English 106
April 13, 2011
Birth Control Access to Teens
Not everyone is ready to be a mother. Even at almost 30 I can honestly say I am not sure I am ready. I have a steady job and good insurance so paying for my contraceptive comes easy. Not everyone is as lucky. I couldn’t image myself being a mother and being responsible for another life at the age of 15 or even younger. There are millions of girls out there who cannot afford the cost of birth control and do not have access to it. We cannot force them to abstain from sex but what we can do is make is easier for them to get a contraceptive and hopefully reduce the risk of unwanted pregnancies. Local pharmacies such as Walgreen’s, CVS and even the grocery
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It is not uncommon to turn on MTV or open a magazine and not see models in revealing clothing, music videos where the artist is almost naked or even TV shows were teens are having sex. This sends a message to our youth that it is common and is what most people their age are doing. Another problem is their own parents. Many parents are naïve to what their children are doing and do not take the initiative to talk to them and take them to do the doctor and get them on some form of contraceptive.
There are several benefits to making birth control easy to obtain for teens. The drop out rate of pregnant teens will decrease. The number of teens living on welfare and in poverty will decrease which in return will lower the amount of money allocated by the federal government to assist teens with federal aid. Another benefit of reducing the number of teen pregnancies is the amount of money schools will save on providing daycare to those students for free. Many schools have on campus daycare that provides meals and school for the children of teenage mothers. The money saved from this could provide more teachers or even help the current teachers keep their job. The best benefit of all is they can enjoy their teen years, focus on their education and hopefully go to college someday.
The government has fought publically over whether or not they will provide federal funding for programs such as Planned Parenthood. What they don’t
In truth, contraceptive access will not increase the rates of teen sex, according to a 2017 paper co-authored by five John Hopkins doctors and pediatricians (Gebelhoff 7). The pamphlet used to help teens decide if they are ready should be viewed as a good thing because it gives students reasons not to proceed (Culp-Ressler 4). Additionally, John Hopkins says, teenagers on the pill or other hormonal birth control options are more likely to be protected from pregnancy than those who use condoms because the pill has a lower rate of failure and is not influenced by pressures in the moment (Gebelhoff 8). Hormonal birth control is more effective at preventing pregnancy, but it would be impossible for most teen girls with reluctant parents to obtain if states require parental permission due to the scarcity of clinics and lack of over the counter
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.
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
Teenagers will still be able to choose whether or not they want to protect themselves from pregnancy if their parents are not there for them. In the other hand some individuals think that having birth control available over the counter will cause individuals to have more sex and some women are not responsible enough to take the pill everyday at the same time. Some may argue that providing birth control over the counter can cause woman and teenage girls to have more sex than they were before and sime may question if women are responsible enough, it should be sold over the counter because it will reduce the number of abortions and pregnancies by allowing these women to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies.
Millions of women across America will struggle to receive the medical attention they need if the federal government stops funding to Planned Parenthood. Every year 363 million dollars goes into the funding “pot” collectively at Planned Parenthood’s nationwide (Clark 5). This money is used predominantly by women; for six in ten women, Planned Parenthood acts as their main source of health care (Clark 4). Many individuals with low incomes depend on these clinics to maintain or help better their health. Recently, the federal government is trying to pass the Pence Amendment, which would eliminate funding to these institutions. The federal government needs to realize how important Planned Parenthood
Many women don't have time to see their doctor let alone run to the pharmacy to pick up their pill every 1-3 months. Putting the contraceptive behind the counter would make women with busier lives easier. To get the pill women need to see their primary care doctor just to write up a prescription, which is almost pointless to waste an appointment on. Women should be able to get birth control without all the hassle. It would be much more efficient if the birth control was behind the counter and all you had to do was ask for it, much like the morning after pill. Not only would women appreciate the convenience, but so would young teens. Often young teens are too scared to tell their parents that they are sexually active and want to be on the pill. Parent Teen Help explains, “About 95 percent of sexually experienced teen females has used a condom at least one. About 55 percent have used birth control like the pill. About 58 percent go with the pull out method, which is the least effective method of birth control”. Making life more simple for teens by easy access to the pill will prevent teens from using unprotected methods, such as the pullout method and is also much more safe than many people think.
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
To begin with, teens should have the option to obtain birth control without any obstacles preventing them from doing so. This is because they may want to avoid further trusting issues arising because of the fact that they may be doing things in which the parent may not approve of. Opening up to a guardian which you know is gonna have a big impact on it will cause further consequences to the teen. When this happens, it then becomes a greater issue, because it creates a risk of unprotected sex and a resulting baby for which the teen may not be able to support. Not only that, but the fail attempt to use any birth control method may lead to transmitting STD’s to the adolescent. So, giving the minor the right to purchase birth control can decrease the risk of any of these from occurring.
Seven hundred fifty thousand teenagers, ages fifteen to nineteen, become pregnant each year (“Facts”). Teenage birth specialists have often debated whether or not teenagers should have access to birth control and other contraceptives. Although some people think teenagers having birth control will promote promiscuity, birth control should be accessible to teens because they will put themselves at a higher risk for disease and pregnancy without it, and more teenage girls would get a high school diploma with it.
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.
Having children is such an amazing thing many women embrace. I cannot say the same thing about an unplanned pregnancy. The invention of birth control was such an amazing invention because; it allowed women to have an option of just advoiding pregnancy, until they are ready. Tuesday, September 19th, Highland Family Planning made a visit to Nazareth College for the Campus Safety Week event. Highland Family Planning (HFP) offers so much to the community. They specialize in affordable and confidential birth control services, as well as STD testing and treatment, pregnancy testing and even counseling. They do not only offer services to women, they also see men and teenagers.
Health care and what people are legally allowed to do with their bodies have created controversy galore throughout history. A particular point of debate is the topic of birth control and the government. A dangerous couple, it raises the question of who should have control over contraceptive laws and what controls involving them should be put in place? Currently, under the Obama Administration, the Affordable Care Act and “Obamacare” have been created. One of the sections of this new plan creates a mandate which requires private businesses to provide insurance that covers birth control costs. The government should not be able to force businesses, and therefore the American people, to pay for birth control via health insurance because it
A question that is asked around when people get pregnant is, “Will you choose abortion, adoption, or parenting?” Those are just three of the options when others get pregnant. However, all of it could have been prevented by using contraceptives. In the article “High Teen Pregnancies Blamed on Contraceptives”, it states that, “Twenty eight percent of couples who want to use family planning don’t have
The problem with birth control today is obtaining it in the first place. For most teens getting birth control is an intimidating experience. Girls must have a complete gynecological exam, which most have never had. Girls must also speak with a doctor about wanting birth control. "Even if it's only a male going to the store to get condoms he has to put up with comments like, 'I'll have to charge you an entertainment tax.' A female goes in and she hears, 'Hey honey, you're not the one whose supposed to be buying these.' She gets embarrassed" (health clinic worker). When free condoms are offered to students, they are less embarrassed to receive them. Students with condoms are more likely to use them during sexual activity.