Contraceptives—birth control methods—prevent pregnancy and are used to treat a variety of health issues including endometriosis, acne, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), as well as PMS and PMDD symptoms.
Contraception is an essential, basic, and preventive health service. In the United States, contraceptive access is often difficult and complicated; sex education is limited, at best, and medically inaccurate, at worst; cost of birth control is prohibitive for far too many; and different cultural pressures undermine patients’ ability to choose the best contraceptive option for themselves. Subsequently, the rate of unintended pregnancy in the United States is higher than those in countries such as Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, and Switzerland.
Inadequate access to contraceptive services and comprehensive reproductive health information often impacts the lives of women and trans and non-binary people seeking these same resources. This directly impacts every aspect of someone’s life, from their health and well-being to their socio-economic, educational, political, and professional statuses. Everyone has a right to safe, effective, affordable, and accessible contraception.