I just published my 2026 predictions focused on what’s happening in Washington and how it will shape women’s health next year. (These are some of the issues that matter most in my mind, even if they don’t always get the coverage they deserve!)
This isn’t a recap of 2025, but a look ahead at the policy choices already in motion. Here’s a preview:
• Cuts that won’t show up in the data until moms start dying
• The government funding that dwarfs private donations? It’s likely going down
• FDA delay: pausing the public fight, not the plan
Please read, share and comment! I’d love to know what you think, and we’ll see how well my prognostications turn out to be. And now, on to the other top women’s health news this week.
EVERYTHING // The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists officially ditched federal funding. Why? So it can keep fighting researching ways to reduce maternal deaths and health inequities without political strings attached.
ABORTION ACCESS // A Johns Hopkins analysis of 12 years of FDA records found the agency always followed its scientists’ evidence-based advice on the abortion pill…except under the first Trump administration during COVID. That’s when FDA leadership ignored scientists who said telehealth prescriptions were safe.
BEAUTY // The Consumer Electronics Show 2026 was overrun by AI-driven gadgets promising smarter skin care and prettier faces, as beauty giants teamed up with tech heavyweights like Samsung and MIT to prove that data is the new face cream.
CONTRACEPTION // Theres a self-injectable birth control shot that lasts for three‑months, and it’s existed for years. But most doctors don’t offer it—especially in abortion ban states. Researchers say docs need more education.
WEIGHT LOSS + METABOLISM // Scientific American reports on a study that found people who quit weight-loss drugs like Wegovy tend to gain back the pounds and lose heart-health perks within about two years. They also regain the weight roughly four times faster than folks who drop diet or exercise plans.