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.

Making birth control pills over the counter can help with many issues, one of those issues is preventing unintended pregnancy.

“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

4).
Another benefit that over the counter birth control pills will give is empowering women to take charge of their own healthcare. “An over the counter pill would be good for women because it would expand the ways they are able to access contraception and give them more control over their health” (Marcotte 3). “When it comes to medication effectiveness, convenience matters” (Slade 1). Society believes that if birth control pills are over the counter women won’t visit their doctors regularly, but “there is no reason for us to assume women will stop getting medical care just because birth control pills are sold over the counter.” “If birth control pills are safe enough to be sold over the counter, then its up to women to decide if they want doctor supervision to take the pills.” Other people believe that if women know they don’t have to go into the doctors to get an invasive test, women won’t be as hesitant to do so (Marcotte 2).” “The government doesn't have the right to tell women what they do in private” ("Birth Control Is a Privacy Issue" 1). A woman's ability to limit and control her capacity to have children may be necessary in order for her to achieve equality and personal economic freedom” ("Fertility Control" 9). “The pro-choice community can demonstrate that they mean it when they say they trust women to make their own healthcare decisions”, by making birth control pills over the counter (Marcotte 3).
Lastly, having birth control pills available over the counter will help with reducing overpopulation. “According to a 2013 U.N. report, the global population is expected to grow to 9.6 billion by 2050 and 10.9 billion by 2100” (Heikkinen 1). “The world's population is growing out of control and quickly using up all of the planet's natural resources… Heikkinen says it is imperative that individuals recognize the importance of family planning and birth control pills before it is too late” (1). “Six countries recognized family planning or reproductive health as a component of an adaptation strategy” (Heikkinen 2). “If you could work slightly towards reducing unwanted pregnancies, that could be hundreds of millions of fewer people born,” a good way to start is making birth control pills over the counter (Heikkinen 3). Making birth control pills over the counter can help us “save on natural resources”, “improve communities’ resilience”, and “reduce the risk of climate impacts” (Heikkinen 1). Over the counter birth control pills can “enable women and couples to control their own reproductive destinies, which is essential for human freedom” (Barot 15). “Families that can choose the number, timing and spacing of their children are better able to plan their lives, to save resources and to increase their household income” (Barot 17). There is a big relationship between family and climate, and having over the counter birth control can help us maintain a balance for both (Heikkinen 2).
Many people have discussed making birth control pills over the counter to help with convenience and other ongoing problems. Having birth control pills over the counter to help unintended pregnancies will give the potential for happy, healthy families (“Birth Control” 5). Woman can begin to control their “reproductive decisions” (“Birth Control” 2). Also, making birth control pills over the counter can reduce the population and its “risk of climate impacts” (Heikkinen 1). Hence, allowing access to birth control pills over the counter prevents unwanted pregnancies, empowers women to take charge of their own healthcare, and reduces overpopulation.