BIRTH CONTROL
In 2017, use of modern contraceptives, or birth control, prevented an estimated 308 million unintended pregnancies
Contraception allows people to decide if and when to
become pregnant, and family planning is achieved through use of
contraceptive methods and the treatment of infertility. By lowering
rates of unintended pregnancies,
contraception also decreases the need for unsafe abortion
and reduces HIV transmission from mothers to newborns.
This can
benefit the education of girls and create opportunities for women to
participate more fully in society,
supporting the social and economic development of their
communities.
Contraception comes in different forms with different levels of effectiveness and acceptability. Some methods depend on consistent and correct use, while others, like the IUD or implant, can be placed once and last for several years. In choosing a method of contraception, remember that only one method, condoms, can prevent both pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
In 2022, the right to an abortion is threatened by the U.S. Supreme Court's forthcoming decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. With this, many worry about the future of access to reproductive health care. Most types of contraception prevent a sperm from fertilizing an egg, while others can stop an already-fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus, which is considered the beginning of a pregnancy. Some abortion rights opponents regard such devices as "life-ending" because of the possibility that implantation can be disrupted. Changing the definition of when pregnancy starts to the time of fertilization could mean reduced access to highly effective methods of contraception, such as Plan B ("Morning-After Pill") and the copper IUD. It could also force family planning clinics to shutter, simply because they also provide abortion services.