Many different types of birth controls are widely used among women all over the world. Whether you’re using it to regulate your period or to avoid becoming pregnant, you can easily make an appointment with your gynecologist and get a prescription for one of many types of available contraception. People are starting to wonder if they should have to go to into their doctor just to be able to receive this contraception; women want availability of birth control to be over the counter. But is over the counter contraception a good idea? Because of all the issues with possible side effects, money problems, and not getting the proper prescription, birth control should not be available over the counter. Two-thirds of American women have a different
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One reason that over the counter birth control should not be supported is because of all the possible health complications and side effects. Most pill packs include a large leaflet explaining the side effects of taking the pill, including blood clots, mood swings, decreased libido, weight gain, etc. It also explains the risks associated with taking the pill. For example, oral contraceptives may increase the risk for breast cancer (depending on the woman’s age, family history, etc), as well as endometriosis. “...women with moderate to severe endometriosis are four times more likely to have been prescribed the pill before age 18 to treat menstrual pain.” (Virginia Sole-Smith from the Fertility and Sterility journal). How will you know if you are at risk for breast cancer or endometriosis without consulting a doctor? If you are unaware of the many risks and buy birth control over the counter, it could be detrimental to your …show more content…
There are numerous types of birth control available, including pills, IUD’s, implants, injections, and more. Not all women use birth control for preventing pregnancy; many use it to regulate period cycles, alleviate painful cramps, control acne, etc. With all the different types available, your doctor truly has the best judgement for with contraceptive type will work best for you. If you buy over the counter, you may not be getting what you truly need. “...they will have no way of deciding which type of birth control is suited for them in conjunction with other prescription medications they might be taking...” (Morgan Greenwald). Of course, women would still be able to go into their doctor to ask for advice on which contraceptive to take, but to some women, the whole point of over the counter birth control is to avoid the hassle of making appointments; they may become impatient and skip checking in with a doctor. As stated before, there are many risks posed with birth control. A huge step to avoiding these risks is to speak to your doctor. Prescription birth control essentially forces women to get proper screening and lab tests to ensure no problems will arise during the time they are using contraceptives, as well as gives them the best options to fit their
One reason that over the counter birth control should not be supported is because of all the possible health complications and side effects. Most pill packs include a large leaflet explaining the side effects of taking the pill, including blood clots, mood swings, decreased libido, weight gain, etc. It also explains the risks associated with taking the pill. For example, oral contraceptives may increase the risk for breast cancer (depending on the woman’s age, family history, etc), as well as endometriosis. “...women with moderate to severe endometriosis are four times more likely to have been prescribed the pill before age 18 to treat menstrual pain.” (Virginia Sole-Smith from the Fertility and Sterility journal). How will you know if you are at risk for breast cancer or endometriosis without consulting a doctor? If you are unaware of the many risks and buy birth control over the counter, it could be detrimental to your …show more content…
There are numerous types of birth control available, including pills, IUD’s, implants, injections, and more. Not all women use birth control for preventing pregnancy; many use it to regulate period cycles, alleviate painful cramps, control acne, etc. With all the different types available, your doctor truly has the best judgement for with contraceptive type will work best for you. If you buy over the counter, you may not be getting what you truly need. “...they will have no way of deciding which type of birth control is suited for them in conjunction with other prescription medications they might be taking...” (Morgan Greenwald). Of course, women would still be able to go into their doctor to ask for advice on which contraceptive to take, but to some women, the whole point of over the counter birth control is to avoid the hassle of making appointments; they may become impatient and skip checking in with a doctor. As stated before, there are many risks posed with birth control. A huge step to avoiding these risks is to speak to your doctor. Prescription birth control essentially forces women to get proper screening and lab tests to ensure no problems will arise during the time they are using contraceptives, as well as gives them the best options to fit their