Over the years, the birth control pill has become more and more popular as a form of contraceptive or a way for teenagers to manage their health. Despite the effectiveness of the pill, some women, especially teens, struggle to deal with the side effects of the medication and have difficulty acquiring the pill from a doctor.
Birth control is a daily medication that stops a woman’s ovulation. Most brands of the pill contain large amounts of estrogen and progesterone which is why women experience difficult side effects. Many girls take the pill in order to clear their acne, lighten their period cycle, or decrease cramps.
The amount of estrogen and progesterone being pumped through the body is abnormal, therefore many teens experience the side effects because they are still developing. Some side effects females may experience while on the pill include mood changes, menstrual changes, weight gain, nausea, bloating, headaches, and appetite changes.
The hormonal imbalance the pill is causing creates these difficult side effects and for young women who already have to deal with navigating being a teenage girl, it just makes it that much harder.
Birth Control is one of the most popular forms of pregnancy prevention. According to Virtua Health Dr. Rachel Kramer, one in five teenage girls were on the pill in 2021 and the number continues to climb over the years. There are several reasons why females are prescribed this pill other than the main purpose of pregnancy prevention, in fact, many young adults who are taking birth control do not take it for the sole reason of avoiding conception.
Many doctors believe young women lack the education necessary to be able to navigate the real effect the pill has on their bodies. Though the pill is extremely effective, the side effects can present significant challenges.
The birth control pill is not an over-the-counter medication that you can just pick up from a drug store, your doctor must prescribe you the medication and there are many barriers blocking women, especially teens from getting the pill. For example, not all teenagers have access to a healthcare provider and the pill is not exactly affordable. It’s also important to understand that America is one of the few countries that has these barriers. The pill is over the counter in over 100 countries, America not being one of them.
The FDA and The Department of Health and Human Services advocate that pill should be accessible to everyone no matter their age, race, income, or current state in life. Many medications can come with bad side effects and are difficult to receive without some sort of barriers, but birth control is such a mainstream drug utilized by so many, which is why scientists and doctors continue to attempt to make contraceptive access easier and simpler.
Furthermore, Birth Control has become less of a taboo subject. “Increasing access to birth control is vital for all women and a huge step forward for women’s reproductive rights,” said Ryalynn Morgan Carter, MD (Colombia University Medical Center). By addressing the issues and side effects of the pill, we can do a better job of supporting young women when it comes to navigating
their health.
In July of 2023, the FDA approved the first over-the-counter pill, Opill, which was a major win for women in America, who will now be able to access contraception without a prescription.
