WASHINGTON — Amid hot pink lights and cherry blossom pink drapes on a ballroom stage, family doctor Marguerite Duane proposed a straightforward fix for infertility: Physicians should discuss with young girls whether they envision having children in the future. This story also ran on CNN. It can be republished for free. “I have these conversations with children starting at ages 8, 10, 12: What do you want to be when you grow up?” ” Duane said. For example, if you’re a child aspiring to be a doctor, there are certain preparations you need to make. If you want children someday, there are factors to consider and discussions to have early on. Duane, a restorative reproductive medicine specialist affiliated with the anti-abortion Charlotte Lozier Institute, received an enthusiastic welcome from attendees at the Trump administration’s first National Conference on Women’s Health. The three-day event, organized by the Department of Health and Human Services last week, aimed to “explore breakthroughs in research, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of health conditions that affect women across the lifespan.” Government officials convened a diverse group of affluent philanthropists, alternative medicine influencers, health tech leaders, and medical researchers to address various topics, ranging from Lyme disease to gut health. Email Sign-Up. Sign up for KFF Health News’ free Morning Briefing. Your Email Address. Aiming to connect with women as President Donald Trump’s backing wanes among a vital voter group, the administration-backed Make America Healthy Again event spotlighted views diverging from mainstream medical norms and opposing common women’s health options. For instance, in a 40-minute panel led by Alexis Joel, the wife of singer Billy Joel, multiple physicians highlighted worries over the widespread use of hormonal birth control for managing women’s health issues.
