Lauren Styx

A portrait of the author.

Lauren Styx

Lauren Styx is a journalist and editor focused on elevating the well-being of women and the LGBTQ+ community. She is based in Brooklyn, New York. 

Latest MedTruth Work by Lauren Styx

Image of the Breast Implant Health Summit banner.

Breast Implant Illness: Groundbreaking Summit Informs and Educates

Lauren Styx · January 15, 2021

The Breast Implant Health Summit, first-of-its-kind educational forum for health care practitioners, provides a roundup of information and resources on breast implant illness.

Health Features
Picture of Bamby Salcedo sitting at her desk.

The Hidden Toll of Breast Implant Illness on Transgender Women

Lauren Styx · November 10, 2020

MedTruth spoke with transgender health experts and members of the trans community, specifically trans women of color, to paint a more inclusive picture of the adverse effects of breast implants.

Patient Stories
Image of a person's hands on breast implants, representing breast implant illness diagnostic code.

Is It Time to Recognize Breast Implant Illness as a Medical Condition?

Lauren Styx · August 6, 2020

A petition sponsored by the Breast Implant Safety Alliance is calling for the CDC and FDA to develop a medical code for breast implant illness.

Health Features
Image of a middle-aged woman representing a study linking forever chemicals to early menopause.

Study Finds Link Between Certain ‘Forever Chemicals’ and Early Menopause

Lauren Styx · July 29, 2020

A new study from the University of Michigan suggests exposure to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances might contribute to women reaching menopause two years earlier than average.

Research + Findings
Illustration of a breast implant leaking heavy metals, associated with breast implant illness.

Do Heavy Metals Contribute to Breast Implant Illness?

Lauren Styx · July 16, 2020

Heavy metal toxicity within the body can disrupt metabolic function and damage the kidneys, brain, liver and central nervous system. Both saline and silicone FDA-approved breast implants contain heavy metals as either ingredients or part of the manufacturing process. 

Women's Health
Image of remdesivir syringe for COVID-19 treatment.

Gilead Announces Price of First COVID-19 Treatment Remdesivir

Lauren Styx · July 2, 2020

Despite the letter’s pricing strategy breakdown, it’s still unclear how much of the price will be covered by insurers, or how much the treatment will cost for uninsured patients.

News
Image of researcher studying early COVID-19 treatment trials.

Study Finds Early COVID-19 Treatment Trials ‘Yield Only Preliminary Evidence’

Lauren Styx · June 26, 2020

An analysis of COVID-19 clinical trials demonstrates the importance of design when interpreting results.

Research + Findings
Image of homeopathic drugs that were included in recent FDA warning letters.

43 Homeopathic Drugs Included in Recent FDA Warning Letters

Lauren Styx · June 17, 2020

The FDA has issued warning letters to four manufacturers for selling unapproved homeopathic drug products. The warning letters target homeopathic products such as Arnica.

FDA Regulation
Image of textured breast implant representing Allergan's campaign to reach patients with recalled breast implants.

Allergan Launches Campaign to Reach Patients with Recalled Breast Implants

Lauren Styx · June 4, 2020

Breast implant manufacturer Allergan announced the launch of a digital campaign to reach patients currently or formerly implanted with recalled Biocell breast implants.

News
Image of breast implants representing the FDA warning letters to breast implant manufacturers.

FDA Issues Warning Letters to Hold Breast Implant Manufacturers Accountable

Lauren Styx · June 4, 2020

As part of its ongoing efforts to protect patients, the FDA issued warning letters to two breast implant manufacturers citing violations of quality system and medical device reporting regulations.

FDA Regulation
Still from Honey Boy, a film related to mental health.

5 Films to Watch During Mental Health Awareness Month

Lauren Styx · May 29, 2020

MedTruth shares our top five films that provide a window into the many different kinds of mental health journeys, in honor of May's Mental Health Awareness Month.

Health Features
A photo of a woman's silhouette behind bars, representing adequate health care in prison.

New York Liberty Addresses Women’s Health in Prison With ‘Forgotten Behind Bars’

Lauren Styx · August 13, 2019

The Women's National Basketball Association team in New York hosted a panel to discuss women's health in prison. Female prisoners, especially women of color, are largely underserved while incarcerated — and their health suffers.

Women's Health
A photo of wheat representing the $2 billion Roundup verdict reduced.

$2 Billion Verdict Reduced in Roundup Cancer Case

Lauren Styx · July 29, 2019

In May, a jury awarded the amount of $2 billion in punitive damages and $55 million in compensatory damages to a California couple who developed cancer after years of exposure to Roundup weedkiller. Last week, the California judge significantly reduced the award in this historic Roundup cancer case.

Legal Developments
A photo of a man using Esketamine nasal spray for depression.

Could Esketamine Become an Effective Treatment for Depression?

Lauren Styx · July 3, 2019

Spravato, an esketamine nasal spray developed by Johnson & Johnson, was approved by the FDA in March 2019. As the subject of the successful AJP study, the drug could be an important development for patients in desperate need of options. But it also raises concerns about cost and safety.

Research + Findings
A parent of a child with type 1 diabetes worrying about the cost of insulin per month

Rising Cost of Insulin Leads To Lethal Rationing For Type 1 Diabetics

Lauren Styx · March 20, 2019

The unaffordable cost of insulin has left many diabetics in desperate circumstances, having to choose between their medication or their mortgage. Advocates say insulin is a life-saving medication, and it needs to be more accessible in the U.S.

News
A photo of a young person of color testing blood for insulin, representing insulin costs in Colorado.

Colorado Reduces Cost of Insulin to $100 for Insured Patients

Lauren Styx · May 29, 2019

The cost of insulin has been known to reach $1,000 or more, often forcing diabetic patients to take drastic and dangerous measures to obtain the medication. Colorado's newest law addressing co-payment insulin costs now sets the cap at $100 a month for insured patients.

News
A photo of a finger pointing to a breast implant as woman asks what is breast implant illness.

What is Breast Implant Illness?

Lauren Styx · April 9, 2019

In the past 20 years, more women have been coming forward suffering from symptoms related to their breast implants. While doctors insist these ailments are caused by other health issues, victims of breast implant illness take a stand to share their truth.

Patient Stories
A woman talking to her doctor about breast implant risks while touching a textured breast implant.

Advocates Respond to FDA Reports on Textured Breast Implant Risks

Lauren Styx · March 12, 2019

Advocates for BIA-ALCL awareness call on women and medical professionals to get serious about textured breast implant risks. The FDA will hold an advisory committee panel meeting on breast implant safety in March.

Women's Health
Photo of a field as it is sprayed with herbicide following study suggesting that Monsanto's Roundup may cause liver damage.

Researchers Find Liver Damage May Be A Risk of Roundup

Lauren Styx · June 10, 2019

A recent study by the University of California San Diego School of Medicine found a new risk of Roundup: liver damage. Levels of glyphosate, the primary herbicide in Roundup, were significantly higher in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease than in patients with healthier livers.

Research + Findings
A photo of a court microphone representing the recent Roundup case in California, which resulted in a $2 billion-dollar verdict against Monsanto.

Monsanto to Pay $2 Billion to California Couple in Latest Roundup Case

Lauren Styx · May 20, 2019

Last Monday, in the most recent of three similar Roundup case verdicts, a California jury ruled in favor of couple Alva and Alberta Pilliod. The couple claimed that long-term exposure Roundup on their Northern California property caused severe health issues.

Legal Developments