Medicine. Technology. Web. » Education

WAIT! Is Your Ultrasound Program Accredited?

Gloria — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:55:54 +0000

Though I have spoken about school accreditation in previous posts, I would like to dedicate a full post on school accreditation as it pertains to ultrasound programs. Finding the right ultrasound program can be daunting and of course, you want to know that you are receiving the best education possible. So, how do you know if a school’s ultrasound program is accredited?

Many schools will advertise that they are fully accredited and can show you a whole bunch of certificates on the wall to prove it. However, the accreditation that a school needs to obtain so that they can keep their doors open and charge you tuition, may not be the same accreditation that will help you become a registered sonographer. Depending on the state, many schools can offer a sonography program without having an accredited sonography program. So, what does this mean? It means that once you have completed an ultrasound program from a school without an accredited program you cannot take your registry exams without at least one year of paid clinical ultrasound experience. It also means that potential employers have no way of knowing how worthwhile your education in sonography is. In other words, this can make finding a job much more difficult.

So what accreditation should your ultrasound program have? Your sonography program should be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs, also known as CAAHEP. The easiest way to find out if the school you are interested in has an accredited sonography program is to go to CAAHEP’s website and do a search. When you search on CAAHEP’s website, select “Diagnostic Medical Sonography” then select your concentration and see all the schools that are accredited in your state, which can be helpful if you discover that the school you are interested in is not accredited.

The field of sonography is an evolving field. Thirty years ago there were no schools that offered sonography, a technician was trained on the job. Sonography has become so advanced and is used in so many different practices accross medicine that the demand for sonographers is on the rise. However, this also means that having a valuble education and being a “registered” sonographer is imperative. In the near future,sonographers will not only be required to be registered but have a Bachelor’s degree as well. Accreditation by CAAHEP ensures that the sonography program you are enrolled in is meeting the standard education requirements for your field. Schools that are accredited need to be up to date with their curriculum, teaching methods, technology, staffing, and clinical requirements you will need to be a well trained sonographer and sit for your registry exams upon graduating. Asking a school if their sonography program is accredited is the number one question that you should ask before anything else to ensure that you will receive the best education possible.

5 Ways to Reduce Job Related Stress

Gloria — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:16:36 +0000

With deadlines to meet, keeping the boss happy,and sifting through numerous emails everyday it’s no wonder that the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports that 25% of Americans say that work is the number one stressor in their lives. Most would consider feeling stressed just a part of life, however over time stress can take a toll on you both physically and emotionally. Stress can effect you physically causing headaches, chest pain, fatigue, digestive issues, cause sleeplessness, neck and shoulder pain, decrease your immunity to infections, and cause high blood pressure. Stress can effect you emotionally by making you irritable, overly emotional, and making it hard to focus.

Although there millions of things in our lives that stress us that we cannot plan or control, there are things that you can do to keep your stress levels down.

Get Organized. Though the thought of organizing your desk may make you feel even more stressed, by keeping your work space neat and organized you will help yourself be more efficient. Not to mention, walking in to a clean work space is much less overwhelming than starting your morning by staring at the piles of paperwork on your desk.
Prioritize your tasks. Take some time to make a list of all that you need to do, then put them in order of what needs to be done first. Not only does this give you a jumping off point, but it also can put things into perspective. When a million things are being thrown at us at once we can become overwhelmed, but making a plan for yourself can help you to focus on one thing at a time.
Eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly. Fueling your body with good nutrtrients can help to reduce the effects that stress has on your body. Mainitaining normal blood sugar levels can also keep you from becoming irritable throughout the day. Exercising not only helps to combat the negative effects of stress, but can also help to relieve stress. In addition to increasing your endorphine levels which can improve your mood, it also allows you to focus on something else besides all the things you need to do at work.
Do something fun. Find something that you enjoy to do outside of work that allows you to let your hair down. Whether it be reading a book, doing yoga, or taking a photography class, having something that you enjoy to look forward to at the end of a work day can help to reduce stress.
Leave work at the office. Though many of us have jobs that do not fall in to the typical 9 – 5 working hours, it is important to establish a boundary between work time and home time whenever possible. You need to be able to have time to relax and recharge.

Stress is a part of life. However, learning how to manage what makes you stressed can make a difference in you mental and physical health. For more information on stress and stress management please visit the following websites:

What can you see with Ultrasound?

Gloria — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:02:27 +0000

It is a common misconception that Ultrasound, also known as a Sonogram, is only used during pregnancy to see the unborn child. However, Ultrasound is commonly used to assess many areas and organs of the body in both female and male patients.

So, what can you see with ultrasound? Ultrasound can be used to assess the size, function, blood flow, and abnormalities on many organs and soft tissue. It can be used to see cysts, tumors, stones and other abnormal pathology in the body. Ultrasound can also be used to assist in procedures such as Ultrasound guided biopsies in which a doctor uses ultrasound to guide a needle into an area where he or she would like to take a tissue sample from. Ultrasound can even be used on your pets! Some of the things that Ultrasound can image are:

Kidneys
Gallbladder
Liver
Spleen
Pancreas
Thyroid
Vascular System (Veins and Arteries)
Breasts
Female Reproductive Organs
Male Reproductive Organs
Muscles – Just to name a few!

So what is ultrasound and how does it work? Ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves (sound waves beyond the frequency that humans can hear) that travel through the body then return to the Ultrasound machine to produce an image. The technology used in Ultrasound is based on the technology used in Radar and Sonar. A technician holds a small wand with a gel on it to the area on the patient’s body that is being imaged and the wand sends and receives the sound waves. It is painless and in most cases requires no needles or contrast agents to be administered. The benefit of using ultrasound to image the body is that it does not expose the patient to radiation like X-Ray and CT scans do. Ultrasounds can be more cost effective in some situations as well.

Ultrasound technology continues to become more and more advanced. Though ultrasound uses the simple mechanics of sound waves to produce an image, over the years the clarity of these images have greatly improved and additonal technology, such as 3D, has been utilized to optimize these images and how they can be used. This allows for more accuracy and can prevent a patient from having to have more invasive procedures.

So now that you know a little more about ultrasound, spread the word that ultrasound is not just for pregnancy!

Here are some websites with more information on ultrasound:

Heart Disease in Women

Gloria — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 23:41:05 +0000

Did you know that 1 in 4 women die of heart disease? Though heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women, over the last 25 years or so there has been in a decline in the number of heart related deaths in males, however, the number of heart related deaths in females has had little change. According to the Center for Disease Control, heart disease kills more women than any other type of disease including breast cancer.

For starters, what exactly is a heart disease? Although there are many types of heart disease, it mainly refers to Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) which is the type that can lead to a heart attack. A heart attack is caused by the heart muscle not receiving enough oxygen to be able to pump properly. This is caused by a blockage (usually a blood clot) in the coronary arteries which are the blood vessels that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. Although most people view a heart attack as sudden event, coronary artery disease develops over a long period of time. Over time cholesterol, fat, and other substances build up in the walls of the coronary arteries causing plaque to form which makes the blood vessels hard and narrow. If the plaque breaks it can cause a blood clot to form which will then obstruct blood from getting to the heart muscle. The part of the heart muscle fed by the blocked artery will begin to weaken and eventually die if blood flow is not restored. The reason why some heart attacks are fatal and some are not is because it depends on where the blockage or blockages are and what parts of the heart muscle is being affected.

One of the factors that contributes to the high rate of heart related deaths in women is that a woman’s symptoms of a heart attack can be much different that those of a man. According to the American Heart Association, the symptoms that a woman may experience during a heart attack are: Chest pain or pressure that may come and go, pain in one or both arms, jaw, neck, or stomach pain that can mimic indigestion, shortness of breath, breaking in to a cold sweat, nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness, fatigue, and flu-like symptoms. Needless to say, some of these symptoms are very general and may not trigger one to realize that they are having a heart attack.

Another factor in the high number of women with heart disease is that heart disease has had a stigma of being a “man’s disease.” Most of the initial research done on heart disease was focused on men. It was not until the 1980′s that heart disease research began to focus on women. We all know that men and women are very different in many ways and therefore women can present differently with heart disease.

Although the statistics can seem grim, there are plenty of things that woman can do to reduce there risk. Maintaining a healthy diet with regular exercise is the first line of defense. Being proactive with your health is key. This means knowing your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar levels. If they are not within normal limits, work with your doctor to improve them. If you have a history in your family of someone having heart disease before the age of 55, this may put you at a greater risk for heart disease. Talking to your doctor about your risk factors and how you can prevent heart disease is a great start to minimizing your risk for heart disease.

Below are some helpful websites and videos that provide information on women’s heart disease.

Go Red for Women Presents “Just a Little Heart Attack” with Elizabeth Banks.
Noel Merz:The single biggest health threat women face

Websites:

GoRedForWomen.org
American Heart Association
CDC Leading Causes of Death in Females United States, 2007
SeeMyHeart.org provides information on different heart diseases and how cardiac ultrasound can be used to detect them

How to Make the Most of Your Ultrasound Externship

Gloria — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:06:58 +0000

Starting your ultrasound externship can be both exciting and scary at the same time. This is the time when you get a taste of what it’s like to work in the field and apply what you’ve learned in school to real patients. Your externship will also give you a chance to make connections with professionals in the field that you can potentially use as references for future job opportunities. Your externship acts as the foundation on which to build your career.

Every student’s externship experience is a little different. Depending on the size of the facility, the number of patients they see, and the size of their staff can affecet how much time you get to scan and what role you will play as an extern. For instance, a busy facility with a high patient volume but small staff may not be able to provide you with much time to scan as a facility with a lower patient volume. No matter which facility you end up in, you need to be proactive in taking away all that you can from your experience. This means that even when you are not scanning a patient that you are observing studies, taking notes, and asking questions. When you are scanning a patient ask for feedback and advice for how you can improve your skills.

Being professional at all times during your externship is very important. Although you may not be getting paid to be there, you should think of it as a job. Showing up on time and dressing appropriately show that you care and you want to be there. When communicating with patients always introduce yourself and do as much as possible to make them comfortable. Also, offer to help out the staff that you are working with. Whether it be filling gel bottles or stocking supplies, make yourself available to help out. This will show that you take an interest in what you are doing and want to make the most of your time.

The key point to remember while you are on your externship is that you are there to learn. Your school may assign you certain tasks to complete on your externship such as getting images of certain pathology. Do all that you can to complete these assignments and if you need help, ask the techicians you are working with to help you. Ultilize the people around you as they have been in your shoes and are now in their career. Even if you are at a very busy facility, try to pick a time of day, such as at lunch or at the end of the day to go over things that you have questions about. If you feel that you are not provided these opportunities and you are not getting all that you should from your externship, be sure to contact your school and make them aware of the situation. Keep in mind that part of your tuition is being paid to these facilites to have you there as an extern so you deserve to get the best experience possible.

Your ultrasound externship is your stepping stone to starting a rewarding career in the field of ultrasound. Be sure to make the most of the opportunity to ensure a great start to your career.

Things You Should Know Before Going to School Online

Gloria — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:17:09 +0000

In recent years, online learning has become much more common. From high school diplomas to doctorate degrees, all can be achieved through online learning. With all of the options online, it makes going to school very convenient for the student. Being able to log-in at your convenience and go to class from the comfort of your own home, or wherever you happen to be, can take a lot of stress out of going to school. Here are some things you should consider if you are thinking of enrolling in an online program:

You will need to be able to learn independently. Although the formats for online courses vary from school to school, you will not have that same face to face interaction with your instructors as you would in a traditional setting. In some cases, you will only have your books to teach you and someone available if you need help. When researching online schools, consider what types of courses you will need to take and what type of academic support your school offers for extra help.
Time management is important. Although you may not have to attend class at a specific time each week, you will still need to ensure that you have ample time to study and complete assignments. You will still have deadlines to meet, chapters to read, and papers to write. No one will be looking over your shoulder so you must be self-motivating to stay on track.
Your local college may offer your degree program fully online. With the growing demand for online and adult learning, many traditional schools are now offering online degree options. This can also save you money in the long run as you will pay in-state tuition rates just like you would if you attended classes at the school. Be sure to check out some local colleges, as you may be surprised to see what they offer online.
An online degree is just as valid as a degree from a traditional brick and mortar school. As long as the online school you are attending is a regionally accredited institution your degree is just as good as all the rest. If you are feeling unsure, compare the cirriculum of a traditional university to the cirriculum of the online university that you are interested in to make sure it measures up.
Making new friends at school is still encouraged. Most online courses have a platform for fellow students to communicate with one another whether it be on a message board or class email. In fact for some courses, group study activities and class participation count towards your grade for the course.
You can still have a graduation ceremony! Many online institutions still have commencement ceremonies in or near major cities so that graduates can still celebrate in the traditional fashion – cap and gown and all!

Online education will continue to grow and expand to meet the high demands. Going to school online can offer education to those who would otherwise not be able to attend a brick and mortar school. Although, as with a traditional school, it will still take time, effort, and an eagerness to learn to be successful.

Becoming a “Registered” Sonographer

Gloria — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:29:26 +0000

So you’ve completed an ultrasound program and your preceptorship/externship – or perhaps you are still in the process, and by now you’ve been told a million times how important it is to become a “Registered” Sonographer. Now you’re wondering, “Where do I begin?” or “Why do I need to become Registered? Isn’t the certificate/degree I completed enough?”.

For starters, what does it mean to be a “registered” sonographer? Being registered means that you have met certain criteria, passed registration exams, and hold a credential in the field of sonography. It also means that in order to maintain your credential, you adhere to certain guidelines and obtain Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits to stay up to date with the latest in research, clinical findings, and technology in your field. You can be employed and practicing in the field of sonography without being registered as long as you have the proper education and training. However, with the changing climate of our economy, holding a credential in the field of sonography is becoming more of a requirement than an option.

The main, and probably most important reason you need to become a registered sonographer, is so you can find employment as a sonographer. Though it is true most States do not require a sonographer to be registered in order to work, most employers will not hire a sonographer without their registry. One of the reasons for this is that Medicare is currently cutting back on reimbursements for diagnostic testing. In other words, Medicare may not pay for a patient’s sonogram if the lab where the patient had their test is not accredited. In order for an ultrasound lab to become accredited, one of the many criteria is that certain members of the staff be registered sonographers. Although an ultrasound lab may not need to have all of their sonograpers credentialed in order to become accredited, most labs hiring new staff require sonographers to be credentialed just so that all of their bases are covered. In fact, New Mexico has already passed a bill that requires that all sonographers must be registered in order to work in the field. Many other States are currently working on passing similar legislation.

So where who do you go to to obtain your registry? There are three different credentialing bodies that credential sonographers including the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), and the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS). All are reputable organizations and offer national certifications. All require the sonographer to sit for an exam – or two, and each have their own set of prerequisites. The one you choose depends on your personal career path and prerequisites that you meet.

Most sonographers are credentialed by the ARDMS due to the fact that they offer registry certifications in all specialties of sonography and can be very specific. For example, I am a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS) with my concentration being in Adult Echocardiography(RDCS-AE). A sonographer who wishes to specialize in Obstetrics ans Gynecological Sonography would obtain the Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer credential with their specialty being in OBGYN (RDMS-OBGYN). Once you obtain one registry with the ARDMS, you may sit for an exam to become credentialed in another specialty as long as you can show that you have been trained in that additional specialty. Visit the ARDMS website for more information on the prerequisites and certifications that they offer.

ARRT offers certifications in Sonography, Vascular Sonography, and Breast Sonography. Getting credentialed through ARRT may be a good option if you have experience in or plan to broaden your career into other imaging modalities such as X-Ray or CT technology.

CCI credentials sonographers in cardiology and vascular specialties. CCI also offers certifications for cardiographic technicians as well as other cardiology related certifications.

As long as you meet all the prerequisites for the credential you would like to obtain, it is advisable that you start preparing for an sit for the exam as soon as possible. It is much easier to study material that you have just learned while in school, than have to go back and re-learn it later for the exams. All of the credentialing websites provide outlines of the content of their exams. There are many review courses to help you prepare that are available throughout the year and some that are available via webinar online. Below are some helpful websites that offer review courses and materials to help you on your road to becoming a registered sonographer:

Pegasus Lectures

Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute
ESP Ultrasound

Kick Start a Heart Healthy Lifestyle

Gloria — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:09:14 +0000

February is American Heart Month so there is no better time to start living a heart healthy lifestyle! According to the Center for Disease Control, heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death in the U.S. Here are some ways to start living a heart healthy lifestyle:

Move more! The general rule is 30 minutes a day of exercise. However, if you are just starting out, it can be hard to go from no exercise to exercising every day. The important thing to remember is that something is always better than nothing. If ten minutes is all you have time for, then that’s okay. It’s also okay to break up that 30 minutes into three 10 minute mini-workouts. Don’t torture yourself. Find a form of exercise that you like to do. If you hate the gym, then don’t work out there. Hate the treadmill? Don’t use it. Like dancing? Take a zumba, salsa, or swing dancing class. Find a friend to take evening walks with and catch up on your gossip while you exercise. Miss the days of Little League? Find a community softball or volleyball league to join and add some friendly competition to your workouts. The more you enjoy the activity you are doing, the more likely you are to keep it up.
Eat more fruits and veggies! It’s time to finally start listening to Mom! However, eating the recommended daily amount of fruits and veggies (2-4 servings daily for fruit, 3-5 for vegetables) can be overwhelming. Try to make small changes such as replacing your serving of pasta or rice with a vegetable. Instead of potato chips with your sandwich at lunch, go for some baby carrots or an apple. Also, don’t be afraid to season your cooked vegetables. Most seasonings have very little bearing on your caloric intake. Just be sure to keep an eye on the salt content in your seasonings.
Get more sleep! A lack of sleep can cause your blood pressure to rise, your immune system to weaken, and can cause you to gain weight. If you notice that you are sleeping for the recommended 8 hours and still feel tired throughout the day, you may want to talk to your doctor.
Drink more water! Your body needs to be hydrated to control your blood pressure, support kidney function, and eliminate waste from your body.Find that you are feeling sluggish and have a headache? You may be dehydrated. Caffeine can act as a diuretic which causes your body to void water. Try to cut back on your caffeine and get your 8 servings of water daily. Keep a water bottle at your desk to sip on and refill it throughout the day.
Watch your salt intake! According to Institute of Medicine, the recommended daily salt intake is 2,300 mg per day. To put this in perspective, the amount of salt in 1 tablespoon of Soy sauce is 1,000 mg! Needless to say, limiting your salt intake to 2,300 mg per day can be pretty tough. The easiest way to do this is to avoid processed foods. By cooking with fresh ingredients, the only salt you will take in is the salt you add to your food yourself.
Eat healthy fats! Putting the words “healthy” and “fat” next to each other probably seems contradicting. However, monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat can actually help lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and help control blood sugar levels. Examples of monounsaturated fats are olive oil and canola oil and polyunsaturated fats are generally found in nuts and seeds.

Living a heart healthy lifestyle does take some effort, but don’t be too hard on yourself. It can take 60-90 days to form a habit so you have to be patient with yourself. Living heart healthy is about making permanent lifestyle changes, not a temporary quick-fix. Talk to your doctor about how you can improve your diet and exercise to keep your heart healthy!

Below are some websites that provide more information on American Heart Month, heart health, heart disease, stroke, and dietary recommendations:

American Heart Association

Center for Disease Control – Heart Month

Center for Disease Control – Nutrition for Everyone

Mayo Clinic – Heart Healthy Diet

American Stroke Association

Tips for Choosing an Allied Health School

Gloria — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:09:45 +0000

One of the great aspects of choosing a career in the medical field is that there are so many different career paths to choose from. However, with so many schools out there offering programs in the Allied Health field, choosing the right school can be a daunting task. Here are some things you should know when choosing a school:

Check the school’s accreditation. Many Allied Health Programs do not require a degree, such as Medical Assisting. This can be a great advantage as it means a student can start their career much sooner than if they were enrolling in a traditional degree program. What is important to know is that many Allied Health careers, such as Medical Assisting, do not require a professional certification to work in the field. However, most employers prefer to hire staff that is credentialed. That is where a school’s accreditation comes in to play. Most credentialing bodies such as the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) which credentials Medical Assistants, require that the student has completed a program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs(CAAHEP), or a program accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) in order to obtain a professional certification. Both of these organizations provide lists of accredited schools on their websites.
Find out what type of credential is required for your Allied Health career track. As mentioned above, many Allied Health careers do not require a credential to work, but most employers prefer their staff to have the appropriate credentials to ensure that their staff is properly educated in their respective fields. Be sure to research the Allied Health career that you are interested in, then find out what type of credentials are needed and what is required to obtain them. In addition, make sure the school you are interested in attending meets that criteria so that you can obtain the credential upon graduating.
Go to the school in person. This may seem obvious, but if you are not in a program offered online, it is important to go to the school and see what it is like. Making an appointment in advance to visit the school is also recommended to ensure that there is someone available to give you a tour and take the time to answer all of your questions. Be sure to jot down some questions in advance and bring them with you so that you can make the most out of your visit. Also, if possible, try to talk to some students and see what they have to say about the school. Even if your program is online, are there representatives in the area that you can talk to in person? Does the program have a brick-and-mortar location in your area? It might be worth checking out.
Think about your long term goals. Do you want a program that offers a degree? Do you want to start your career sooner, but plan to go on to a degree program later? These are important things to consider when starting an Allied Health program. As mentioned, many Allied Health careers do not require degrees. Therefore, many programs only offer certificates. If you plan on obtaining a degree in the future, it is important to find out if your Allied Health program’s credits will transfer to other schools or can be applied to other degree-offering programs. Many community colleges offer Allied Health programs. This can be a good option if you plan on continuing to a degree program, whether it be an Associate’s or Bachelor’s, since many community college credits can be transferred. Also, many Allied Health school credits can be transferred to the American Council on Education which can then be transferred for college credit at certain colleges.
Take your time and think it over. The school recruiters can be a bit eager to get you to sign up right away. The important thing to remember is that this is your future and that if the school truly offers a good program, then it isn’t going anywhere any time soon. Take the time to compare schools and consider the length of the programs, the cost, and how reputable the schools are. Most Allied Health certificate programs have several start dates throughout the year, so there is no rush.
A little research goes a long way. Take the time to research your intended career including growth potential, income level, and the physical demands of the job. The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides this information on their website. Also, go to a job search website such as Indeed.com and look up your intended career. This can give you an idea of what employers are looking for in their potential employees. The more you know about what will be expected of you in your Allied Health career, the more you will know about what to expect out of your Allied Health School.

Finding the right school that will help you achieve your goals may take a bit of time, patience, and research, but it will be worth all of the effort to ensure that you get the most out of your education and career in Allied Health.

17 Educational Infographics to Learn About Reproductive Health

admin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 22:49:59 +0000

Reproductive health is something of a taboo in American society. People in the U.S. don’t really want to have discussions about reproductive health and sexual well-being. However, ignoring the issue of reproductive health isn’t going away. As ultrasound technicians, doctors, nurses, and midwives can tell you, there are a lot of misconceptions out there about reproduction and sexual health. So, while reproductive health may not be something you talk about over the water cooler at work, it is something that you should be educated about. Here are 17 infographics that can help you learn a little more about reproductive health:

Reproduction, Pregnancy and Sexuality Trends

One of the biggest issues out there is teen pregnancy. Another issue is abortion. Additionally, there is a lot of interest in teachings about premarital sex. While these abortion isn’t always related to teen pregnancy and pre-marital sex, it is still an interesting statistic.

Teen Pregnancy in America: This infographic from Medicine. Technology. Web. features a look at teen pregnancy in America, and correlates it to abstinence-only funding, providing an interesting look at the idea that maybe abstinence-only education is not the best route to take when trying to prevent teen pregnancy. Many of the states that accepted abstinence-only funding saw teen pregnancy rates higher than the national average. Of course, the infographic may not take into account changes since then, as the programs have progressed, and it doesn’t take into account recent arguments that abstinence-only education may be working.

Religious Attitudes and Sex: This relatively simple infographic looks at religious teaches on sex, including teen sex, pre-marital sex, abortion and birth control. It also looks at religious attitudes toward homosexual orientation. You can see a quick comparison of how different religious traditions view different aspects of reproduction and sexual identity and practices. It is interesting to compare the different attitudes, and it can provide you with a look at some of the reproductive traditions held by a large portion of the world. This infographic is found on Flickr, and uses information from ReligiousTolerance.org in its creation.
Abortion State-by-State: If you are interested in the rate of abortion, you can take a look at this infographic, from CatholicVoteAction.org, to get an idea of which states see more abortions, with relation to the national average. It divides these states into “red” and “blue”, dividing states according to political leanings (liberal or conservative, based on who won the states in in 2008. However, it is important to note that the states used to create the infographic actually come from 2006, before the last presidential election, so it may not exactly match up with attitudes. But it should be fairly close.
Homosexuality: How has homosexuality evolved? You can find out more about gay behavior, and where it might have come from, with help from this io9 infographic, based on information about evolutionary sexuality from New Scientist. Learn about how different sexual traits might have developed, and the purpose for some of them. You can also compare the development of homosexuality in other species to homosexuality in humans. Apparently, in some cases, a tendency toward gayness develops for very specific reasons. In other cases, reasons are a little less pronounced. A very interesting infographic for those who are interested in how our sexual preferences might have evolved.
Timeline of Abstinence-Only Education: Want to know how much has been spent on abstinence-only education in the U.S.? Here is an interesting infographic from Blogging Censorship that offers information on how federal funds have been used with regard to sex ed and abstinence-only education since 1981. Depending on where you stand, this is either good news or bad news.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and Pornography

Learn a little bit more about STDs, and what you can expect from them, as well as facts about their spread. Also included are infographics on pornography.

STDs in America: Learn some basic stats about STDs in America. This includes information about STDs, as well as information on HIV/AIDS. Some of the information addresses STDs in high school, as well as STDs in the general population. This even includes “fun facts” about sexually transmitted diseases amongst porn stars and ways that you can contract sexually transmitted diseases. It’s a sometimes surprising look at STDs and their prevalence, and where you are likely to encounter them. Plus, this infographic will give you something to think about before you have unprotected sex.
HIV: Want to know which countries are making progress in combating AIDS? This World AIDS Day infographic on GOOD offers a look at how different countries are doing, showing which have reduced their HIV positive populations the most — and which are seeing a big increase. Estimates put the total number of people with HIV at 33 million right now, assuming reporting is accurate. You can learn more about HIV/AIDS and get a better idea of where we are at — and how much further we have to go in order to get the HIV/AIDS epidemic under control as a concerned global community.
Porn and the Economy: Learn about how things are going in the pornography industry, and what the industry expects going forward. Even though porn is huge, this infographic published on PotPotato looks the implications of an industry that is being upstaged by free content on the Web and other issues (like high paid porn stars). Can porn survive all the free content that is now available? And what is porn’s impact on the overall economy, anyway? You can learn by looking at this infographic, as well as see where the U.S. ranks in pornography use as compared to other countries in the world.
Porn by Numbers: This surprising infographic from Gunaxin Media offers a look at pornography trends in the U.S. From learning that “porn” and “sex” account for two of the top five searches for kids under the age of 18, to getting an idea of how much different countries spend on porn, to learning that Utah has the highest per capita consumption of porn, you can find out a number of interesting facts about how we use pornography as a society, in the United States of America and around the world.

Genetics and Reproductive Development

Find out more about genes, reproduction and cloning from the following infographics.

Cloning: Concerned about cloning? Many people are, with the word conjuring images of soul-less masses. This handy infographic can help you learn to distinguish between research cloning and reproductive cloning. So, while cloning is used in research, and for some procedures, actually using reproductive cloning on a widespread basis with humans is still a very long way into the future. However, research and therapeutic cloning could hold some keys to the curing of diseases.
Breasts: This fascinating developmental infographic illustrates 15 things you should know about breasts. This great infographic offers insight into interesting facts, such as the average breast weighs 1.1 pounds, and that the average breast size has increased over the last 15 years. You can also learn other facts — such as that nearly 18,000 breast reductions were performed on men in 2008. So breasts aren’t only about women. It kind of makes you want to take a second look at these important parts of the reproductive cycle, and learn a little bit more about how they do what they do.
Menstrual Cycle: Human reproduction has a tough time of it without the menstrual cycle. If you are interested in learning how the menstrual cycle works, and what happens inside the body during this time, you can learn from this colorful and interesting cartoonish infographic on imgur. An interesting journey through the female reproductive system, this infographic highlights the changes in the body during the menstrual cycle, as well as what makes the whole thing work, as well as some helpful hints about how and why some women feel and act certain ways during the month.
Semen: Learn about male reproductive health with this infographic from Spurs Fan Says. Learn interesting facts about semen — how it is produced, how fast it moves, and how much volume it takes up. Also included: How long sperm can live inside a woman or on a toilet seat. You can also compare human sperm ejaculation to that of other animals. Learn how different foods you eat can affect semen, and some interesting beliefs about becoming a man in different cultures.

Population Growth

Get information on population and reproductive trends for different cultural, religious and racial groups.

Muslim Populations Worldwide: This interesting infographic from PBS.org addresses the population trends related to Islam. It looks at population growth amongst Muslims in different areas around the world, including in Europe and North America. It also projects the possible growth out to 2025. One of the most interesting figures is the growth of the Muslim population in France, which is seeing a large increase as the immigrant population has more babies, white French citizens reproduce at a slower rate.
U.S. Population Growth through 2050: The U.S. Census Bureau offers an interesting infographic showing population growth projections through 2050 by race. While whites will still be the majority in the U.S. by then, it is clear that the trend is toward an increase in current minority populations, probably due to the higher rates of reproduction in other populations, since whites are having babies at slower rates. Charlie Gibson generated controversy a couple of years ago by calling whites to action to make more babies in an effort to keep other races from catching up to, and eventually overcoming, the white population.
Population and Inhabitable Land: One of the issues that comes up when we talk about reproductive health and population is the idea that Earth is overpopulated. However, this might not be entirely the case — at least in some places. Human.org.au offers an interesting infographic that illustrates how “full” different countries are with regard to the livable land available. Perhaps we’re not quite on the verge of running out of roon. Turns out (if you believe the infographic) that there is still plenty of room to grow in the U.S. and Britain, but, according to this infographic South Korea is definitely full.
Infant Mortality: This interesting infographic from Gapminder shows that infant mortality rises in poorer countries. It shows the population of different countries as well. Interestingly, the U.S. has one of the highest infant mortality rates of developed countries. Some point to premature births as one of the main reasons the U.S. has such a high infant mortality rate for its wealth. Some even claim that the high number of premature births indicates that the U.S. is not where it should be in terms of reproductive health and prenatal care.