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Sloane Stephens freezes her eggs so she doesn’t have to choose between tennis and motherhood

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Grand Slam tennis champion Sloane Stephens looks to the long run. In addition to competing on the planet’s biggest tournaments in hopes of lifting more trophies, she can be looking forward to expanding her family with her husband, footballer Jozy Altidore. Realizing she wasn’t enthusiastic about having to choose between touring and motherhood, she recently made the choice to freeze her eggs.

“I always wanted to become a mother and have a large family one day, including both biological and adopted children. I think it’s all wonderful,” Stephens says, sharing that her mother was the seventh of eight children. She can be the mother of Altidore’s son, Cameron. “Having a grandfather who was a Howard-trained OB-GYN, I was always aware of fertility, maternal health, and the importance of supporting my health as an African American woman.”

She adds: “At 31, I’m considered a veteran on the road and I’m still very captivated with competing in sports, but I wanted to freeze my balls so I could give attention to the current without worrying about what doors I would close or open. It’ll be harder once my chapter in tennis shall be closed.”

Stephens’ fear is common not only amongst other tennis players and athletes, but additionally amongst many ladies pursuing skilled careers. Concern about how parenting may impact an individual’s success of their chosen field, and vice versa, could cause enormous stress. In tennis, taking the time to give attention to fertility, including egg freezing, can impact your rating. Stephens is fighting to change that.

Sloane Stephens freezes her eggs so she doesn't have to choose between tennis and motherhood
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In a campaign she has just announced in a network of infertility treatment clinics Friendly, with whom Stephens went through the method, shares her egg freezing journey, drawing parallels between the exertions required each in training to turn into a champion athlete and preparing for motherhood. She lobbied for egg freezing to be recognized as a protected activity in tennis, so that ladies’s rankings wouldn’t change for 3 months while the procedure was performed. Protected rankings allow top-level players to return relatively unscathed after a protracted layoff, which is usually allowed within the event of injury.

We spoke with Stephens about her efforts to provide women tennis players with alternative and to act fearlessly while balancing skilled and personal responsibilities. She told us what the egg freezing process was like and what the long run holds for her on and off the court.

ESSENCE: When you began the method, did you have much knowledge about how egg freezing worked?

Sloane Stephens: I talked to just a few people and understood the overall timeline, however the Kindbody team really explained the whole process and made sure that every step seemed very doable and that I understood exactly why each step was happening. As an expert athlete subject to mandatory drug testing, it is vitally necessary that I understand every little thing that is occurring in my body. The entire Kindbody team was an incredible partner on this process and communicated really effectively to ensure every little thing was explained and properly documented.

How did this process impact your ability to train and compete, and how did it encourage you to lobby for egg freezing to turn into a protected activity in your sport?

Egg retrieval is a medical process that has a physical impact on the body. During my first recovery cycle I gained about 20 kilos due to hormones and took a break from training so that in the long run I shall be more aware and plan my next off-season cycle in a different way. It’s also necessary to rest and not overexert yourself and risk ovarian torsion or other complications, so I had to really plan my training blocks and off-season to make all of it occur. For this reason, I’m very keen to introduce protected rankings for athletes undergoing infertility treatment, so that they’ll feel supported in making independent decisions and taking proper care of their bodies, without having to withdraw out of fear of rating points or profession failure.

Based in your conversations with the ladies you play with, do you discover that female tennis players feel they are sometimes forced to choose between sport and raising a family? And how did freezing your eggs free you from this struggle?

As athletes, we’re used to making sacrifices for sport. Female athletes have an extra layer of fertility that should be taken into consideration throughout their careers. When talking to lots of my tour friends about fertility, some equate fertility preservation or family planning with making one other sacrifice to the game, similar to missing a birthday or being on the road greater than 40 weeks a yr. My hope is that by partnering with Kindbody to share my experience and raise awareness, women who’re focused on their careers, including other athletes, will feel comfortable and encouraged to explore opportunities and not feel like that a profession must come on the expense of family or vice versa. Each family looks different and may come at their very own time. I hope to support culture and space, especially in my immediate world of skilled tennis, where my colleagues will have the chance to realize all their dreams.

Having said that, what are your hopes for the long run regarding tennis and also your loved ones life?

Health and happiness in every way! I like playing tennis and I’m still very motivated to compete. I also have many external interests and projects that I’m developing and looking forward to implementing.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Health and Wellness

The looming crisis means New Zealand must rethink how it funds aged care

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Latest motions submitted to parliament Health Commission makes one thing clear: New Zealand’s aged care sector is facing a crisis.

This crisis is concentrated on the funding and staffing of aged care homes (ARCs) and residential care and support services.

But the federal government doesn’t should look far to resolve the issue. Australia has modified the best way it funds the sector, calling on wealthier members of society to pay a fairer share of the prices.

New Zealanders in nursing homes

Last yr, an estimated 32,000 people lived in residential aged care. The government’s means-tested residential care grant covers most of the associated fee of care for many who qualify – about 63% of ARC residents.

The ARC subsidy eligibility threshold is total assets of NZ$284,636 or less for a pair aged 65 or over. New Zealand Superannuation, the universal age pension, pays the remaining and provides a modest weekly expenses allowance.

Those with assets above the brink pay for their very own care, increasingly in “care apartments.” These beds, available only to those that can afford the associated fee, reduce what is on the market to subsidized residents, which creates equity issues.

In 2022/23 Health NZ contributed $1.352 billion to ARC providers. Resident fees contributed an extra $1.1 billion.

During the identical period, about 80,000 people over age 65 with social service records or chronic health conditions used home support services (at a value of $2 billion). These services included personal care, cooking, cleansing and respite care. Personal care services weren’t income or asset tested.

New Zealand’s aged care sector is facing a funding and staffing crisis.
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Elderly care overview

In July 2023, Health NZ launched Funding Review and models of elderly care services.

The aim of the review is to make recommendations that may ensure equitable access and outcomes for older people across New Zealand, while balancing the necessity to implement a cheap system.

The first phase of the review was accomplished in late December 2023. report Five key issues were identified and there have been no surprises:

  • residential care services for older people and residential and social support services are underfunded
  • the financing models used to distribute funds to the sector usually are not suited to the intended purpose
  • there are material ethnic inequalities in access to eldercare services
  • the aged care sector continues to face significant staffing pressures
  • Aged care issues are more serious in regional and rural New Zealand.

Phase two involves developing recommendations for service and financing models that may result in a more integrated model of care, efficient use of resources, and regulatory and financing systems which are fit for purpose.

Despite the federal government claiming $1.4 billion in savings under Health NZ, Seniors Minister Casey Costello says the federal government we don’t intend to chop spending on elderly care.

A recent survey found that 56% of respondents’ ARC establishments made a net loss within the 2022/23 financial yr.

Insufficient funding has caused some nursing home providers to scale back the variety of ARC beds of their facilities. Many smaller providers have closed beds or shuttered their doors for good.

In addition, an acute shortage of registered nurses will see greater than 1,000 beds closed permanently and 1,200 closed temporarily in 2023. It is not any wonder that Health NZ estimates a shortfall of 12,000 residential care beds over eight years.

But underfunding the sector is clearly a false economy. The cost of hospital-level care in ARC facilities is lower than 1 / 4 of the associated fee of a bed day in a public hospital medical ward.

As Aged Care Commissioner Carolyn Cooper says in her statement: last report:

A key problem is the shortage of a selected strategy and planning that takes under consideration the health needs of an ageing population.

Common crisis

The aged care crisis is just not confined to New Zealand.

The Australian government has just accomplished sector overview and adopted 23 recommendations of the Task Force on Care for the Elderly.

One of the more significant changes is the requirement for wealthier people to contribute more to overall costs, relatively than counting on taxpayer subsidies.

The urgency of this modification comes from the undeniable fact that greater than half of all residential aged care facilities in Australia usually are not financially viable. Providers need sufficient revenue to cover the prices of providing services. Every facility that closes reduces the supply of residential aged care for the elderly.

The Australian Government will proceed to cover 100% of the associated fee of clinical care services, while increased means-testing arrangements for each day living costs and non-clinical care will be certain that individuals with assets are in a position to self-fund their care.

Taxpayer funding will be certain that people without assets have access to the care they need.

These changes will improve the financial health of healthcare facilities and in addition improve intergenerational equity by reducing the burden on taxpayers.

An unimaginable burden

New Zealand could learn from Australia. NZ Statistics It is predicted that by 2028 the share of individuals aged 65+ will reach 20% of the population. Within 4 years, there may very well be 30 people aged 65+ for each 100 people aged 15–64.

Older persons are frequent users of health services, and most care and support for older people is currently funded by taxpayers. Without a change within the funding model, working-age residents will face an increasingly heavy burden.

The sector review must be certain that wealthier users of aged care services contribute adequately. Intergenerational equity must be considered in any redesign of aged care provision.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Health and Wellness

Fantasia Barrino’s Daughter Zion Celebrates 90 Days of Sobriety and Addresses ICU Rumors

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Fantasia Barrino has reached a brand new milestone in her journey to sobriety – she’s now 90 days sober. (*90*) 23-year-old opened up about her commitment to starting a brand new chapter.

“Happy 90 days to me 🙏🏽,” she wrote on her Threads account on September 4. (*90*) update is timely, considering a rumor recently broke that Zion was in critical condition within the ICU. (*90*) 23-year-old also addressed the rumor on her Instagram Stories.

“I’m not in the ICU,” she wrote. In a follow-up story, she added: “And wishing myself dead is really fucked up.”

Barrino’s last update on her journey to sobriety was in August, once we first reported on her decision to get sober.

“Today I celebrate one of the hardest challenges of my life,” Barrino shared with fans on Sunday, August 11.

“I was sick for 3 weeks but I persevered by the grace of God. I met amazing people on this new journey and gained community, love and unbearable support from my family. Happy 60 days today for me [red heart emoji]. If you’re struggling, I’m here to help and tell you about my journey.”

Zion hasn’t revealed what her sobriety has been for, but her transparency can still encourage many who’re struggling as well. Those aware of her mother, Fantasia’s, story has been capable of watch Zion grow over time. When Fantasia rose to fame on American Idol, Zion was by her side and a key part of her story. (*90*) singer gave birth to Zion at age 17, after she dropped out of highschool to live together with her boyfriend.

It’s also a time of transition for Fantasia, who enrolled in college last 12 months after earning her GED in 2009. We wish Zion more milestones of sobriety and strength on his journey.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Health and Wellness

Method Man Says He ‘Doesn’t Want to Be Seen as a Sex Symbol’ and Wants to Blend In

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Method Man wants to be known for greater than just his looks. During a recent appearance on the show, he shared the importance of prioritizing respect over his status as a sex symbol.

On the show, Tamron Hall asked him about a quote from his 2023 speech. Men’s health cover. “In the article, you said, ‘I’m not a sex symbol.’ You said that sometimes you don’t want to be desired; you just want to be respected.” Hall also touched on Method Man’s tendency to take his shirt off in public, such as at a recent Usher concert: “How do you reconcile not wanting to be desired with constantly having your shirt unbuttoned?”

He quickly responded, “That’s the thing; now that I have it, I’m going to show it, but not for that reason.” The legendary rapper continued, “I’m showing it while I still have it. But that’s the thing, right? I love the admiration. I love it. Does it ever get awkward? Absolutely. Sometimes you just want to blend in, and I’m that type of person.”

Hall replied, “You can never fit in.” Method Man continued, “Sometimes I do. Again, I can appreciate the admiration. And then there are the only things where he’s like, ‘The Greatest Man Alive.’ I mean, you can pour fuel on the fire all you want, but honestly, I think we’re all beautiful and sexy in our own way, so let’s be sexy together.”

In his cover, the artist shared that he just isn’t a sex symbol. “That’s the fucking point, man. Put the words together. Sex and symbol. What’s the symbol? I ain’t doing nothing. So what’s the symbol?” he said. “I’m not gonna lie, I love every damn minute of it, but I don’t want to be that guy who, when the clock starts ticking, is still trying to be sexy.”

He continued, “I mean, Smokey Robinson will always be sexy to someone. I’m not using him as an example — I’m just saying that considering where Smokey is now, if Smokey was around at the same time as he was then, it would look ridiculous. And Smokey knew he was a sexy motherfucker. You get to a certain age where you just stop caring, and I think that’s the sexiest thing in the world.”

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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