Due to the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade on June 24th, 2022, the topic of unwanted pregnancies, especially in teens, needs to be addressed. This includes not only termination but also prevention, broaching the subject of the well-known prevention pills.
In the United States, the cost for the birth control pill varies from $20 to $50 per month, costing $240 to $600 annually. However, in Spain, the situation is very different. Women 15 years and above may purchase the pill with or without a prescription. Additionally, due to government subsidies, the monthly cost is only 3€ to 10€. The availability of the pills poses the question of whether or not the pills should be sold over the counter with no medical consultation.
Birth control pills have many advantages, such as reducing acne, regularizing and lightening one’s period, easing menstrual cramps, protecting against certain cancers, and preventing pregnancies (Stacey). However, because of the negative side effects the pills can have, taking them should come with careful consideration. Many negative side effects include nausea, breast tenderness or enlargement, headaches, spotting or breakthrough bleeding, missed periods or amenorrhea (the absence of one’s period), weight gain, mood changes, decreased sex drive, and vaginal discharge (BWell Health Promotion). In some cases, although rare, people experience serious side effects such as blood clots, abdominal pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, blurred vision or even loss of vision, severe leg pain, and high blood pressure (Ibid.). The birth control pill changes one’s hormonal composition, which can have serious side effects if one is not eligible for the type of change the pill offers; therefore, consulting a physician about the different types of pills and what kind of hormone they each contain allows for a safer experience (Planned Parenthood).
Based on the survey sent out to the ASB high school students, 51% said they agree that birth control pills should be sold over the counter with no medical consultation. One student explained their agreement, reasoning that “not everyone is comfortable or able to ask their parents to help them get a prescription. Side effects should be made clear but it should be easier to get especially for underage people.” Others mentioned safety, and economic problems such as not having insurance and privacy (not wanting to share that kind of information with parents or legal guardians).
On the other hand, 33.3% responded that birth control pills should not be sold to those not in possession of a prescription. Those holding this opinion mentioned the topics of misuse, negative side effects, future infertility, and age restrictions. One of the respondents stated that a medical consult should be required before purchasing any type of pill: “I think it would be important for an individual to have a conversation with their doctor to discuss which birth control would be most effective given their situation. This conversation may include discussion of side effects of birth control but also important information on how birth control should be administered.”
The students who responded to the survey made excellent points about their perspectives on the availability of birth control and whether it should be sold over the counter or not. The question of whether birth control pills should be sold over the counter demonstrates a case-by-case situation, as anything regarding medication should be personalized and carefully thought about. No universal solution exists. Consequently, this topic is very relevant in society, particularly with regards to teens. Some minors aren’t comfortable discussing birth control with their parents, which can prove detrimental when seeking a professional consultation and needing parental consent. Thus, although opinions vary, conversing about birth control and its impacts can help influence healthy decisions in teens.
Bibliography:
BWell Health Promotion. “What are the side effects of birth control pills? | Health Promotion.” BWell Health Promotion, 2022, https://www.brown.edu/campus-life/health/services/promotion/content/what-are-side-effects-birth-control-pills. Accessed 27 October 2022.
Planned Parenthood. “What Are the Benefits & Advantages of Birth Control Pills?” Planned Parenthood, 2022, https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/birth-control-pill/what-are-the-benefits-of-the-birth-control-pill. Accessed 27 October 2022.
Stacey, Dawn. “The Pros and Cons of the Birth Control Pill.” Verywell Health, 21 December 2021, https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-pill-pros-vs-cons-906927. Accessed 27 October 2022.