Tariffs and rising prices on goods in the United States have been highlighting front pages across newspapers throughout the country. Although these higher prices will affect everyone living in the U.S., women’s birth control products will become even more expensive than they already are. Along with rising costs, President Trump took away $9.7 million worth of contraceptives earlier this year. The fate of birth control in the U.S. seems unclear, but pregnancy prevention has always been a challenge for women around the world. Why is it so hard for women to access one of the most personal and vital forms of healthcare?
One of the biggest cost disparities in women’s and men’s items is birth control. When obtaining the birth control pill, women must visit the doctor for a consultation and a prescription before receiving the pill. In addition to the cost of the consultation, women have to pay for the pills themselves. Then, they have to pick up and pay for a new prescription once a month. This is quite the hassle compared to stopping by the corner store to grab a box of condoms and a Yerba Mate, costing less than ten dollars. Luckily, Berkeley High School’s Health Center makes obtaining birth control much easier for whoever needs to access it. BHS students do not need their parents’ consent to visit the health center and receive contraceptives. However, getting the birth control or contraceptives that people need is not always this easy and convenient.
In addition to the large gap in cost and accessibility between types of birth control, the rate of use also changes drastically between women and men. Less than 20 percent of men buy their own birth control, while 65 percent of women buy contraceptives for themselves or their male partners. The female birth control market profits nearly thirty million dollars per year, a remarkable amount considering that women are only fertile for less than 24 hours every 28 days. Men are fertile every day of every year, yet women experience a mere 12 to 24 hours of fertility every month.
When looking at the history of birth control, all early methods of contraception were inserted into or affected the woman’s body. The earliest forms of contraception were a strain to women. Margaret Sanger, the founder of planned parenthood, wanted to expand the use of a birth control pill that was easy for women to take by making it accessible in the U.S. This made contraceptives less of a burden.This resulted in the development of the pill we have today, which although not perfect, can be easier for women to use.
As the Trump Administration continues its crackdown on reproductive rights, obtaining care for women may become increasingly more difficult. At BHS, we’re fortunate to have the Health Center, which provides equal access to birth control for women and girls who need it.