Reproductive Rights

A Primer On The Comstock Act

A Primer On The Comstock Act

As abortion continues to play a major role in Texas and national politics, a law from the nineteenth century keeps getting mentioned: the Comstock Act of 1873. And ever since the Arizona Supreme Court upheld an abortion ban that dates back even earlier to before it was even a territory,

By Jessica Montoya Coggins
The Texas Reproductive Justice Organization Centering Black Women

The Texas Reproductive Justice Organization Centering Black Women

Last October The Afiya Center in Dallas officially celebrated its fifteenth anniversary. It’s a milestone Executive Director Marsha Jones wasn’t sure the center would reach. And not because of a lack of dedication from the health professionals and caregivers that comprise the Afiya Center’s staff, but because

By Jessica Montoya Coggins
Supreme Court Hears Arguments In Abortion Pill Case

Supreme Court Hears Arguments In Abortion Pill Case

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court is hearing arguments in a case that could restrict access to mifepristone, which is one of the two drugs used in a medication abortion. The case, formally known as The Alliance For Hippocratic Medicine v. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is the first major abortion-related

By Jessica Montoya Coggins
Birth Control Is Now Easier To Get: Here’s The Facts

Birth Control Is Now Easier To Get: Here’s The Facts

With the recent news that Opill, the first ever over-the-counter birth control is now available to purchase, the Texas Signal wanted to discuss what Texans should know about this common and safe form of contraception. We spoke with Dr. Bhavik Kumar, a Houston physician who is a member of The

By Jessica Montoya Coggins
New Report Shows Increase In Medication Abortions

New Report Shows Increase In Medication Abortions

New reporting from a leading research and policy organization shows that abortions have been on the rise in the United States. That finding might seem contradictory given the 2022 ruling from the Supreme Court which overturned Roe v. Wade, but the increase in abortions stems in part from access to

By Jessica Montoya Coggins
The Texans Facing Uncertainty Amidst IVF Ruling

The Texans Facing Uncertainty Amidst IVF Ruling

On the heels of an IVF ruling out of Alabama that has sparked fears the procedure could be in danger, many Texans are grappling with the distinct possibility that one of the biggest lifelines against infertility could be gone. Some patients are even opting to move embryos out of state.

By Jessica Montoya Coggins
When Global Reproductive Rights Groups Step In

When Global Reproductive Rights Groups Step In

For decades, international organizations devoted to reproductive healthcare have operated in some of the harshest autocracies and authoritarian regimes around the world. Now, thanks to new laws that have reshaped where abortion can and cannot be accessed in the United States, places like Texas are receiving attention from those organizations.

By Jessica Montoya Coggins
In Politics, Abortion Takes Center Stage

In Politics, Abortion Takes Center Stage

As the country gears up for another election in November, there are several concerns that will be top of mind for voters. But perhaps the issue that could make the biggest difference is one that became front and center as states like Texas moved to restrict it: abortion.  Texas is

By Jessica Montoya Coggins
A Texas Physician On The Impact Of Abortion Bans

A Texas Physician On The Impact Of Abortion Bans

Earlier this month, the Texas Signal Media Foundation spoke with Dr. Ghazaleh Moayedi, a Board-Certified OB/GYN and Complex Family Planning specialist in Texas. For several years, Dr. Moayedi has been a leading voice against restrictive abortion laws like those currently in place in Texas. This interview has been edited

By Jessica Montoya Coggins