In case you’ve been tuning out the chaos of current events to maintain some semblance of sanity, there’s a significant update: the government has made it easier for employers to deny coverage for contraceptives. Last Friday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) altered a crucial aspect of the Affordable Care Act that mandated employer health plans to include birth control coverage. Now, businesses can opt out based on religious or moral objections, effective immediately.
According to the New York Times, this hasty decision was justified by the administration’s claim that engaging in public commentary was “impracticable” and that contraception coverage could encourage “risky sexual behavior” among young people. Roger Johnson, head of HHS’s civil rights division, stated, “That was a promise made, and this is the promise kept… Organizations should be able to express their religious beliefs without facing discrimination.”
Let’s break this down: if a company has any ideological objection to birth control, they don’t have to provide it. Yet, denying women access to essential health care is somehow acceptable. What seems to be overlooked by many in power is that birth control serves as preventative care for a multitude of health issues, not just as a contraceptive. If men could become pregnant, we all know contraceptives would be readily available at every corner store.
Common Medical Reasons for Prescribing Birth Control Pills
According to the Center for Young Women’s Health, here are some common medical reasons for prescribing birth control pills:
- Menstrual Cycle Regulation: Birth control can help balance hormone levels, aiding those with irregular periods or heavy flows.
- Menstrual Cramps Relief: The Pill can alleviate severe cramps by preventing ovulation and stabilizing cycles.
- Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI): For girls whose ovaries don’t produce enough estrogen due to various factors, birth control is crucial for regulating cycles and maintaining bone health.
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): This hormonal imbalance leads to irregular cycles and other symptoms, which can be managed with birth control.
- Endometriosis Management: Many suffer from debilitating pain during their cycles; birth control can help regulate or stop periods to relieve discomfort.
- Acne Treatment: Hormonal birth control is often prescribed to combat moderate to severe acne.
- PMS Symptom Relief: Birth control can stabilize hormone levels, easing the emotional and physical symptoms of PMS.
Moreover, birth control pills can decrease the risk of anemia due to reduced menstrual flow and lower the chances of certain cancers and ovarian cysts. The current administration, alongside the GOP, has shown a blatant disregard for women’s healthcare. Just last week, the House of Representatives passed a ban on abortions after 20 weeks, disregarding the fact that many women don’t receive conclusive genetic testing results until around that time.
These changes in contraceptive coverage and abortion regulations will disproportionately impact low-income women who often lack access to affordable reproductive care. If this feels like a scene from a dystopian novel, that’s because it is. Imagine a government primarily composed of women regulating men’s reproductive health—absurd, right? A woman’s health choices should remain between her, her doctor, and her own beliefs.
No one should be penalized simply for having a uterus. Or perhaps we should tell lawmakers there are firearms involved; then they might reconsider their stance.
For anyone interested in boosting fertility, check out our post on fertility supplements. Also, for a deeper understanding of how age affects fertility, you can visit this resource. And if you’re seeking information on pregnancy week by week, the March of Dimes offers excellent insights.
In summary, birth control is a vital component of women’s health that goes far beyond preventing pregnancy. The recent changes in policy threaten access to essential medical care, particularly for those who are most vulnerable.