonomy News is a reader-powered publication that will never be paywalled. If you've been thinking about supporting us with a paid subscription, now's a great time!
Get a free book when you sign up for annual in the next 7 days:
www.autonomynews.co#/portal
Get a free book when you sign up for annual in the next 7 days:
www.autonomynews.co#/portal
Reposted by Chelsea Polis
Alex Pretti "used to tell people off when they made sexist comments to female physicians. He bought me coffee when I had a really bad day as an intern...I laughed alongside him daily. He made a point to teach medical residents without judgement, but with a smile on his face and a joke."
January 24, 2026 at 9:41 PM
Alex Pretti "used to tell people off when they made sexist comments to female physicians. He bought me coffee when I had a really bad day as an intern...I laughed alongside him daily. He made a point to teach medical residents without judgement, but with a smile on his face and a joke."
Reposted by Chelsea Polis
The story is not that there are two conflicting versions of what happened.
The story is that the federal government is lying about what happened.
There is plenty of evidence.
Your job, our job, is to sift that evidence and describe what actually happened ffs.
The story is that the federal government is lying about what happened.
There is plenty of evidence.
Your job, our job, is to sift that evidence and describe what actually happened ffs.
January 25, 2026 at 11:33 AM
The story is not that there are two conflicting versions of what happened.
The story is that the federal government is lying about what happened.
There is plenty of evidence.
Your job, our job, is to sift that evidence and describe what actually happened ffs.
The story is that the federal government is lying about what happened.
There is plenty of evidence.
Your job, our job, is to sift that evidence and describe what actually happened ffs.
Reposted by Chelsea Polis
A reminder to the news media: “conflicting accounts” is what you say BEFORE the incontrovertible video evidence appears. After that, your job is to ask why one side is lying, not to repeat the lie and pretend no one knows the truth.
January 25, 2026 at 12:28 PM
A reminder to the news media: “conflicting accounts” is what you say BEFORE the incontrovertible video evidence appears. After that, your job is to ask why one side is lying, not to repeat the lie and pretend no one knows the truth.
Reposted by Chelsea Polis
We lost a giant in public health today.
Dr. William H. Foege helped eradicate #smallpox - the only human disease ever eliminated—through science, surveillance, and vaccines.
His legacy is the antidote to today’s antiscience, anti-vaccine rhetoric.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/u...
Dr. William H. Foege helped eradicate #smallpox - the only human disease ever eliminated—through science, surveillance, and vaccines.
His legacy is the antidote to today’s antiscience, anti-vaccine rhetoric.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/u...
William H. Foege, Key Figure in the Eradication of Smallpox, Dies at 89
www.nytimes.com
January 25, 2026 at 5:48 AM
We lost a giant in public health today.
Dr. William H. Foege helped eradicate #smallpox - the only human disease ever eliminated—through science, surveillance, and vaccines.
His legacy is the antidote to today’s antiscience, anti-vaccine rhetoric.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/u...
Dr. William H. Foege helped eradicate #smallpox - the only human disease ever eliminated—through science, surveillance, and vaccines.
His legacy is the antidote to today’s antiscience, anti-vaccine rhetoric.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/u...
Reposted by Chelsea Polis
Boosting this becsue Melody covers health topics rigorously *and* compassionately. I’ve been so impressed with the pieces she’s written in my area of expertise.
If you worked with or knew Alex Pretti, I would love to hear from you for a story I'm reporting: [email protected]. (please share!)
January 24, 2026 at 8:19 PM
Boosting this becsue Melody covers health topics rigorously *and* compassionately. I’ve been so impressed with the pieces she’s written in my area of expertise.
Strongly encourage folks interested in the below to read this: www.bmj.com/content/384/...
January 24, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Strongly encourage folks interested in the below to read this: www.bmj.com/content/384/...
Reposted by Chelsea Polis
From 2018 to 2021, risk of death from pregnancy was ≥3 times higher than from abortion in the US, with the ratio ranging from 44.3 to 69.6, exceeding prior estimates, finds this cross-sectional study. ja.ma/4qB5G3z
January 23, 2026 at 1:00 PM
From 2018 to 2021, risk of death from pregnancy was ≥3 times higher than from abortion in the US, with the ratio ranging from 44.3 to 69.6, exceeding prior estimates, finds this cross-sectional study. ja.ma/4qB5G3z
Reposted by Chelsea Polis
BREAKING: The controversial hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau has been *cancelled,* I can now report. A senior official with Africa CDC confirmed the cancellation and said GB officials are working to make sure any research is conducted ethically:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Controversial US study on hepatitis B vaccines in Africa is cancelled
$1.6m project drew outrage over ethical questions about withholding vaccines proven to prevent disease
www.theguardian.com
January 15, 2026 at 3:28 PM
BREAKING: The controversial hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau has been *cancelled,* I can now report. A senior official with Africa CDC confirmed the cancellation and said GB officials are working to make sure any research is conducted ethically:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Reposted by Chelsea Polis
New paper – and my first ✨Registered Report✨: Do hormonal contraceptives affect women’s sexuality?
We studied both average effects and individual differences in effects using longitudinal data: doi.org/10.1177/2700...
We studied both average effects and individual differences in effects using longitudinal data: doi.org/10.1177/2700...
Positive Treatment Effects and High Heterogeneity of Hormonal Contraceptive Use on Women’s Sexuality - Laura J. Botzet, Julia M. Rohrer, Lars Penke, Ruben C. Arslan, 2026
Different women experience hormonal contraceptives differently, reporting side effects on their sexuality that range from negative to positive. But research on ...
doi.org
January 15, 2026 at 8:14 AM
New paper – and my first ✨Registered Report✨: Do hormonal contraceptives affect women’s sexuality?
We studied both average effects and individual differences in effects using longitudinal data: doi.org/10.1177/2700...
We studied both average effects and individual differences in effects using longitudinal data: doi.org/10.1177/2700...
🧵
In Health Affairs Forefront, I wrote about why fertility tracking must be grounded in evidence and reproductive justice - not co-opted by agendas that strip away other reproductive health care.
www.healthaffairs.org/content/fore...
Sharing a few key points in thread below 🤓
In Health Affairs Forefront, I wrote about why fertility tracking must be grounded in evidence and reproductive justice - not co-opted by agendas that strip away other reproductive health care.
www.healthaffairs.org/content/fore...
Sharing a few key points in thread below 🤓
Health Affairs Journal
www.healthaffairs.org
January 10, 2026 at 6:18 PM
🧵
In Health Affairs Forefront, I wrote about why fertility tracking must be grounded in evidence and reproductive justice - not co-opted by agendas that strip away other reproductive health care.
www.healthaffairs.org/content/fore...
Sharing a few key points in thread below 🤓
In Health Affairs Forefront, I wrote about why fertility tracking must be grounded in evidence and reproductive justice - not co-opted by agendas that strip away other reproductive health care.
www.healthaffairs.org/content/fore...
Sharing a few key points in thread below 🤓
Reposted by Chelsea Polis
Fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) can be useful #ReproductiveHealth tools. But pushing them while restricting other care undermines reproductive autonomy.
Our Principal Research Scientist @cbpolis.bsky.social lays out the evidence: https://gu.tt/3NyScXl
Our Principal Research Scientist @cbpolis.bsky.social lays out the evidence: https://gu.tt/3NyScXl
January 8, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) can be useful #ReproductiveHealth tools. But pushing them while restricting other care undermines reproductive autonomy.
Our Principal Research Scientist @cbpolis.bsky.social lays out the evidence: https://gu.tt/3NyScXl
Our Principal Research Scientist @cbpolis.bsky.social lays out the evidence: https://gu.tt/3NyScXl
Reposted by Chelsea Polis
Reposted by Chelsea Polis
This is a very thoughtful, smart and thorough piece by @cbpolis.bsky.social about fertility awareness-based methods, aka “digital contraception”.
I strongly recommend you have a read if you’re concerned about the next step toward Gilead.
I strongly recommend you have a read if you’re concerned about the next step toward Gilead.
Health Affairs Journal
www.healthaffairs.org
January 7, 2026 at 8:13 PM
This is a very thoughtful, smart and thorough piece by @cbpolis.bsky.social about fertility awareness-based methods, aka “digital contraception”.
I strongly recommend you have a read if you’re concerned about the next step toward Gilead.
I strongly recommend you have a read if you’re concerned about the next step toward Gilead.
Reposted by Chelsea Polis
MAGA uses MAHA as a shield for priorities that have little to do with health and much to do with limiting women’s opportunities and roles in society to marriage and motherhood.
MAHA is weaponizing fertility awareness based methods to undermine access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care (e.g., other forms of contraception, abortion, IVF, Title X). Here, I argue that FABMs must be grounded in evidence & reproductive justice: www.healthaffairs.org/content/fore...
Health Affairs Journal
www.healthaffairs.org
January 7, 2026 at 3:49 PM
MAGA uses MAHA as a shield for priorities that have little to do with health and much to do with limiting women’s opportunities and roles in society to marriage and motherhood.
Reposted by Chelsea Polis
There is a full-fledged attack on women's reproductive - and thus their overall LIFE - autonomy. It's dressed up as "promoting health" and in the guise of "expanding options," but the intent is clear given Heritage's "Manhattan Project to restore the nuclear family."
MAHA is weaponizing fertility awareness based methods to undermine access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care (e.g., other forms of contraception, abortion, IVF, Title X). Here, I argue that FABMs must be grounded in evidence & reproductive justice: www.healthaffairs.org/content/fore...
Health Affairs Journal
www.healthaffairs.org
January 7, 2026 at 2:37 PM
There is a full-fledged attack on women's reproductive - and thus their overall LIFE - autonomy. It's dressed up as "promoting health" and in the guise of "expanding options," but the intent is clear given Heritage's "Manhattan Project to restore the nuclear family."
MAHA is weaponizing fertility awareness based methods to undermine access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care (e.g., other forms of contraception, abortion, IVF, Title X). Here, I argue that FABMs must be grounded in evidence & reproductive justice: www.healthaffairs.org/content/fore...
Health Affairs Journal
www.healthaffairs.org
January 7, 2026 at 2:33 PM
MAHA is weaponizing fertility awareness based methods to undermine access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care (e.g., other forms of contraception, abortion, IVF, Title X). Here, I argue that FABMs must be grounded in evidence & reproductive justice: www.healthaffairs.org/content/fore...
Reposted by Chelsea Polis
It will take some time (a few years), but this change will lead to hundreds of thousands of preventable diseases in the most vulnerable parts of the population, including deaths.
I assume we'll follow this up with the introduction of universal healthcare and paid family/sick/parental leave?
I assume we'll follow this up with the introduction of universal healthcare and paid family/sick/parental leave?
January 6, 2026 at 1:06 AM
It will take some time (a few years), but this change will lead to hundreds of thousands of preventable diseases in the most vulnerable parts of the population, including deaths.
I assume we'll follow this up with the introduction of universal healthcare and paid family/sick/parental leave?
I assume we'll follow this up with the introduction of universal healthcare and paid family/sick/parental leave?
Reposted by Chelsea Polis
This 2022 comprehensive study of multiple election results found that centrist parties "moving right" to try to fight right-wing parties has the opposite effect. It VALIDATES right-wing arguments AND it alienates their own voters, reducing their turnout.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
January 4, 2026 at 10:08 AM
This 2022 comprehensive study of multiple election results found that centrist parties "moving right" to try to fight right-wing parties has the opposite effect. It VALIDATES right-wing arguments AND it alienates their own voters, reducing their turnout.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Thank you, @francoisegirard.bsky.social, for having Dr. Rebecca Simmons and I on the FMUS podcast to talk about fertility awareness based methods of contraception.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=cTqw...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=cTqw...
Fertility-Awareness Based Pregnancy Prevention–Pro or Con? W/Drs. Chelsea Polis and Rebecca Simmons
YouTube video by Feminism Makes Us Smarter
m.youtube.com
January 1, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Thank you, @francoisegirard.bsky.social, for having Dr. Rebecca Simmons and I on the FMUS podcast to talk about fertility awareness based methods of contraception.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=cTqw...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=cTqw...
Reposted by Chelsea Polis
Expectant mothers were left so hungry after the U.S. cut foreign food aid that one woman ate clay and charcoal.
Her baby struggled to gain weight after being born prematurely.
By @annamaria.bsky.social, photos by @storitellah.com & illustrations by Phoebe Ouma
Her baby struggled to gain weight after being born prematurely.
By @annamaria.bsky.social, photos by @storitellah.com & illustrations by Phoebe Ouma
What I Saw at a Maternity Ward in Kenya After the U.S. Cut Off Food and Foreign Aid
Photographs tell a story of two mothers determined to help their babies gain enough weight to leave the hospital — only to face little to no food again.
www.propublica.org
December 29, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Expectant mothers were left so hungry after the U.S. cut foreign food aid that one woman ate clay and charcoal.
Her baby struggled to gain weight after being born prematurely.
By @annamaria.bsky.social, photos by @storitellah.com & illustrations by Phoebe Ouma
Her baby struggled to gain weight after being born prematurely.
By @annamaria.bsky.social, photos by @storitellah.com & illustrations by Phoebe Ouma
Reposted by Chelsea Polis
NY is having a bad flu season. More hospitalizations last week than any week on record.
Health authorities are encouraging everyone aged 6mo+ to get the flu vax (it's not too late).
Find a provider here: on.nyc.gov/getvaccinated. You can filter for sites where there's no cost for the uninsured.
Health authorities are encouraging everyone aged 6mo+ to get the flu vax (it's not too late).
Find a provider here: on.nyc.gov/getvaccinated. You can filter for sites where there's no cost for the uninsured.
December 28, 2025 at 3:09 PM
NY is having a bad flu season. More hospitalizations last week than any week on record.
Health authorities are encouraging everyone aged 6mo+ to get the flu vax (it's not too late).
Find a provider here: on.nyc.gov/getvaccinated. You can filter for sites where there's no cost for the uninsured.
Health authorities are encouraging everyone aged 6mo+ to get the flu vax (it's not too late).
Find a provider here: on.nyc.gov/getvaccinated. You can filter for sites where there's no cost for the uninsured.
Reposted by Chelsea Polis
New findings from #AddingItUp and #FPImpact show why investing in sexual and reproductive health advances health, autonomy, and economic opportunity worldwide: https://youtube.com/shorts/rWMurafVMa0?si=lfScEOKIuCXMYq0z
New global evidence on sexual & reproductive health: why Investing in SRH matters
New global evidence is changing how we understand and meet sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs.
This year, we released two major bodies of research shaping global #SRH policy:
- #AddingItUp provides updated estimates across 128 low- and middle-...
youtube.com
December 18, 2025 at 8:52 PM
New findings from #AddingItUp and #FPImpact show why investing in sexual and reproductive health advances health, autonomy, and economic opportunity worldwide: https://youtube.com/shorts/rWMurafVMa0?si=lfScEOKIuCXMYq0z