It feels like 1952 as our politicians discuss the merits of whether or not to support women’s access to birth control if they want to avoid unintended pregnancy. What?
The vast majority of the population believes that people who plan their families, avoid pregnancy at inopportune times, and have healthy, wanted pregnancies at the time of their choice is such a societal good, that they would actually be willing to be taxed extra just to pay for such an intelligent solution — not that we are advocating an extra tax; our solution more than pays for itself.
The good news is that the work you have been supporting all of these years has actually paid off in a large way. Today, the CDC announced that between 2009 and 2010 teen pregnancy has dropped. While we have not caught up with the impressive rates the northern European countries enjoy, the United States went from 44 pregnancies per 1000 teens, to 34! We are now experiencing the lowest rate of teen pregnancy in our country since 1946. This is not just a teen phenomenon; this drop can be seen to a lesser degree in all ages of women, from all races.
What has caused this? Your believing in family planning. Your advocacy over the past 10 years spurred governments in many states to decide to fund contraception for low income women by extending Medicaid eligibility to women below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. That has meant that young women came in for effective contraceptives like birth control pills, shots, and implants along with next generation, long-lasting “intrauterine systems” combining both hormones and tried and true IUD technologies. A single “Intra Uterine System” is good for five years of contraceptive confidence — enough time to get someone through school or find a job with insurance. Your support helped push through the funding to expand these already effective, proven programs.
However, there is another vital factor at work in this success story: medically accurate, comprehensive sexuality education. In Washington State, you helped us pass the Healthy Youth Act, requiring comprehensive sex education if sex education were taught. Our Teen Council and TOP programs not only explain the basic facts of life to young people, but help them understand the benefits of planning their future; being a parent is easier when you are ready. More and more, today’s young people have been empowered to wait to start families until life circumstances (education, relationship, finances, and living situation) allow them to bring a wanted and loved new person into the world. And today their proactive choice is backed by those contraceptive methods that are more effective than any to which we’ve had previous access.
For all of these years, Planned Parenthood has been investing in young people and the educational tools that we know improve their lives. We offer comprehensive sexuality education, today’s better birth control, and generally help communities become healthier because of you. We’re here because of your support.
We don’t often give time towards celebration. We hope you join us in being very gratified by your role in this latest victory.
Christine Charbonneau
Chief Executive Officer
