How do you feel about the state of policy on contraception in the US? Who gets to decide and for what groups or situations? How old can you begin to acquire birth control? Are medical exceptions excusable, frowned upon, or perfectly acceptable?
Birth Control Politics
01/30/2013
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I think it should be available without a prescription, at the very least the minipill should because oral progestins alone have very few health risks. Or pap smears should not be required for the prescription.
I am not in favor of age limits, either. I find the gatekeeping of such a useful and often life-saving medication ridiculous.
I am not in favor of age limits, either. I find the gatekeeping of such a useful and often life-saving medication ridiculous.
01/30/2013
There's no reason to have birth control age limits. 13-year-old girls with endometriosis need birth control too.
Anyone who wants birth control should be able to access it for free at any age.
The state of contraceptive access in America is abhorrent.
Anyone who wants birth control should be able to access it for free at any age.
The state of contraceptive access in America is abhorrent.
01/30/2013
Quote:
I have actually not had to get a pap smear in order to get birth control...and I have been on it for 3 years. Maybe that's not in California...or for the pill because I can see how they would be helpful with something like an IUD.
Originally posted by
Khanner
I think it should be available without a prescription, at the very least the minipill should because oral progestins alone have very few health risks. Or pap smears should not be required for the prescription.
I am not in favor of age limits, ... more
I am not in favor of age limits, ... more
I think it should be available without a prescription, at the very least the minipill should because oral progestins alone have very few health risks. Or pap smears should not be required for the prescription.
I am not in favor of age limits, either. I find the gatekeeping of such a useful and often life-saving medication ridiculous. less
I am not in favor of age limits, either. I find the gatekeeping of such a useful and often life-saving medication ridiculous. less
I'm not sure about birth control laws but I don't think they are THAT strict. You need a prescription to get them for a reason but it's not like it's all that hard to go to the doctor and get one. The only problem is cost. I went to a teen clinic that came to my high school and have gotten birth control pills from them up until last year (they actually gave me a 12 month supply my last visit and I will be going to Planned Parenthood to get my pills after that). I have gotten them for free for 3 years.
There can be medical exceptions and I think birth control pills don't need to be given to someone who barely got their period unless there is a medical reason. I feel like feeding someone hormones (who doesn't need them) too early can affect their development. The one clinic I went to would actually see kids from 12-19. While I don't know if they would give a 12 year old birth control pills, I don't think they could turn them away too.
I think contraceptive access in the US is great. People just don't know where to find it or get it. There are so many health clinics out there that cater to those who can't afford it, want to get is discreetly, or have other medical reasons. Of course, I live in LA and there are A LOT of health clinics. If people looked a little, they could easily find a place to get their pills or find a program that might be able to give them free or very low-cost contraceptives (pill, patch, shot, IUD, etc). Both the clinics I go to are more than happy to have people in there.
If they were in stores they would be horribly expensive like the Plan B. Even with that being offered in stores, I still see people going into Planned Parenthood to get those pills...So even if it were offered in stores, I still think people would go out and try to find a way to not pay for it.
02/01/2013
Quote:
Maybe it's just where I live because the closest planned parenthood is about 2 hours away (hooray for the south). Sometimes seeing a doctor IS hard to do. I'm thinking more in terms of general accessibility for the pill, whether you have insurance or not. I suppose an increase in demand would increase the price, so that is a downside.
Originally posted by
Bleu
I have actually not had to get a pap smear in order to get birth control...and I have been on it for 3 years. Maybe that's not in California...or for the pill because I can see how they would be helpful with something like an IUD.
I'm ... more
I'm ... more
I have actually not had to get a pap smear in order to get birth control...and I have been on it for 3 years. Maybe that's not in California...or for the pill because I can see how they would be helpful with something like an IUD.
I'm not sure about birth control laws but I don't think they are THAT strict. You need a prescription to get them for a reason but it's not like it's all that hard to go to the doctor and get one. The only problem is cost. I went to a teen clinic that came to my high school and have gotten birth control pills from them up until last year (they actually gave me a 12 month supply my last visit and I will be going to Planned Parenthood to get my pills after that). I have gotten them for free for 3 years.
There can be medical exceptions and I think birth control pills don't need to be given to someone who barely got their period unless there is a medical reason. I feel like feeding someone hormones (who doesn't need them) too early can affect their development. The one clinic I went to would actually see kids from 12-19. While I don't know if they would give a 12 year old birth control pills, I don't think they could turn them away too.
I think contraceptive access in the US is great. People just don't know where to find it or get it. There are so many health clinics out there that cater to those who can't afford it, want to get is discreetly, or have other medical reasons. Of course, I live in LA and there are A LOT of health clinics. If people looked a little, they could easily find a place to get their pills or find a program that might be able to give them free or very low-cost contraceptives (pill, patch, shot, IUD, etc). Both the clinics I go to are more than happy to have people in there.
If they were in stores they would be horribly expensive like the Plan B. Even with that being offered in stores, I still see people going into Planned Parenthood to get those pills...So even if it were offered in stores, I still think people would go out and try to find a way to not pay for it. less
I'm not sure about birth control laws but I don't think they are THAT strict. You need a prescription to get them for a reason but it's not like it's all that hard to go to the doctor and get one. The only problem is cost. I went to a teen clinic that came to my high school and have gotten birth control pills from them up until last year (they actually gave me a 12 month supply my last visit and I will be going to Planned Parenthood to get my pills after that). I have gotten them for free for 3 years.
There can be medical exceptions and I think birth control pills don't need to be given to someone who barely got their period unless there is a medical reason. I feel like feeding someone hormones (who doesn't need them) too early can affect their development. The one clinic I went to would actually see kids from 12-19. While I don't know if they would give a 12 year old birth control pills, I don't think they could turn them away too.
I think contraceptive access in the US is great. People just don't know where to find it or get it. There are so many health clinics out there that cater to those who can't afford it, want to get is discreetly, or have other medical reasons. Of course, I live in LA and there are A LOT of health clinics. If people looked a little, they could easily find a place to get their pills or find a program that might be able to give them free or very low-cost contraceptives (pill, patch, shot, IUD, etc). Both the clinics I go to are more than happy to have people in there.
If they were in stores they would be horribly expensive like the Plan B. Even with that being offered in stores, I still see people going into Planned Parenthood to get those pills...So even if it were offered in stores, I still think people would go out and try to find a way to not pay for it. less
And no, it's not necessarily a law that you have to get a pap smear, but most doctors will not give or refill a prescription if you don't get one yearly. I don't know how the new 3-year guidelines will change this, but it's still up to the doctor's judgement whether or not they want to wring out those extra dollars from your uterus every year.
Maybe it is the case that I just haven't shopped around enough to know how to get the pill more easily, but I've been blessed with health insurance all my life.
I do agree that developing girls shouldn't have their hormones messed with, but pregnancy messes it up just as badly.
02/01/2013
Total posts: 5
Unique posters: 4