adyn reposted this
So you think you have a right to contraception? ➡️ A three part series on The Right to Contraception Act that failed in the Senate on June 5th, 2024. Part 3 of 3: What we have to lose. Access to contraception as a human right. This right has been recognized by the United Nations and the World Health Organization, and protected as law by the US Supreme Court for nearly 60 years. So what do we have to lose? A LOT: 1️⃣ Autonomy in family planning: Access to contraception is critical for preventing unintended pregnancy and ensuring individuals can decide if and when they want to expand their family. Without access to contraception, individuals are denied the agency to plan their futures. 2️⃣ Basic healthcare: 70% of women use birth control for reasons other than preventing pregnancy. Birth control is the most commonly prescribed drug for managing reproductive health conditions like PCOS and endometriosis, and thus restricting it restricts access to basic health care. 3️⃣ Health equity: Disparities in access to contraception exacerbate existing healthcare inequalities—especially in light of the fact that birth control is medicine. The lack of access to contraceptive services perpetuates inequalities in health outcomes, particularly for the ~20M women who live in contraceptive deserts across the US. 4️⃣ Economic security: Access to contraception enables individuals to plan their families on their own terms, contributing to generational economic security and wellbeing. Access to contraceptive medicine is not a privilege but a fundamental human right. Blurring the line between healthcare and political positioning has proved dangerous, time and time again. Today (June 24th) marks two years since the Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe vs. Wade and made it extraordinarily difficult for many women to seek abortion care in the US. Since this ruling, 1 in 5 providers report constraints on their ability to manage miscarriages and other pregnancy-related emergencies. In abortion ban states, this statistic rises to 4 in 10 providers. These statistics are also reflected in countless horror stories of women almost dying due to pregnancy complications which were previously easily treated but are now inaccessible due to legal restrictions. Whether a patient is seeking pregnancy care or contraceptive care, the law should not impinge on their ability to get health care. It is our collective responsibility to advocate for the medical and nonmedical benefits of contraceptive access and protect this human right. For “Part 1: Not the will of the people” see: https://lnkd.in/gKR2D2dY For “Part 2: Yes, we should be scared” see: https://lnkd.in/g44PsFNu #Contraception #ReproductiveRights #GenderEquality #Medicine