Teens and OTC Contraception
Zachariah J. Worton
Ivy Tech Community College
Abstract
The following researched argumentative essay touches on the subject of teen children (minors) and their arability to oral contraception. The essay explains what exactly oral contraception is and how it effects the female body. It lists and explains the many uses and benefits that oral contraception has to offer and the disadvantages it may have. We will also look as a brief history on how this contraception method has come into use in history and how it is implemented today. This essay brings up topics like poverty control and how contraception and teen pregnancies have a role. It also touches on key oppositions to the subject and explains how
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There is no doubt that raising a child while essentially still being one is no easy task. There are so many things to worry about. Things like if both parents will raise the child or a single parent, who will pay the hospital bills, where the baby supplies will be coming from, health insurance, and in some cases a home to live in. Sure there is the option of adoption but that not being a popular alternative, these questions need to be addressed. “Teen childbearing costs U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars due to lost tax revenue, increased public assistance payments, and greater expenditures for public health care, foster care, and criminal justice services” (Teen Pregnancy and Childbearing. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2, 2014, from http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/adolescent-health-topics/reproductive-health/teen-pregnancy/). Because teen pregnancy often leads to higher dropout rates, teen parents often do not have the skills to obtain a stable carrier. As a result these families tend to have significantly less income compared to other teens who graduated high school and went and got a college education. This, as you would expect, leads to more government assistance to help support the child and as a result, higher taxes for everyone. “In 2013, almost 275,000 babies were born to teen girls between the ages of 15 and 19” (Teen Pregnancy and Childbearing. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2, 2014, from http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/adolescent-health-topics/reproductive-health/teen-pregnancy/). Teen parents are also at higher risk to fall into poverty. The number of children being born to teen parents is decreasing as a steady rate, and this is mostly due to the brilliant effects of contraception. “Between 1991 and 2013, the teen birth rate decreased by more than half in the United
Girls who gave birth while still in high school only 38% of them graduate. The reason the rest of them drop out is since they are forced to work in order to support their child. Nearly all cannot manage parenthood, school, work without family or friends help. With teenage mothers “Their children showed reduced educational attainment, had more emotional and behavioral problems, were at increased risk of maltreatment or harm, and showed higher rates of illness, accidents and injuries.” (Dennison P. 6) Just in the state of Texas, in 2012, there were 44 births per 1,000 girls’ state wide. Nationwide 50% of pregnancies are accidental in 2006. Teen parents also are a financial load to society, According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, in 2004, all together taxpayers paid more than eight billion dollars to help support health cares designed to help the 420,000 teenage mothers who gave birth in that year. “results from economic analyses suggest that implementing evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention programs, expanding access to Medicaid family planning services, and utilizing mass media campaigns to promote safe sex may reduce teen pregnancy and save taxpayer dollars.” (Without the help of drugs like Plan B or any type of birth control, a large amount of teenage girls will become unplanned mothers, making more of a financial burden to society.
As of recently, the approval of the emergency contraceptive Plan B, for the use of girls as young as fifteen years old has stirred up quite some controversy (Belluck, 2013). Those who oppose it cite the diminishing moral values that this would impose on an already increasingly secular society. These individuals believe that having access to such a powerful substance would encourage young girls to engage in sexual promiscuity without any fear of repercussion (Belluck, 2013). However, proponents of this new law argue that giving full access to fifteen year old girls would discourage them from becoming pregnant at such an early age and gives them the opportunity to make wise decisions about their bodies. Aside from the two strongly opposing sides to this dilemma, the actual nature of the dilemma stems from the ease with which these young girls would be able to access the emergency contraceptive drug. Before the new law came into place, the emergency contraceptive was only available through the prescription of a doctor and could only be accessed through a pharmacist (Aleccia, 2013). With the new law, anyone fifteen or older would be able to access and purchase the drug over-the-counter. Granting such access to girls who may at times not be fully aware of the consequences of their actions is the nature of the dilemma.
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
Although the majority of women can receive birth control from their insurance companies, there is still a need for over the counter birth control. Recently, contraception in the United States has become more of a political issue rather than a public health issue. Present-day contraceptives come in a variety of forms, but still have the same function; to prevent unintended pregnancies (Cartwright-Smith 541). Cartwright-Smith also stated that in addition, certain hormonal contraceptives are prescribed to treat medical conditions such as severe menstrual pain, excessive menstrual bleeding, acne, migraines, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids (541). There have been arguments about how over the counter birth control leads to “promiscuity”. Moreover,
The main concern in this topic is how to minimize and possibly eliminate teenage pregnancies. . One of every 10 girls in the United States gets pregnant each year (Kasun Jacqueline, 1994). Both sides believe that this statistic should go down and no teenager should be getting pregnant before they are ready to have or support children. While opposers may argue that introducing condom use to children early in their lives may be encouraging teenage sex and consequently teenage pregnancies, they must also embrace the changing times and acknowledge that in this day and age, they are bombarded with all forms of information, both positive and negative. Therefore, they are compelled to at least provide them with reliable information on this subject that will allow them to make wise and informed decisions in matters of their sex lives. If they do not do so, they are exposing them to an even greater danger of misinformation which is more dangerous than the first option. Opposers must realize that when they do not provide teenagers
Teenage sexuality and birth control have long been controversial topics that many find themselves unwilling to discuss. However, ignoring these issues will not make them disappear. The fact of the matter remains that teens are having sex and need confidential access to prescription birth control to prevent unwanted pregnancies. With the looming possibility of tremendous socio-economic effect upon society from an increase in teen pregnancies, allowing teens to access birth control without parental consent is
“Every year near 750,000 teenagers get pregnant and more than two-thirds of those teenagers who decide to have their baby will not graduate from High School" (Lu, 391). Our youth is the generation that possesses the power to dictate what the future entails, therefore it is crucial they do not succumb to the negative effects of sexual activity. No matter how arduous educators and parents may try to instill the act of abstinence amongst teens it’s simply not realistic. Most adolescents are likely to engage in sexual relations but instead of trying to prevent these actions, it is extremely vital to be proactive by allowing them access to contraceptives such as Plan B One- Step in the event of an emergency. However, many individuals believe that 15 year olds having access to Plan B is highly unsafe and will corrupt their parental relationships, but it is actually essential teens receive access to emergency contraception in order to prevent unwanted pregnancies and exercise their right as women to make unrestricted decisions regarding health.
The issue to be discussed herein is that of young people and access to contraception without parental consent, based around the article Schools, Birth Control, and Parental Consent (Urist, 2015). The term “young people” herein refers to teenagers who have not reached an age of majority.
One of the most controversial topics in the United States is whether or not teenagers should be allowed to take birth control while they are still in high school. “… teen pregnancy is a serious problem in the United States.” (“Teen Pregnancy”). Girls should be allowed to take birth control because girls and guys are obviously going to mess around in high school; therefore, birth control provides a safe way for teenagers to have sexual intercourse. If they are going to do it, they should undoubtedly be protected. There are many easy ways for a teen to obtain birth control. For instance, birth control is free at the health department. If they
Additionally, not every guardian or parent is willing to purchase the emergency contraceptive for their child due to religious beliefs’. Even though the contemplation of minors having intercourse makes parents unease, it is naïve for parents don't accept reality. The young female took on the responsibility of having intercourse; therefore she should take on the responsibility of being allow of purchasing the ‘morning-after pill,’ her health, body and
Contraceptive access and use has been an extremely controversial topic for the past few decades. Available or not, most young girls don't have access to the contraceptives, causing unintended pregnancies and a rise in abortion rates. But, should birth control be provided to teenagers by the government to reduce teen pregnancies?
One of the biggest debates of today is, whether or not teenagers should be given birth control. It is a very touchy subject, especially to parents. Teenagers are having sexual experiences younger and younger every day. WE should not ignore the fact of it or help control teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases or infections STD/STI.
Thesis statement: In order to explain why contraceptives are becoming such a necessity in schools today, I will share how teen parenthood is being glorified, reasons for such an increase in teenage pregnancies, and how effective distributing contraceptives would be.
With the rise of teen pregnancy parents are still afraid to allow their children to use birth control. If a teen is not sexual active, the dispensing of birth control in schools is not going to change that. "Previous research with adolescents has indicated that making contraceptive accessible does not increase sexual activity among adolescents who weren't previously sexually active.(qtd. In Women's health
Within the pro-choice world there are many issues that are discussed like abortion, the instant where life begins and the use of contraceptives. This article will focus on not only the issue of using of contraceptives, but specifically the distribution of oral contraceptives (“the pill”) to teenage girls without their parent’s consent.