The Pros And Cons Of Birth Controls

There are approximately three million unexpected pregnancies each year in the United States and 1.6 million abortions (“Fast Facts: U.S. Abortion Statistics”). With today’s technology in medicine, these numbers should be much less. Most women have access to birth control pills if they see their gynecologist and get a prescription, but often times women cannot afford insurance, are unable to get an appointment, or do not have the time in their schedule to go to the doctor. This is what causes an abundant amount of these unexpected pregnancies that can also lead to abortions. Because Plan B One-Step pill was approved as an over-the-counter medication, birth control pills should be sold over-the-counter instead of through prescription, so women

Women do not want to get pregnant for many reasons. Often times, women are sexually active, but are not at a point in their life where they can financially support a child. Other women often are too young to have children and want to wait until later on in their life to start a family. No matter what the case is, many women throughout the world are on birth control. “The birth control pill prevents ovulation by maintaining more consistent hormone levels. Without a peak in estrogen, the ovary doesn 't get the signal to release an egg, which eliminates the possibility of fertilization and pregnancy” ("Birth Control Pills.”). Keeping the eggs from leaving the ovaries can lead to other benefits for women that can help them to live a better daily life. For example, women who have irregular or very heavy periods are prescribed birth control pills because the pills can help to give them a more normal period. The pills can also help reduce cramping before, during, and after women’s menstrual

Since the pills are only available in prescription form, women are unable to just go and buy birth control like they do Advil or Motrin. Birth control should be sold over-the-counter so that women do not have the inconvenience of making an appointment and waiting until that scheduled date to receive their prescription. Doing so would dramatically reduce the number of women who have gaps in taking their birth control pills because they would be so much easier to obtain. Since women have to schedule an appointment with a doctor or go to their local pharmacy and wait for their new prescription to be filled, it is common that when women run out of their pills, it can be very hard for them to go and get them the same day that they run out. This is what causes gaps in taking the pills. “The best way to reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy among women who are sexually active is to use effective birth control correctly and consistently” (“Unintended Pregnancy Prevention”). Women end up going multiple days without taking the birth control pills, while still being sexually active. This makes them even more likely to have an unwanted pregnancy, which can lead to abortion. In a poll of 131 students taken place at Montgomery High School, 113 students voted that selling birth control over-the-counter would greatly reduce the amount of abortions. Only 18 students voted