This new bill sounds crazy, but maybe it's the push we need
Key Takeaways
Industry Buzz
"Fair is fair, right? If this legislature is so dedicated to regulating women's bodies and their access to contraceptives, then let's start policing men in the same way." — Anita Somani, MD, Bluesky
“The [Act] is a bold and satirical attempt to call out the double standards in reproductive laws. It is not meant to become law but to make a point. The bill shines a light on how legislation overwhelmingly focuses on women’s reproductive choices while often ignoring men’s role in contraception and reproductive responsibility.” — Randall Turner, DO
Find more of your peers' perspectives and insights below.
Mississippi State Senator Bradford Blackmon introduced Senate Bill 2319, the "Contraception Begins at Erection Act," making it unlawful for individuals to ejaculate without the intent to fertilize an embryo. Penalties start at $1,000 for a first offense, escalating to $5,000 and $10,000 for subsequent offenses.[]
@underthedesknews "I'm comfortable using legal jargon in everyday life" #mississippi #reproductiverights #womenshealth ♬ original sound - UnderTheDeskNews
Board-certified physician Randall Turner, DO, shares his point of view with MDLinx: “The Contraception Begins at Erection Act is a bold and satirical attempt to call out the double standards in reproductive laws. It is not meant to become law but to make a point. The bill shines a light on how legislation overwhelmingly focuses on women’s reproductive choices while often ignoring men’s role in contraception and reproductive responsibility.”
A similar bill was introduced by Ohio Representatives Anita Somani, MD, an OB/GYN, and Tristan Rader.[] Their bill makes exceptions for masturbation, condoms, and LGBTQ activities, and aims to provoke discussion about gender disparities in reproductive health. Neither bill is expected to pass.
Read about what docs think of the new bill, here: These docs say men should have a more equitable role in reproductive health—but are they ready for it?
A ‘regulatory fog’ around abortion research
The 2022 Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade, ending federal abortion protections. Since then, 19 states have banned or restricted abortion earlier than the Roe standard.[]
Related: 'If things get worse, we do what we always do'While researchers in reproductive health are working to understand how these restrictions are affecting communities, a recent commentary in the journal Contraception notes how unclear regulations, including conflicting state and federal laws, are creating a "regulatory fog" around abortion research.[]
This confusion is affecting institutional review board processes, whereby researchers face delays, extra scrutiny, and misunderstandings about what constitutes legal or ethical abortion research.
A step toward more equitable healthcare?
In a statement to WLBT News, Senator Blackmon wrote, “All across the country, especially here in Mississippi, the vast majority of bills relating to contraception and/or abortion focus on the woman’s role when men are fifty percent of the equation. This bill highlights that fact and brings the man’s role into the conversation.”[]
Why regulate abortion access when you go straight to the source of the issue? Introducing our new bill to hold men accountable for their role in unwanted pregnancies. Follow the progress of this bill here: ohiohouse.gov/legislation/search @twrader.bsky.social #politics #equality #reprorights
— Anita Somani District 8 OH (@anitamd.bsky.social) February 4, 2025 at 5:19 PM
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Speaking in a video, Dr. Somani remarked, "Fair is fair, right? If this legislature is so dedicated to regulating women's bodies and their access to contraceptives, then let's start policing men in the same way."[]
Dr. Turner tells MDLinx this has sparked important discussion: “Reproductive healthcare should be a shared responsibility, and policies should reflect that. Whether or not people agree with the bill’s approach, it forces us to rethink how we frame reproductive rights and responsibilities for everyone, not just women.”
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