Birth control is currently only available through prescription and some Americans want to change that, but that may not be in the best interest of the majority. There are flaws to both sides of the argument, keeping birth control prescription only and having it become over the counter. However, keeping this contraceptive off the shelves for anyone to purchase seems like the more logical response to this phenomenon. Oral contraceptives have provided the world with great outcomes. Planned parenthood stated that birth control has “advanced women’s educational opportunities, led to more college-educated women pursuing advanced professional degrees, enhanced children’s well being in the long run, saved women money, reduced teen pregnancy, and reduced unwanted pregnancy” (“Birth Control” 1-3). The argument that birth control has done great things for society is obvious. Carl Djerassi was a chemist in Mexico city that created the first pill that synthesized hormones in 1951. In 1957 the FDA approved the pills for women with menstrual disorders but just three years later the pill was released for sexual protection. Some states still made this drug illegal and it went against many people’s morals. In 1997 the pill was expanded to treat acne (A Brief History 1-2). The pill has come a long way and is still continuing to form in this evolving society. Less than seventy years ago we didn’t even have an oral option for birth control. Today we are fighting over whether the pill can be available over the counter or not. The current fight for keeping oral contraceptives as a prescription drug is due to all of the negatives that over the counter oral contraceptives would pose. The debate is not arguing that birth control pills are bad or should be harder to get to but rather the fact that if they were easier to get to that the negatives would outweigh the positive. The current monthly fee for prescribed oral birth control with insurance coverage is anywhere from $0-$50 a month. This ends up equaling, at max $600 annually (“How much”). That fee is with insurance coverage, if the oral drug becomes over the counter insurance would no longer cover the fees. With the current rates if insurance didn’t cover the pill price the
For over 50 years birth control has been available to women but only through prescription. There are many women that don’t have health insurance, aren’t able to go to a clinic, or are too young and don’t have parental permission, hindering those who want to receive a prescription for birth control. Most people can easily access male/female condoms at nearly any local store. You can even purchase a “morning after” pill, known as Plan B, without a prescription. So why not sell oral contraceptives to women over the counter? Selling birth control over the counter can better help provide many health benefits for women, decrease teen pregnancy and abortion rates, and even save taxpayers money.
Over the counter birth control pills could be a change for the contraceptive world. If a law were to pass by the Food and Drug Admiration to let women gain access to birth control without a prescription, women will not receive the proper health checks that they need. According to Morgan Greenwald (2015) a doctor’s consent is important to make sure women are screened for protentional dangerous health risk while taking the pill. Saving health insurance companies money is not worth the cost, doctors can monitor a woman’s body reaction to the type of birth control pill. Over the counter birth control would require multiple warning labels that women would not likely read. Birth control pills are used by many woman and making it over the counter would change how women view
One of the most significant happenings that the Birth Control Movement was responsible for was the creation of the birth control pill. In 1948, Margaret Sanger, biologist Gregory Pincus and physician John Rock began to research and develop the birth control pill. It got approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1960 (Kaufman). This oral contraception is a type of medication that women take daily to prevent pregnancy because these pills contain hormone that prevent a woman’s eggs from leaving the ovaries and making cervical mucus thicker which keeps the sperm from getting to the eggs (Planned Parenthood). Plannedparenthood.org stated that within five years of its approval, the birth control pill was used by one out of every married women
Women have been using birth control methods for over thousands of years. Today, we have various effective birth control methods available to woman. Such as the pill, patch, shot, or IUD. Birth control is a safe way to prevent pregnancy. You can purchase birth control at your doctor’s office, planned parenthood, a clinic, or a public health care provider. They will first discuss your medical history with you, then check your blood pressure and finally you will discuss which birth control method is right for you, and they will send you on your way with your prescription. Birth control can be purchased at your local drugstore and costs up to 50 dollars. In a lot of cases though, young girls and even older women cannot afford or access these types of birth control. There are concerns about being unemployed which results in no income coming in for birth control, lack of health insurance the woman may have and whether or not the woman can afford having a child, even more during an economic crisis. By having women’s birth control free it will not only decrease the chances of abortion, help women financially , help with women’s menstrual cycle, and also by lowering the teen pregnancy rate, and having them have the power to decide when they want to have children. Many people can argue that the government shouldn’t have to provide another free service and that the cost
Making birth control over the counter will be helpful to a multitude of women. By providing birth control over the counter it will be more convenience for women. Instead of women taking time out to schedule a doctor's appointment and also attend one, if it is over the counter they can just walk in a
Birth control has been a controversial topic since the 1960’s, when the pill arose on the scene and gained popularity. Men and women of certain religious faiths have sought to prevent other women from using birth control. However, most women want to be able to choose when the time is right for them to have a child. This is why birth control is essential, because it allows women and couples in general the freedom to choose and plan their families. In many cases the need to control women by controlling their access to birth control goes all the way to the federal government. The federal government determines what types of birth control are allowed on the market and who has access to them. Some Presidential administrations look more kindly
In the United States 50% of pregnancies are unplanned. Is birth control not easy enough to get? Since 1960 the birth control pill has been approved for contraceptive use. However, women haven't been able to get a hold of the contraceptive without a doctor's prescription. The law has been the same since the pill came out, shouldn't their be a change? The distribution of birth control pills behind the counter would be beneficial to many women's lives. The pill being more easy to get would make busy women's lives easier, as they wouldn't have to go to the doctor to get the prescription. This form of contraceptive is also safe with little to no side effects with more benefits. The biggest thing that the pill would change is prevention of unplanned pregnancy, but money is holding all of this back.
Women do not have to set an appointment with their doctor and having to wait a week or more for their appointment.But with the over the counter birth control, consumers can go to their local pharmacy and pick up their birth control pills. When over the counter pills are easier to access, the more patient will use it. Everybody in America should be able to receive birth control (Laura Bassett). Some women do not have access to a doctor which makes it harder for them to have birth control. Having over the counter birth control pill will be easier for people to have.
Birth control has prevented many unwanted teen pregnancies, “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teen births in the United States reached a historic low in 2015, which can be explained in large part by an increased use of contraception among young people” (Gebelhoff, Robert). As of right now, women have to get a prescription to get oral contraceptives from their doctor. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, this movement to make access to these contraceptives is supported by them. Although, teenagers are more likely to use birth control pills compared to using condoms, they are not being influenced by their sexual or emotional pressures. This article also says, the public-health benefits from
The Center for Disease Control conducted a study on contraceptive use; their findings concluded “four out of five women have used birth control pills” during one point of their lives (Basset). Birth control pills have been around for over six decades, and their popularity has significantly increased during the past decade. Thousands of sexually-active women are turning to birth control pills as a way to prevent unplanned pregnancy, regulate periods, and to control acne. Nonetheless, birth control pills are synthetic hormones that influence the female body in severe ways. In fact, doctors and media are not presenting the menaces of consuming birth control pills in women; instead, they disguise the risks with commercials of synchronized
One of the many purposes of birth control is to avoid unwanted pregnancies. In this day and age the decision to take birth control should be a mere right and not a debate, but society has still not fully accepted the use of birth control even though “ninety-eight percent of women use birth control at some point in their lives” (Milligan, 2014, p. 3). Birth control has unfortunately earned a negative stigma because it allows women to have sex without getting pregnant and that is frowned upon throughout parts of society. Some members of society have even compared the use of birth control to abortion. Women who choose to take birth control should not be judged and the use of birth control amongst women should no longer be considered disgraceful. The reliable access to birth control should be made available to all women no matter their race, age, and class.
Birth Control is a global contraceptive that has been in use for more than 50 years. When Birth Control first came about in 1960 it was approved for married couples only, now over 10 million women married or single use this method. Most women complain about the harsh side effects of birth control but they rather put up with them before they risk having an unplanned pregnancy. Side effects such as weight gain and mood changes play a major role in the decision of birth control use. There is a saying that says, “If you knew better you would do better” most women do not even know better so they
Nemours, a children’s health organization, created pamphlet for doctors’ offices geared towards parents and teens who have questions about common issues in the realm of sexual health. They define “the pill” as an oral contraceptive, “a daily pill that usually contains the hormones estrogen and progesterone, and is taken to prevent pregnancy.” Other points discussed in the pamphlet include the safety of
Birth control. Most of the women in America have tried some type of birth control during their lifetime. Currently, we are having debates to see if birth control should be free or at a lower cost to citizens. Why do we need birth control if we already have condoms? Do we really have affordable birth control? Can we get it easily? Does it do more than just prevent pregnancies? If birth control really helping women and the economy? In this research paper, I will be going over these questions. Birth control is a benefit to modern society and we have benefited from it greatly.
Ever thought birth control pills are highly recommended and no one really tells women about the effects. The dangerous effects of birth control can be critical. Women have not been informed, well enough of contraceptives, especially when looking back on birth control with women's health and choices.