Essay Sample on Teen Birth Control: Pro & Con of Making Pills Available

Introduction

Birth control has been a topical issue for a considerable time now. Various interest groups are increasingly suggesting control pills should be made available to teenage girls, overtly and over the counter. After being introduced in some states in the United States, adolescent pregnancies have drastically reduced. Some oppose the application of contraceptives to teenagers argue that birth control pills should not be introduced to teenagers because they are likely to cause an increase in teen sex. They are also worried about long term repercussions towards their children (Kennedy, "Making oral contraceptives available without a prescription"). Despite their arguments, opposers have failed to surmount sufficient evidence that supersedes that which medics have provided. FDA itself stated clearly that birth control pills were safe for use by teenage girls. Various studies have also indicated that adolescent contraceptive users were more likely to continue using them after their juvenile age—a factor likely to reduce unwanted pregnancies.

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Availability

Various researchers opine that birth control pills should be made available to teenage girls. Pharmacists have also ascertained that birth control pills are not harmful to young girls, as suggests by the critics. Numerous credible organizations and journal reports indicate that time has come when teenage girls should be introduced to birth control pills. Inf act, reliable organizations, have claimed that utilization of contraceptives by young girls was poised to enable them to master the art of preventing unwanted pregnancies early on in life (Kennedy, "Making oral contraceptives available without a prescription"). The ripple effect of teenagers using birth control pills at their young age is the prevention of early pregnancies and unnecessary abortions, all of which could be egregious. Introduction of contraceptives to teenagers would work in tandem with the current belief in the pills, already in the United States; over 11 million women use tablets to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

Side Effects

One side effect associated with the application of contraceptives is a notable relative increase in the risk of depression. Such a drawback, as mentioned above, has, does not supersede benefits accrued by some nations such as India, China, and some states in the United States of America. Dispensing birth control without prescription has emerged to be a thorny issue, but California and Oregon have already introduced its application devoid of pharmaceutical prescriptions requirements needed. After attaining the lowest teenage birth rate in 2014, the introduction of contraceptives has resulted in a considerable decrease in cases of teenage pregnancies (June, "Teenage girls should have access to over-the-counter control pills"). Ever since its scintillating low in 2014, the adolescent birth rate has reduced significantly for seven years in a row. Other studies have indicated that the utilization of contraceptives was essential at preventing early and unprecedented pregnancies among teenagers. The use of contraceptives at the teenage stage has been deemed to help young girls continue with birth control measures later in life; thus, preventing unwanted pregnancies.

Early Pregnancy

Early pregnancies are a societal issue that negatively affects females' lifestyle; they could cause school dropouts and unnecessary abortion. According to a scientific study concerning women's opinion on the idea of availing contraceptives to young women, most women, according to scientific research. Many of the participants supported the purpose of availing contraceptives to young girls (June, "Teenage girls should have access to over-the-counter control pills"). Though physicians are slightly skeptical about their use, pharmacists, on the other hand, are in total support of the utilization of contraceptives by young women. Contraindicated use is deemed to be low compared to the benefits accrued after using the pills. Considering that patients and providers support the idea, it follows that contraceptives are necessary sooner than later.

Some opposing thoughts concerning the utilization of contraceptives one that argues they are likely to cause venous thromboembolism—a type of blood clot caused by estrogen and progestin, all components present in birth control pills. While the ailment mentioned above is feared to affect young girls likely, the medical fraternity has claimed that the blood clotting condition is less versatile among adolescent girls. Therefore, various stakeholders argue that teenagers should be exposed to contraceptives as early as possible (Hersher, "over-the-counter birth control pills"). From a legal perspective, if the bill introduced by Sen. Patt Murray is anything to go by, the current status where contraceptives are sold over the counter, in most states (Hersher, "over-the-counter birth control pills"). Republicans have previously strived to repeal part of ACA that deals with over the counter restrictions.

Although the regulating body Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has not yet given a leeway concerning the utilization of contraceptives by young girls, the nongovernmental organization has claimed fair evaluation if any important proposal was handed to them. Various studies conducted by the non-profit entity indicate that the utilization of birth control pills did not cause an increase in sexual behaviors among teenagers, as argued by some critics (Futurity, "Self-birth control pills"). FDA opines that making contraceptives available in places that are not clinics is vital for preventing early pregnancy. However, the regulation body claims that not all contraceptives should be administered to young girls—probably occasioned by their effects. It is therefore clear from the FDA that they support the utilization of contraceptives among teenagers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, positives associated with the use of contraceptives by teenagers supersedes the negative attributes the practice likely causes. Some critics of the administration of contraceptives to teenage women argue that such an endeavor would increase sexual immorality among adolescent girls. In that regard, the FDA has found that there is no connection between contraceptives' utilization by teenage girls. Part of the medical staff claims that the administration of contraceptives to adolescent girls is applicable and should be made available; in particular, they should be made available over the counter. If the data concerning women in the U.S and Oregon and California is anything to go by, then the administration of contraceptives to young youths are becoming a necessity and a futuristic endeavor worth pondering.

Works Cited

Hersher, Rebecca. Over-The-Counter Birth Control Pills Would Be Safe For Teens, Researchers Say. 16 Mar. 2017, www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/03/16/520268440/over-the-counter-birth-control-pills-would-be-safe-for-teens-researchers-say.

June, Laura. Teenage Girls Can and Should Have Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pills. 21 Mar. 2017, theoutline.com/post/1263/teenage-girls-can-and-should-have-over-the-counter-birth-control-pills.

Kennedy, Caitlin E, et al. Should Oral Contraceptive Pills Be Available without a Prescription? A Systematic Review of over-the-Counter and Pharmacy Access Availability. 1 June 2019, gh.bmj.com/content/4/3/e001402.

Sell Birth Control Pills over the Counter to Teens? 17 Mar. 2017, Futurity. www.futurity.org/heres-evidence-for-selling-birth-control-pills-over-the-counter/.