The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists released a study by Gallup that shows that 6% of women that were using prescription birth control have stopped using it because of the economy and the cost. Of all women at a child-bearing age, 3% have stopped using birth control altogether because of cost.

Repeat: Three percent of women have stopped using birth control!

My humble opinion and a request for your stories after the jump.

I predict a baby boom. Because this imminent increase in the birth rate comes as a product of economic recession (as opposed to the economic growth following WWII) a sudden increase in the population will create a strain on taxpayer-funded social services. Health care providers and public schools will feel population increases the most.

Teen girls are included in this study, and are more susceptible to economic hardships that affect birth control practices. (For a look at how some unintended pregnancies create new costs to taxpayers, click here and here.)

It will also increase the number of women who obtain abortions, both legally and illegally. Economic distress leads some women to seek no-cost or low-cost abortions that are not performed by doctors that may be using unsafe methods.

We want to know if the bad economy has changed the birth control habits of you or someone you know. Have you stopped using a form of birth control because of the cost? Post your story in the comments section below.


-Gabriel

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I never expected to put this much thought towards Bristol Palin, but her stated goal of raising awareness about preventing teen pregnancies. Her work with the Candie's Foundation has put the subject front and center in the national media. Still, her message is unclear and incomplete. Fortunately, the country will not have to go without a strong-minded daughter of a Republican leader.

Meghan McCain has taken Bristol and the Republican Party to task. She posted her thoughts about growing up with unrealistic expectations from the national media about being a sexually-active daughter of a politician. Specifically, she advocates educating teens about birth control and making sure they have access to it as the best way to prevent the need for abortion.

Excerpts from her blog post after the jump.

"Here’s what I’ve never understood about the party: its resistance to discussing better access to birth control. As a Republican, I am pro-life. But using birth control and having an abortion are not the same at all. Actually, the best way to prevent abortions is to educate people about birth control and make it widely and easily accessible. [All emphasis added] True: abstinence is the only way to fully prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Still, the problem with abstinence-only education is that it does not make teenagers and young adults more knowledgeable about all the issues they face if or when they have sex—physically and emotionally.

"The key, honestly, is communication between parents and children. At the end of the day, the worst thing parents can do is raise children who are not prepared for the situations they may encounter, especially when they’re not planned. (For anyone who remembers their teen years, you know what I mean.) Unfortunately, Republicans typically don’t like to discuss or deal with things they think are wrong or immoral. And that’s a huge mistake. If we can’t discuss birth control in addition to abstinence, and in a non-judgmental way, kids will continue to make bad choices for lack of having access to informed, safe options. Not everyone shares the same beliefs, and more importantly, people don’t always react the same way to their circumstances. Which is why it is so important to encourage honest, open communication about the realities of sex within the party at large, and more specifically, between parents and their children."

Excerpted from The GOP Doesn't Understand Sex

This is the responsible voice that all of our leaders should share, regardless of their view on abortion.


-Gabriel

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Last month, one of the biggest birth control stories of the season broke - the FDA legalized over-the-counter sales of Plan B to 17 year old girls. Cecile Richards appeared on CNN to debate the issue (video here) and Ohio's three largest papers all carried the story.

Cleveland Plain Dealer
Columbus Dispatch
Cincinnati Enquirer

On Monday, Beth Whitted had a great Letter to the Editor printed in the Columbus Dispatch. Full text after the jump.

Plan B decision will trim teen pregnancy
Monday, May 4, 2009

The Associated Press article "FDA lowers 'Plan B' age limit," in the April 23 Dispatch, was a great piece on the "Plan B" morning-after contraceptive pill being available over the counter to teens.

It clarified the way that Plan B works, which is to prevent a pregnancy from occurring, not cause an abortion.

It is appalling that the United States has the highest rate of teen pregnancy among the most developed countries in the world. Approximately 750,000 teens will get pregnant this year, and this decision by the Food and Drug Administration can help reduce this alarming statistic.

For those concerned that teenagers will rely on Plan B as a regular method of birth control, studies have shown that this is not the case.

This decision is a common-sense policy that will help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and protect the health and safety of all women.

BETH WHITTED
Bexley

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April was National STD Awareness Month, and Planned Parenthood in Cincinnati wanted to make sure people noticed! Their Oxford Health Center (at Miami University) closed two years ago. Since then they’ve heard from countless Oxford community members about a gap in services. Little did they know how big that gap was.
They decided to re-open their Oxford center for one day only, offering free STD testing (gonorrhea, chlamydia and HIV) to anyone who needed it. They partnered with StopAIDS to offer rapid HIV testing and counseling, so patients could receive the results of that test before they even left the clinic.

Planned Parenthood's Tara Bonistall: "Thursday morning rolled around, and as they were finishing up last minute preparations, I began to worry. What if no one came? What if no one needed to be tested? The clinic opened at 11:00 AM, and at 11:04, my worries had already been dismissed – we already had ten people waiting to be tested."

The Oxford clinic waiting room remained completely full of people wanting to be tested all day. Tara added, "We ran out of testing supplies and paperwork twice, and even brought in more staff members! Six hours and more than 130 tests later, we shut the doors on a day well done."

This testing day brought very positive responses from patients and community members. "Everyone coming into the clinic was grateful for services, and willing to be patient as the wait times increased, said Tara. "Some people even made new friends in the waiting room!" Almost everyone who was tested also requested an HIV test. HIV prevention organizations have done a great job educating about the importance of being tested and knowing your status.

Thanks the full Planned Parenthood staff in the Southwest Ohio region for encouraging everyone to Get Yourself Tested.



-Tara

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Continuing the Palin family saga, Bristol Palin (official Candie's Foundation spokesperson) has been making the rounds on TV today to discuss Abstinence and being a mom. Bristol's "baby daddy" Levi Johnston came on TV later to denounce Bristol's Abstinence push and promote teaching teens about condoms. It is appropriate today, since today is National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.

The media appearances (available after the jump) started quite the argument in the office. I felt that Bristol's appearance was harming the discussion about why we need to teach teens about birth control. Others felt that she was making a surprising arguement about how teens should practice Abstinence, but that it's difficult and that many teens fail in that attempt. I didn't argue my point well.

Later, a friend made a well-intentioned point that helped me understand why I objected to Bristol's appearance. My friend's comment: "Bristol was talking about the need for middle ground between abstinence and age appropriate sex education." Instantly I understood the larger truth - the idea of a middle ground is a myth being perpetuated by those opposed to teaching teens about safe sex.

I made the following Venn Diagram to illustrate my point.

More discussion, videos, and another awesome Venn after the jump!

No one that teaches Sex Ed in schools teaches lessons about birth control and condoms without teaching Abstinence. There is no classroom that hears this, "OK kids, you're gonna have sex no matter what, so let's start trying on condoms." This doesn't exist.

There is no middle ground because these are not two opposite ideas. All Sex Ed lessons that include birth control and condoms take place within a discussion about Abstinence. Abstinence is the first thing that every teen and pre-teen is taught.

This Venn diagram shows the truth. It is that Abstinence-Only Sex Ed should be called Incomplete Sex Ed. It does not teach birth control or condoms and, therefore, is not a whole curriculum.

Comprehensive Sex Ed, also known as Real Sex Ed or Medically-Accurate Sex Ed teaches the whole package. Teens learn (1) that Abstinence is the only 100% sure method to avoid pregnancy and STD's and (2) that since many teens do have sex, they have to use condoms and birth control. It is Complete Sex Ed.

By talking about Abstinence, Bristol is spreading a good message, but it is incomplete. By spreading this incomplete message, she is continuing the myth that teaching teens that being Abstinent is one of two opposite life choices; and that if they choose Abstinence, then they don't need to learn about birth control and condoms. That is why I felt she was doing more harm than good.

What do you think? Leave your comments below!

Watch CBS Videos Online

Bristol's interview on Good Morning America available here.

[UPDATE - 5/11/09] CNN 360 featuring Planned Parenthood's Laurie Rubiner



-Gabriel

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