Planned Parenthood of Southern New England Recognizes World Contraception Day

Access to birth control has incredible medical and economic advantages

(New Haven, Conn.)––September 26 is World Contraception Day, and Planned Parenthood of Southern New England (PPSNE) recognizes the profoundly positive impact of contraception and voluntary family planning services in helping individuals take charge of their own bodies and determine their own futures.

“Planned Parenthood of Southern New England believes everyone deserves access to high-quality reproductive health care services—including birth control—and unbiased information to make informed decisions about their health and their fertility,” said Kafi Rouse, Vice President, Public Relations and Marketing at PPSNE. “Only when people control their own bodies can we say they truly have freedom and justice.”

Contraception is key to the economic empowerment of all people, giving them the ability to better control their bodies and their futures. According to the World Health Organization, promotion of family planning—and  ensuring access to preferred contraceptive methods—is essential to securing the well-being and autonomy of women, while supporting the health and development of communities. Family planning enables people to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health and helps reduce the rates of unintended pregnancies and prevent adverse health effects for mother and child. Certain types of contraception also prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS and other STDs/STIs and have additional medical benefits, such as treatment for excessive menstrual pain and bleeding and acne.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, about 43 million women of reproductive age in the United States are at risk of unintended pregnancy, and 60% of these women are using a contraceptive method. Couples who do not use any method of contraception have an 85% chance of experiencing a pregnancy over the course of a year. In the United States, the average desired family size is two children—to achieve this size, a woman must use contraceptives for roughly three decades. Of the available methods of contraception, the birth control pill and sterilization remain the two most commonly used.

Despite the incredible advantages of contraception, the Trump-Pence administration continues to attack and vilify reproductive health care. Last month, the enforcement of an abortion “gag rule” forced Planned Parenthood out of the national Title X family planning program, making it more difficult for millions of people to access affordable birth control and essential, life-saving services. In Connecticut, PPSNE served 88% of the state’s Title X patients. Most impacted by this cruel, unethical gag rule are our most vulnerable communities: people of color, people with low incomes, immigrants, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Planned Parenthood of Southern New England operates 17 health centers in Connecticut and Rhode Island, and our providers are experts on contraception and sexual and reproductive health care. To learn more about which method of contraception is right for you, or to discuss family planning options, make an appointment online at ppsne.org or call 1-800-230-PLAN (7526). No appointment necessary for emergency contraception—just walk in.