Birth Control

Birth Control

"We want far better reasons for having children than not knowing how to prevent them" (Russel). There are many different opinions weather women should have access to birth control or not. Although some argue that birth control may cause health issues, others agree that women using birth control is more effective involving family planning, and decreases the chance of unplanned pregnancies.

First of all, many people believe that allowing birth control access to women causes health problems. To illustrate, "Warnings of possible hazards to users received much attention during congressional hearings in 1970 on the safety of the pill and took some of the bloom off of its joyous reception" (Shaffer). One of the health concerns that may result from birth.

Also, the estrogen from birth control causes a slight risk of blood clotting (A reality check on the pill). Even more, "Women who use the oral contraceptive pill may be exposed to long-term problems from low values of unbound testosterone potentially leading to continuing sexual, metabolic, and mental health consequences" (Birth control pill could cause long-term problems with testosterone). Methods of birth control obviously have some negative side effects that can result in very serious health problems.

On the other hand, birth control is an effective way involving family planning. For example, "Access to family planning is essential to the right to health" (Cutting off Birth Control). In fact, most people like to plan out having their children when they're ready to. Next, Shaffer says, using birth control frees sexually active married couples from worrying about a pregnancy that they do not currently want at the time. Birth Control is obviously a help to couples that are not ready for a child yet, and helps them plan having a child at a more appropriate time.

Though birth control can cause health issues, it's more beneficial to keep access to birth control available for family planning and preventing unplanned pregnancy purposes. Also, birth control helps prevent those unwanted pregnancies that can end up in either abortion or child neglect. Furthermore, "No woman can call herself free who does not own and control her body. No woman can call herself free until she can choose consciously whether she will or will not be a mother" (Singer).

Works Cited

A reality check on the pill. 2006. 10 March 2009 <http://proquest.umi.com.ezaccess.libarires.psu.edu.>.

Birth control pill could cause long-term problems with testosterone. 4 January 2006. 10 March 2009 <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com>.

Cutting off Birth Control. 12 October 2008. 10 March 2009 <http://proquest.umi.com.ezaccess.libarires.psu.edu>.