Se Vale Preguntar: Health Education, Access, and Support Through a Feminist Lens

By Johana Molina
Social Worker and Coordinator of the Abortion Telemedicine Program
Darlington Medical Associates

Se Vale Preguntar (“It’s Okay to Ask”) emerged in early 2024 as a concrete response to a clear need: expanding access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education in a context shaped by misinformation, stigma, and limited health services across Puerto Rico. I joined the Darlington Medical Associates team in late 2023, and shortly after, the opportunity arose to collaborate on this project, which became a natural extension of the clinical and community work we carry out.

Darlington Medical Associates is a reproductive health clinic in Puerto Rico that provides abortion care, general gynecological services, and mental health support, including a telemedicine abortion program. Our work is grounded in informed care, patient autonomy, and equitable access to health services, while acknowledging the structural barriers many women and people who can become pregnant face.

The Se Vale Preguntar initiative began when Mayra Ortiz and Iliana Fuentes from Podcasteras Media approached us with the idea of creating a podcast that could host accessible, evidence-based conversations about reproductive health. Together with Dr. Yari Vale Moreno, I co-hosted the series with the goal of reaching both our patients and the broader public, recognizing that many essential conversations simply do not fit within the limited time of a medical appointment.

Project Achievements and Contributions

Beginning in April 2024, Se Vale Preguntar released weekly episodes covering topics such as abortion, general gynecology, contraceptive methods, menopause, pelvic pain, assisted fertility, adoption, and discussions of legislation and political developments that directly affect reproductive health and rights. The podcast was designed as a free, accessible, science-based resource available to both patients and the general public.

One of the project’s most meaningful outcomes was the strengthening of trust between the clinical team and the people seeking our services. Many patients arrived at the clinic feeling more prepared, less anxious, and more familiar with the process after listening to episodes that explained—clearly and without sensationalism—what to expect when accessing abortion and reproductive health services. This extended the impact of our clinical work and improved the overall patient experience.

Each podcast episode was also accompanied by a blog post hosted on the Darlington Medical Associates website. This allowed us to expand on key topics, provide easy-to-read resources, and build a lasting archive of educational content. Both the podcast and the blogs remain available at darlingtonmedical.com, continuing to serve as valuable tools even when new episodes are not in production.

Lessons Learned and Reflections

The production process also became a space for institutional learning. It helped us continuously identify emerging needs among our patients—for example, the growing interest in menopause and hormone replacement therapy—and challenged us to stay updated in order to provide clear, accurate, and evidence-based information.

Another important lesson was recognizing both the potential and the challenges of amplifying abortion stories. Although stigma remains a barrier, the project confirmed that when safe spaces are created for sharing information and experiences, isolation decreases and people are better equipped to access care.

At the same time, Se Vale Preguntar helped humanize the clinical work surrounding abortion services, challenging narratives that portray these spaces as secretive or hostile. Showing who we are, how we work, and the principles that guide us was central to the project’s impact.

Looking Ahead

The pause in podcast production was due solely to budget constraints. Darlington Medical Associates is an independent abortion provider with limited resources and multiple operational priorities. Even so, the value of this initiative is clear.

With renewed funding, we would like to relaunch Se Vale Preguntar in a sustainable format—monthly or biweekly—recognizing that initiatives like this complement clinical services, strengthen access to trustworthy information, and broaden the reach of reproductive health work.