Time to review your emergency contraception options

+ Fight burnout by setting boundaries

View this email online July 10, 2022 by Andrea Muraskin This week: We put together a guide to emergency contraception options that can prevent pregnancy. And we look at the ways that cancer care is driving patients into debt. Plus, a therapist on how setting boundaries can guard your energy and protect your relationships.  Your emergency contraception game plan Justin Sullivan/Getty Images It can be surprisingly difficult to access emergency contraception in the United States, as we reported last week. ICYMI, emergency contraception are treatments that can be used after sex to prevent fertilization of egg by sperm – not abortion pills. The good news is with a little planning, you can be prepared ahead of time, just in case. Our editors put together this guide to help you figure out the best emergency contraception option for you or your partner, and how to get ahold of it.  Plus: Self-induced abortions can raise medical — and legal — questions for doctors Also: How do you talk to kids about abortion? We want to hear from you. Newsletter continues after sponsor message Thank You For Your Support Over the past few weeks, readers have answered our call and donated to local NPR stations across the country. Thank you. Your generosity and commitment means more than you know; it allows our team to stay focused on what matters most - reliable, fact-based, trustworthy reporting. No matter when or how much you give, your support is what makes NPR possible.    She was already battling cancer. Then she had to fight the bill collectors Rachel Lacovone/WPLN After multiple surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy, Jeni Rae Peters' cancer was under control. But, despite having insurance, this mother of two adopted kids who fosters two others, was left with more than $30,000 of debt, threats from bill collectors, and more anxious nights thinking of her kids. The high costs of modern-day medical care is forcing patients and their families to make gut-wrenching sacrifices even as they battle an illness. Cancer patients are at especially high risk of what some call "financial toxicity" after treatment. Read more about Peters' story and the financial burden of cancer care.  How to set boundaries and guard your energy: a therapist weighs in. We Are/Getty Images "We want to be in relationships with people. We just want to be less anxious, less overwhelmed, less drained, less frustrated with folks," says Nedra Glover Tawwab, a licensed therapist and author of Set Boundaries, Find Peace. While you might worry about hurting mom’s feelings if you ask her not to call you every day, for example, Tawwab says that boundaries protect relationships, instead of stifling them. Read her tips for how to practice boundary-setting in small and large ways. Also: For the people pleaser who always says yes, here’s how to say “no.” Before you go: Claire Marie Schneider for NPR Listen: How to stay cool when the weather is hot, hot, hot. The FDA un-bans Juul e-cigarettes, for now. The U.S.’s only uranium mill may pose health risks for the tribe next door. “My body, my choice” means something very different now from what it meant 50 years ago.  We hope you enjoyed these stories. Find more of NPR's health journalism on Shots and follow us on Twitter at @NPRHealth. All best, Andrea Muraskin and NPR's health editors Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WMFE (edit station). What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: shots@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Goats & Soda, Daily News, Best of NPR and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Health emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy