The Prevention Through Access Act – No-Cost Solution to a Costly Congressional Mistake

The restoration of affordable birth control is feasible, not to mention, a no-cost solution to Congress’s accidental elimination of accessible, affordable birth control for millions of women across the country. While Congress’s mistake is costing women throughout America a lot of money, the solution doesn’t cost a penny, aside from the effort needed to push a bill proposing a solution through Congress. Luckily, Congress is taking note of this problem and interestingly enough, the issue’s solution seems to be in closer reach following the 2008 presidential election.

In November 2007, President-Elect, Senator Barack Obama introduced the bi-partisan Prevention through Affordable Access Act which would allow college students and young women to access affordable contraceptive drugs. A companion bill was also introduced in the House by Representative Crowley. Unfortunately, nothing happened with the bill and the price of birth control has continued to soar. I have contacted my local Congressional representatives as well as President-Elect Obama, via Obama’s website, discussing the further need for Obama to place the Prevention Through Access Act and restoration of affordable birth control on his “Change” agenda. Considering a bill has been introduced, we have to contact our local representatives to insure that the bill continues to gain support and eventually become law.
It's time to take action and urge our members of Congress to restore affordable birth control prices to college health centers and other trusted family planning providers. Birth control is basic health care; therefore, a woman's option to use contraception to prevent an unintended pregnancy should not be based on her socio-economic status.

The American College Health Association (ACHA) found that 39% of undergraduate women use oral contraceptives. According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, prescription birth control, including the pill, can be 95% to 99.9% effective in preventing pregnancy.

Birth control options, such as “the pill”, serve purposes aside from simply preventing pregnancy. Oral contraceptive pills are also an accepted treatment for irregular or absent menstrual periods, menstrual cramps, acne, PMS, endometriosis, and hormone replacement therapy. For example, girls diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which causes a hormone imbalance resulting in irregular menstrual periods, acne, and excess hair growth, are prescribed oral contraceptives to lower their hormone levels back to normal and regulate menstrual periods.

Awareness to these alternate uses of birth control can quickly silence those individuals whose reaction to the effort to restore affordable birth control has simply been “If you don’t want to get pregnant, don’t have sex.” Solutions proposed by those in opposition of the bill are blinded by unrealistic views, that need not be corrected, but rather deserve an informed response – and if that response is a free solution to this problem, why should those individual’s opinions stop women from having options and access to affordable birth control?

Realistically, not only do unmarried college females rely on birth control, but so do married female students. Some of those married students might not have insurance and have to rely on access to affordable birth control. The simple “don’t have sex” solution might seem like a solution. Not every married couple wants to have children – so why shouldn’t these women, regardless of their social economic status, have access to affordable birth control? The answer is they should.

Luckily, President-Elect Obama has taken note of this situations and the need to restore affordable birth control. Hopefully, the efforts will be success and women can continue to make responsible choices, regardless of their social economic status and others unrealistic opposing solutions.