Informative Essay: Access To Birth Control In Women
Kiannah Laoto
Mrs. Wilson
English 1 Honors
20 December 2015
Access to Birth Control Birth control is described as a variety of ways used to prevent pregnancy from occurring. Another common name for birth control is contraception, because the various birth control methods prevent the sperm and egg from uniting to form a fertilized embryo. Regardless of its widespread use, however, not everyone approves of birth control. Although many people have their own opinions on birth control, women’s opportunities simply expand as a result of it. When provided, birth control offer help to women who struggle economically, help treat serious illnesses, and provide methods and strategies to prevent unintended pregnancies and abortions. Therefore, access …show more content…
to birth control should be made available for all women.
Birth control has been a concern for humans for thousands of years. Long ago women did not worry too much about it because child death rates were so high. At the time, they believed it was required to have multiple children in hopes to have a few to survive infancy. However, as recently as the 1950s and 1960s, many U.S. states had laws that restricted the sale and advertising of contraceptives In 1873, the U.S. Congress passed the Comstock Act, which declared any distribution of any device, medicine or information designed to prevent conception illegal (Birth Control Funding 2). Nonetheless, during the early 1900's, Margaret Sanger started the birth control movement in the United States. She opened clinics to provide women with health and reproductive services. Though many states still held bans against contraception, it wasn't until 1965 in the Supreme Court case Griswold v. Connecticut that contraception was legalized for all married couples (Birth Control Funding 2). Then, in 1972, the Supreme Court gave single people the right to birth control. The availability of birth control has certainly raised important questions about reproductive control. To begin, birth control provides women an inexpensive way to prevent pregnancies. For example, “Under her insurance plan, according to the Huffington Post, Cox’s birth control pills cost her $40 each month—an amount that she says is hard for her to pay on a student budget” (Birth Control Funding 1). Lindsay Cox is one of many women in the U.S. who struggle paying for their birth control. The most difficult times are when some women had to choose between filling their prescriptions and buying groceries, paying bills or repairing their cars. Unplanned pregnancies can also have devastating impacts on a family. “Young women who start out disadvantaged—for example, without many individual or familial economic resources—may benefit most from completing their education and may be least able to achieve most from completing their education and may be least able to achieve income and relationship stability when facing the demands of teen motherhood” (Dougall 3).
Supporters further maintain that U.S. taxpayers will save money by having insurance companies cover birth control. The cost of unplanned pregnancies is estimated to be $11.1 billion (Birth Control Funding 5). A large piece of that number comes from the cost of providing health care for women of low-income during and after their pregnancy through Medicaid. “The Guttmacher Institute found that $1 of public funding used for contraception saves $3.74 in pregnancy and maternal health care expanses” (Dougall 18). On August 1, 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that all FDA-approved contraceptive methods would be available without co-pay as part of the Affordable Care Act (Dougall 2). Women then saved $483 million on birth control alone the first year after the ACA went into effect. A study done by Martha Bailey, a labor economist at the University of Michigan, found that women’s access to birth control “increased their labor force, participation, wages, and family incomes, as well as their children’s ability to complete decades later” (Dougall 3). It’s pretty clear that these are not just opinions; research shows that birth control has made major economic benefits for women in the U.S.
Secondly, some forms of birth control have been found to treat serious illnesses. Experts in women’s health indicate that while contraceptives are used for family planning, they also have medicinal uses. Adolescent girls and young women are often prescribed birth control for irregular or absent menstrual periods, menstrual cramps, and acne. These prescribed oral contraceptives work by lowering hormone levels and regulating menstrual periods. In addition, oral contraceptive use has constantly been found to be associated with a reduced risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers (Birth Control Funding 5). “Women with unhealthy habits such as smoking or wanting to lose weight before becoming pregnant are also given the opportunity to cease those activities” (Birth Control Funding 1).
Equally important, barrier contraception is available to both men and women and provides protection from AIDS and STIs. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, there are 1.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS in America today (Williams 2). When used correctly condoms, a popular and non-prescription form of barrier contraception, are the most effective way of preventing pregnancy and the transmission of STIs (Williams 3). New contraceptives are designed to remove obstacles that decrease efficiency and increase the chance of unintended pregnancies. Until researchers find a cure for sexually transmitted diseases, proper use of barrier contraception is the most effective way to prevent STIs and AIDS. One of the major arguments in favor of access to birth control for women is the result of fewer unintended pregnancies and abortions. Supporters state that making it easier for women to obtain birth control will benefit society overall, since there will be fewer unplanned pregnancies. The rate of pregnancy in 2002 was 75.4 for every 1,000 women between the ages 15 and 19, which is less by 41.5 in 1990 (Teen Pregnancy 1). In addition, “Guttmacher Institute research shows that the two-thirds of U.S. women at risk of unintended pregnancy who use contraception consistently and correctly throughout the course of any given year account for only 5 percent of all unintended pregnancies” (Birth Control Funding 5). A few studies have found that access to birth control or unintended pregnancy may influence different women in different ways, according to their income, race and ethnicity, and other characteristics.
According to Huffington Post, “Women with unintended pregnancies may end up with less education, earn less, and have a harder time supporting their families” (Birth Control Funding 5). Unintended pregnancy also increases the risk of babies being born preterm or at low birth weight, both which raises their chances of health and undeveloped problems (Birth Control Funding 4). “Women with unintended pregnancies are more likely to receive delayed or no prenatal care and to smoke, consume alcohol, be depressed, and experience domestic violence during pregnancy” (Birth Control Funding 4). Martha Bailey also conducted a study in which she linked increased determination of when to have children with positive impacts on quality-of-life indicators, including educational attainment, economic stability, lasting union formation, and mental health and happiness” (Dougall …show more content…
3). Opponents of birth control often say that contraception is immoral on religious grounds. In other words, they believe that intercourse is for babies and bonding and contraception serves neither of those purposes. “In 1930, the Roman Catholic Church made its first definitive statement against contraceptives when Pope Pius XI issued an official letter, called an encyclical, saying birth control is a sin” (Birth Control Funding 2). As previously stated above, supporters of birth control state that a woman’s decision on whether or not to use birth control depends on her beliefs. The United States support scientific or healthcare laws that might not fit well with all faiths. “Laura Murphy of the American Civil Liberties Union writes for RH Reality Check: The HHS guidelines already exempt…churches, synagogues and other exclusively sectarian institution. These groups want special exceptions to allow any religiously-affiliated institution, including hospitals that employ people of all faiths, to deny its employees insurance for birth control” (Birth Control Funding 5). Furthermore, the religious objection has no basis in healthcare or modern science. It is clear that personal decisions regarding whether and when to use birth control all depends the woman. Another argument against birth control is that the traditional contraceptive method, abstinence, is the most effective and safest way of preventing pregnancy. This, however, is not true. The abstinence-only method denies the reality that some teens are sexually active. In 2006, the Project Connect study supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported: “Of those who reported intercourse, 36 percent were age 11 or younger at first sex, 27 percent were 12, 28 percent were 13, and 9 percent were 14 or older” (Jones 1). This data may be startling, but there’s a difference between being startled and being in denial. From the literature cited above, it is imperative to state that women face multiple problems about the availability of birth control. In 2006, a government survey found that almost half of all pregnancies in the U.S. in 2001 were unintended (Birth Control Funding 4). Along with that, U.S. government figures, up to 900,000 teens become pregnant each year (Teen Pregnancy 1). Birth control offers help to women who struggle economically, can help treat serious illnesses, and provide methods and strategies to prevent unintended pregnancies and abortions. Thus, access to birth control should be made available for all women. Policies like Title X, Medicare, and the ACA do so much to help women in the U.S. to get the birth control method that's best for them, despite their economic or health insurance status (Birth Control Funding 2). Working towards full coverage of birth control could have positive results for women, their families, and the United States as a whole. Would you really let someone have control over your decisions about your body?
Works Cited
Dougall, Sarah Mac.
“Over-the-counter access to oral contraception: reproductive autonomy on pharmacy shelves or a political Trojan horse?” Columbian Journal of Gender and Law 30.1 (2015): 204+. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
Jones, Abigail, and Marisa Miley. “Middle School Students Should Have Access to Birth Control.” Do Children Have Rights? Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. At Issue. Rpt. from “On Providing Birth Control for Middle Schoolers.” The Huffington Post. 2007. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
Williams, Tuala. “Teens Should Have Access to Birth Control.” Birth Control. Ed. Beth Rosenthal. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from “Jocelyn Elders: Our Silence is Becoming Deadly.” Dallas Examiner 6 Dec. 2007. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
“Birth Control Funding” Issues & Controversies. Infobase Learning, 14 Nov. 2011. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
“Teen Pregnancy” Issues & Controversies. Infobase Learning, 6 July 2007. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
.
Mrs. Wilson
English 1 Honors
20 December 2015
Access to Birth Control Birth control is described as a variety of ways used to prevent pregnancy from occurring. Another common name for birth control is contraception, because the various birth control methods prevent the sperm and egg from uniting to form a fertilized embryo. Regardless of its widespread use, however, not everyone approves of birth control. Although many people have their own opinions on birth control, women’s opportunities simply expand as a result of it. When provided, birth control offer help to women who struggle economically, help treat serious illnesses, and provide methods and strategies to prevent unintended pregnancies and abortions. Therefore, access …show more content…
to birth control should be made available for all women.
Birth control has been a concern for humans for thousands of years. Long ago women did not worry too much about it because child death rates were so high. At the time, they believed it was required to have multiple children in hopes to have a few to survive infancy. However, as recently as the 1950s and 1960s, many U.S. states had laws that restricted the sale and advertising of contraceptives In 1873, the U.S. Congress passed the Comstock Act, which declared any distribution of any device, medicine or information designed to prevent conception illegal (Birth Control Funding 2). Nonetheless, during the early 1900's, Margaret Sanger started the birth control movement in the United States. She opened clinics to provide women with health and reproductive services. Though many states still held bans against contraception, it wasn't until 1965 in the Supreme Court case Griswold v. Connecticut that contraception was legalized for all married couples (Birth Control Funding 2). Then, in 1972, the Supreme Court gave single people the right to birth control. The availability of birth control has certainly raised important questions about reproductive control. To begin, birth control provides women an inexpensive way to prevent pregnancies. For example, “Under her insurance plan, according to the Huffington Post, Cox’s birth control pills cost her $40 each month—an amount that she says is hard for her to pay on a student budget” (Birth Control Funding 1). Lindsay Cox is one of many women in the U.S. who struggle paying for their birth control. The most difficult times are when some women had to choose between filling their prescriptions and buying groceries, paying bills or repairing their cars. Unplanned pregnancies can also have devastating impacts on a family. “Young women who start out disadvantaged—for example, without many individual or familial economic resources—may benefit most from completing their education and may be least able to achieve most from completing their education and may be least able to achieve income and relationship stability when facing the demands of teen motherhood” (Dougall 3).
Supporters further maintain that U.S. taxpayers will save money by having insurance companies cover birth control. The cost of unplanned pregnancies is estimated to be $11.1 billion (Birth Control Funding 5). A large piece of that number comes from the cost of providing health care for women of low-income during and after their pregnancy through Medicaid. “The Guttmacher Institute found that $1 of public funding used for contraception saves $3.74 in pregnancy and maternal health care expanses” (Dougall 18). On August 1, 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that all FDA-approved contraceptive methods would be available without co-pay as part of the Affordable Care Act (Dougall 2). Women then saved $483 million on birth control alone the first year after the ACA went into effect. A study done by Martha Bailey, a labor economist at the University of Michigan, found that women’s access to birth control “increased their labor force, participation, wages, and family incomes, as well as their children’s ability to complete decades later” (Dougall 3). It’s pretty clear that these are not just opinions; research shows that birth control has made major economic benefits for women in the U.S.
Secondly, some forms of birth control have been found to treat serious illnesses. Experts in women’s health indicate that while contraceptives are used for family planning, they also have medicinal uses. Adolescent girls and young women are often prescribed birth control for irregular or absent menstrual periods, menstrual cramps, and acne. These prescribed oral contraceptives work by lowering hormone levels and regulating menstrual periods. In addition, oral contraceptive use has constantly been found to be associated with a reduced risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers (Birth Control Funding 5). “Women with unhealthy habits such as smoking or wanting to lose weight before becoming pregnant are also given the opportunity to cease those activities” (Birth Control Funding 1).
Equally important, barrier contraception is available to both men and women and provides protection from AIDS and STIs. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, there are 1.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS in America today (Williams 2). When used correctly condoms, a popular and non-prescription form of barrier contraception, are the most effective way of preventing pregnancy and the transmission of STIs (Williams 3). New contraceptives are designed to remove obstacles that decrease efficiency and increase the chance of unintended pregnancies. Until researchers find a cure for sexually transmitted diseases, proper use of barrier contraception is the most effective way to prevent STIs and AIDS. One of the major arguments in favor of access to birth control for women is the result of fewer unintended pregnancies and abortions. Supporters state that making it easier for women to obtain birth control will benefit society overall, since there will be fewer unplanned pregnancies. The rate of pregnancy in 2002 was 75.4 for every 1,000 women between the ages 15 and 19, which is less by 41.5 in 1990 (Teen Pregnancy 1). In addition, “Guttmacher Institute research shows that the two-thirds of U.S. women at risk of unintended pregnancy who use contraception consistently and correctly throughout the course of any given year account for only 5 percent of all unintended pregnancies” (Birth Control Funding 5). A few studies have found that access to birth control or unintended pregnancy may influence different women in different ways, according to their income, race and ethnicity, and other characteristics.
According to Huffington Post, “Women with unintended pregnancies may end up with less education, earn less, and have a harder time supporting their families” (Birth Control Funding 5). Unintended pregnancy also increases the risk of babies being born preterm or at low birth weight, both which raises their chances of health and undeveloped problems (Birth Control Funding 4). “Women with unintended pregnancies are more likely to receive delayed or no prenatal care and to smoke, consume alcohol, be depressed, and experience domestic violence during pregnancy” (Birth Control Funding 4). Martha Bailey also conducted a study in which she linked increased determination of when to have children with positive impacts on quality-of-life indicators, including educational attainment, economic stability, lasting union formation, and mental health and happiness” (Dougall …show more content…
3). Opponents of birth control often say that contraception is immoral on religious grounds. In other words, they believe that intercourse is for babies and bonding and contraception serves neither of those purposes. “In 1930, the Roman Catholic Church made its first definitive statement against contraceptives when Pope Pius XI issued an official letter, called an encyclical, saying birth control is a sin” (Birth Control Funding 2). As previously stated above, supporters of birth control state that a woman’s decision on whether or not to use birth control depends on her beliefs. The United States support scientific or healthcare laws that might not fit well with all faiths. “Laura Murphy of the American Civil Liberties Union writes for RH Reality Check: The HHS guidelines already exempt…churches, synagogues and other exclusively sectarian institution. These groups want special exceptions to allow any religiously-affiliated institution, including hospitals that employ people of all faiths, to deny its employees insurance for birth control” (Birth Control Funding 5). Furthermore, the religious objection has no basis in healthcare or modern science. It is clear that personal decisions regarding whether and when to use birth control all depends the woman. Another argument against birth control is that the traditional contraceptive method, abstinence, is the most effective and safest way of preventing pregnancy. This, however, is not true. The abstinence-only method denies the reality that some teens are sexually active. In 2006, the Project Connect study supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported: “Of those who reported intercourse, 36 percent were age 11 or younger at first sex, 27 percent were 12, 28 percent were 13, and 9 percent were 14 or older” (Jones 1). This data may be startling, but there’s a difference between being startled and being in denial. From the literature cited above, it is imperative to state that women face multiple problems about the availability of birth control. In 2006, a government survey found that almost half of all pregnancies in the U.S. in 2001 were unintended (Birth Control Funding 4). Along with that, U.S. government figures, up to 900,000 teens become pregnant each year (Teen Pregnancy 1). Birth control offers help to women who struggle economically, can help treat serious illnesses, and provide methods and strategies to prevent unintended pregnancies and abortions. Thus, access to birth control should be made available for all women. Policies like Title X, Medicare, and the ACA do so much to help women in the U.S. to get the birth control method that's best for them, despite their economic or health insurance status (Birth Control Funding 2). Working towards full coverage of birth control could have positive results for women, their families, and the United States as a whole. Would you really let someone have control over your decisions about your body?
Works Cited
Dougall, Sarah Mac.
“Over-the-counter access to oral contraception: reproductive autonomy on pharmacy shelves or a political Trojan horse?” Columbian Journal of Gender and Law 30.1 (2015): 204+. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
Jones, Abigail, and Marisa Miley. “Middle School Students Should Have Access to Birth Control.” Do Children Have Rights? Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. At Issue. Rpt. from “On Providing Birth Control for Middle Schoolers.” The Huffington Post. 2007. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
Williams, Tuala. “Teens Should Have Access to Birth Control.” Birth Control. Ed. Beth Rosenthal. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from “Jocelyn Elders: Our Silence is Becoming Deadly.” Dallas Examiner 6 Dec. 2007. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
“Birth Control Funding” Issues & Controversies. Infobase Learning, 14 Nov. 2011. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
“Teen Pregnancy” Issues & Controversies. Infobase Learning, 6 July 2007. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
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