Birth Control Pills Over The Counter Essay

Let's Make Birth Control Pills More Accessible Making birth control pills over the counter will make it the “most effective contraceptive method ever sold in the United States” (Marcotte 3). “Oral contraceptives are safe enough to be sold over the counter” (Gueren 4). According to Gueren, about “70 percent of Americans are in favor of over the counter birth control pills” (4). “Nearly two-thirds of American women would rather have birth control pills over the counter, and about 30 percent of women say they would consider going on birth control if the option was available” (Marcotte 1). Allowing access to birth control pills over the counter prevents unwanted pregnancies, empowers women to take charge of their own healthcare, and reduces overpopulation.

“From a public health perspective, over the counter birth control pills could help reduce unintended pregnancy” (Marcotte 3). The pill is known to have a one percent chance of pregnancy, but when used incorrectly the chances of getting pregnant is eight percent, which is still very effective (Jacoby 4). The PAP test and pelvic examine are overused, making women take a “major health risk of unintended pregnancy” just to get birth control pills (Marcotte 2). Among the women who are trying to prevent pregnancy, 62 percent are on birth control, making birth control pills over the counter will raise that percentage (¨Birth Control¨ 1). “Two-thirds of unintended pregnancies occur among women who are not using any method of contraception” (Barot 16). “Providing birth control pills over the counter to all of these women would prevent an additional 52 million unintended pregnancies and a wide range of deleterious outcomes from those pregnancies” (Barot 14). Over the counter birth control allows “control over a woman's fertility, being able to manage their period and prevent pregnancy” (Jacoby