In recognition of World Contraception Day on September 26, and because Planned Parenthood is the expert on all things birth control, we’ve put together some resources about birth control, and are highlighting the reasons why having access to birth control is so important.
Why We Use Birth Control
The oral contraceptive pill, known simply as the pill, was first introduced in 1950 as a way to prevent unplanned pregnancies. Since then, a number of new birth control methods have been developed like the IUD, the shot, the patch, and the ring, all of which have helped to make pregnancy prevention easier and less involved. Where the birth control pill needs to be taken every day, newer methods provide pregnancy prevention that lasts for weeks, months, and years at a time.
In addition to coming in a variety of forms, birth control is also used for a variety of reasons. While birth control is most known for its use to prevent pregnancy, many people use birth control to treat things like irregular menstrual cycles, hormonal acne, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), pain from endometriosis, and migraines, among other issues. And, according to the National Cancer Institute, taking birth control pills can even reduce the risk of developing uterine cancer and ovarian cancer.
Why We Love Birth Control
Aside from all of the ways that birth control is used to support a person’s physical wellbeing, contraceptives have also drastically changed the way that people with uteruses live their lives. Birth control has given people the freedom to pursue higher education at higher rates. The Institute for Women’s Policy Research reports that people who could become pregnant “both enrolled in and graduated from college in great numbers due to contraceptive access.”
Increased access to birth control has also caused a spike in the number of women in the workforce. People with uteruses have been able to seek employment opportunities and excel in fields that were historically dominated by males, like law and medicine.
Contraception has allowed people to plan whether or not they want a family, and when they want to start a family, which positively impacts economic outcomes. The Journal of Policy Analysis and Management found that, “having legal access to the birth control pill by age 20 significantly reduces the probability that a woman is subsequently in poverty.”
Ultimately, birth control has created a more equitable world where anyone, regardless of their sex or ability to become pregnant, has the freedom to make choices that are best for themselves.
How to Get Birth Control
Planned Parenthood makes it easy and convenient to get birth control whenever you need it. Our providers are available to offer information about all of the different types of birth control and answer any questions you may have without judgment. They will help you find the method that works the best for you and your lifestyle.
To learn more about all the different birth control methods available, visit the Planned Parenthood website.
To make an appointment at your local Planned Parenthood, call (714) 922-4100.
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