GREENWOOD Dist. — Vella Bioscience is a science-driven company focused on women’s sexual health. Last Wednesday, they donated $15,000 to the Take Control Initiative. This donation supports their work to break down barriers to accessing birth control.

The collaboration arrives at a crucial time for women’s health in Oklahoma. Additionally, a recent study ranked Oklahoma as the worst state for women in the nation. Challenges to women’s health and economic well-being are widespread in the state. Nevertheless, the two organizations are proud to call Tulsa their home. Together, they are forging innovative solutions to improve health outcomes.

Empowering Choices: Elevating Health with Accessible Contraception

Take Control Initiative is the nation’s longest-running contraceptive access program, serving Tulsa County since 2010. “The need and demand for contraceptive care and information has never been higher. Birth control is a high-impact resource that not only prevents abortions and preterm births but also improves infant mortality, healthy births, and birth spacing, all during the peak earning years of a woman’s life,” said executive director Laura Bellis.

Recognizing the importance of Take Control’s work and the shared mission to improve women’s health outcomes, Carolyn Wheeler, CEO and co-founder of Vella Bioscience, jumped into action. 

Vella Bioscience speaks on shared values.

“Ensuring women are supported in living healthy, happy lives is the goal of both of our organizations. It is a moral imperative to ensure science and education are equally servicing all humans to the best extent possible,” states Wheeler. 

Both organizations work to create proactive, positive conversations and resources for women’s sexual health. It’s a necessary focus for an area of healthcare that has historically been stigmatized and marginalized. 

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Bridging the Gap through Innovation and Partnerships

As the women’s sexual wellness market booms, nonprofit-corporate partnerships are quickly evolving to meet the demand of closing the gender health gap.

“The barriers to healthcare access and challenges of our landscape truly fuel innovation and have propelled us to develop new avenues of serving people, like our wellness vending machines on college campuses. Partnering with creative companies like Vella Bioscience helps us meet the need,” says Bellis.

The lack of education, science, and innovation in women’s sexual health is a shared challenge the two Tulsa-based groups are working to fight together. “The more women are able to understand and have agency over their bodies, the better our company will do,” says Wheeler. “We have a lot to learn from the Take Control Initiative.”