"It Feels Sketchy, But It Works": Women Of All Ages Are Sharing The Proactive Health Measures They're Taking Now That RFK Jr. Has Been Confirmed As Health Secretary
RFK Jr. — who has long touted conspiracy theories regarding healthcare and safety — was recently sworn in as the US's 26th Health Secretary. With the "Make America Healthy Again Commission," he and the Trump administration intend to address "the growing health crisis in America..."
However, in a little over a week, the Commission has already questioned the usage of vital mental health medications and launched an examination into the current childhood vaccine schedule, despite previous promises that the schedule would remain unchanged. Coupled with the precarious state of reproductive rights, American women are understandably uneasy about their future healthcare...
Which is why u/skermahger asked the r/WomenOver30 community, "What should I be doing health-wise as a woman over 30 to protect myself and prepare for the next four years now that RFK Jr. is confirmed as the health secretary?" Women were more than happy to share how they plan to protect their physical and mental health under the Trump administration. From crucial vaccinations to community action, here is some of their best advice:
Also, feel free to share your health advice using this Google form!
1."As someone who works in digital marketing with public data — delete your period tracking app. Nothing is stopping these companies from giving your data to authorities who want to prosecute women for suspicion of abortions.'"
"Consider long-term birth control (IUD, implant, etc.) or go old-school and track your cycle on a paper calendar. Prioritize your health.
We have no clue what will happen, but if history is correct, this will take a lot longer than four years to undo."
2."This needs to be mentioned: organize. Find a local political group and get involved ASAP — from grassroots campaigns to volunteering for abortion funds."
"Since 2015, I have watched people advocate for personal safety measures that pale in comparison to deep systemic issues. I am not saying personal safety guidelines are useless — they're actually VERY useful. But they can only keep you safe for a short amount of time. Your IUD (I have one, as well) will not keep you safe if they pass laws against both abortion and contraception. If you need it removed or changed, or if it fails and you need an abortion, you'll be in a bad situation.
Yes, get your passports, your vaccines, and your birth control. Use period tracking methods that cannot be monitored or petitioned by the US government, and have an emergency fund so finances will not prevent you from seeking safety — but, above all, do not forget that you need to be part of the change."
3."Get the series of HPV vaccines! RFK Jr. has long been a vocal critic of vaccines, including the HPV (cervical cancer) vaccine, Gardasil. He has actively campaigned against vaccines while financially benefiting from their related lawsuits."
"When I was growing up, my dad was anti-vax, so I wasn't allowed to receive the HPV vaccine while in school. By the time I got it as an adult, I had already contracted one of the high-risk cancer strains. Now, at 31 years old, I already have pre-cervical cancer."
4."Get on long-term birth control, if you can. I got an implant. Don’t let the horror stories on the internet scare you; implants are an option if you can’t make it through an IUD insertion."
"Same. I know people who have had nightmarish experiences with IUDs, but please do not let one person's experience make the decision for you.
If an IUD is an option, I say go for it! I just got a new one in December. I had another year on my old one, but given the new administration, I figured I’d just get it done now.
This is my third IUD. The first insertion was uncomfortable but fine. Second was a cinch. The removal of the second was a little ugly — my doctor couldn’t get it out and had another doctor do it — but I think that was a doctor-specific problem. The doctor who took it out (and later performed my third insertion) was SO smooth.
Zero downtime on my part. Despite the wonky second removal attempt, I still took the subway home, went to the grocery store, etc.
And I haven’t had a period in about 15 years which doesn't suck."
5."Sometimes I wonder if this is overly pessimistic, but if you have the space, start a garden."
"Over the past few years, I’ve casually grown some of my own food, and I really want to kick it up a notch now because who knows what will happen? Between deportation, trade wars, and a likely gutting of the FDA, many elements could make fresh food unaffordable or unsafe.
Tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, lettuces, cucumbers, and location-appropriate fruit trees are usually easy to grow without experience. Look up the plants that grow well in your area! You can also use an aero garden or something similar to grow food in an apartment."
6."Get sterilized if you never plan on having children. With the rising rates of childbirth-related deaths, the risk isn't worth it."
7."I might be misinformed about how serious this is, but my first thought was to stock up on high-fluoride toothpaste. These morons keep talking about removing fluoride from the water, and having healthy teeth is crucial to general health."
"Fluoride in your toothpaste (or nano-hydroxyapatite, which he likely won't ban) is important. You can also do a fluoride rinse if you are at high risk (GERD, dry mouth, or a condition that causes vomiting). However, fluoride in the water mainly protects children and adults with certain health conditions — especially those without access to proper dental care. I absolutely do not want fluoride to be removed."
8."Go to the gym, get strong, and improve your health outcomes for your 40s, 50s, and beyond because we all know that medication is pricey. We also know that a bad mammogram can happen, and you do NOT want to go through chemo without muscle mass."
"Our healthcare system is already sh*tty, and it's going to get even worse. We can't afford to wait around."
9."Make an appointment with your GP as soon as possible and ask them to check your vaccine titers. Get vaccinated for anything low."
"I asked my pharmacist about titers, and the guidelines are pretty simple for vaccines; some are 'lifetime good' (such as the polio vaccine, unless you're over 60, in which case you might need a booster), and some are 'it's been a decade, time for a booster' and they don't need to run titers.
I hadn't gotten a tetanus shot in a while and recently got the TDAP (which is typically given every 10 years). I am not in a risk group needing the MMR vaccine again, but I did take the flu and pneumonia vax."
10."Decentralize your healthcare as much as possible from the 'dominant' system. For example, learn CPR/First Aid. It will be useful because our healthcare system is already crumbling — and learn how to take care of minor things at home to avoid the hassle of an ER."
"Check EMT/ambulance services in your area for this type of training. When our office installed a new AED, my job held employee emergency training. The ambulance service had a certified trainer on staff — which was more accessible and less expensive than going through the Red Cross itself — but we all had Red Cross certification.
It’s especially useful if you have a group that wants to do it together."
11."Build (or strengthen) a dependable community. Not just for help dealing with all the crap that’s going to happen, but one that is a nurturing safe space for being silly and bringing positivity to your life."
12."When you see your GP, get prescriptions for Plan B and other pregnancy-related medications because access to those may become limited/nonexistent. Even if you don't need those things, having them readily available for someone else could be helpful."
"Generic Plan B is available over-the-counter and cheap, and the other pregnancy-related medications can be purchased online. How it's bought and delivered might initially feel sketchy, but it works, and the meds come in the mail."
13.And finally, "If you have the means, I suggest leaving the country."
"This sh*t show will only get worse, and as long as you're free and able, there's no reason for you to stick around and watch the circus unfold."
Did any of these health tips surprise you? Women, what measures are you taking to protect your physical and mental health over the next four years? Let us know in the comments! (Or, if you prefer to stay anonymous, you can answer using this Google form).
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
