The history of women’s autonomy in their own reproductive healthcare is short. By that, I mean it wasn’t until 1972 that the Supreme Court ruled that unmarried people’s right to use birth
control was legally protected.
That’s right – until 1972, only married people had the right to use birth control, and before that, even married people could be denied access to contraception.
The Women’s Health Movement, which began in the 60s and is still inspiring feminist frameworks for healthcare today, has given us quite a bit to be thankful for. The right to have someone with you during birth, the ability to buy a pregnancy test at the store, the right to know what kind of birth control you’re using and whether you want to be on it, and a long list of other options for people seeking reproductive healthcare are all to thank, at least in part, to the Women’s Health Movement (Cindy Pearson, Women’s Health Specialists of California).
The movement aimed to get information in the hands of women who needed it – not just between a male doctor and a woman’s husband, or even withholding this information from women altogether. The roots of the movement included a simple mission: everyone who has a cervix ought to be able to see their cervix, beyond that, they should be able to have a lot more say over what happens to that cervix. This may seem simple, but it wasn’t the norm.
Today the CDC reports that the majority of women aged 15 to 49 use some kind of birth control (CDC, 2020). So, where do we go from here? How do we maintain feminist healthcar
e practices in our own lives, and how do we advocate for them?
Most of us are far away from holding positions that make those decisions about our rights in an examination room. any woman making an effort to maintain her reproductive health, whether that be practicing family planning, getting on birth control, asking their doctor about what birth control could work for them, or even having conversations with friends about their experience with birth control, is taking a feminist, counter-cultural action when we consider our history.
As it stands right now in Oklahoma, you have the right to use contraceptives if you want them. You also have the right to access emergency contraceptives, like Plan B or the copper IUD, Paraguard. More information about the ever-changing landscape of abortion access can be found through the Oklahoma Call for Reproductive Justice.
Bottom line – we can normalize conversations about contraception in many different contexts. Your healthcare provider should have stigma-free, non-judgmental conversations with you about birth control. If you feel judged, shamed, or uncomfortable when asking a provider about birth control, you deserve a safer healthcare experience. Your relationship status or sexual orientation should have no bearing on whether you can access birth control, and your provider should know that. There are pr
oviders in Oklahoma who want to get you the care you need, and you should not feel bad advocating for yourself by finding another provider. Period.
You should feel comfortable talking to your partners about birth control, too. Part of consent – which is required for every hook-up, every time – means being informed about what kind of birth control and STI prevention methods are being used. For example, if you’re on the pill and want to use a condom as a barrier method against STIs, your partner should be cool with that. Nobody should ever make you feel bad or irrational for the choices you make about your reproductive health, including your sexual partners.
And remember — birth control isn’t one size fits all. The best birth control methods for someone may not be the best for everyone, and that’s why it’s crucial we have conversations about it. All bodies are different, so not every person will react well to every kind of birth control. There’s a beautiful rainbow out there of birth control options, and the good news is that they’re all available through OU Health Services.
Want to learn more about birth control and what your options are? Check out this awesome birth control guide by Bedsider. If you want to feel more prepared about your options before talking with your doctor, this is a great place to start. Or if you’re simply a reproductive health nerd like we are at Women’s Health Advocacy, this site has so much good information to explore.
Here’s a quick run-down of some of the more popular birth control options courtesy of Bedsider:
The Pill
A classic. The birth control your cool babysitter was probably on when you were a kid. There are two main kinds, the mini pill and the combo pill, and you can talk with your doctor about which kind is best for you. You have to take it every day, and you can take it continuous
ly to skip your menstrual period. The pill, like any hormonal birth control, has other benefits besides pregnancy prevention, like helping with endometriosis and reducing the risk of some cancers.
The L.A.R.C – Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptive
This category of birth control includes the implant (Nexplanon) and the IUD. These are the most effective forms of birth control because there’s no room for user error, but they’re more invasive to initially place than taking a pill every day. These last for years, depending on the method, and there’s a non-hormonal IUD made of copper. If you’ve ever had the classic brunch birth control convo with your pals, you probably know that experiences with L.A.R.C’s are varying — they can make your period completely go away for many, and they are really. really. really. good at preventing pregnancy. However, placement can be painful and so can removal. All the more reason to find a p
rovider that you trust and you can rely on to have your best interest in mind.
Condoms
Both internal and external condoms, when used correctly, are effective at preventing STIs and pregnancy. There’s a little more room for user error, but as long as you store your condoms correctly, put them on right, and stay away from oil-based lube, that margin for erro
r shrinks (check out Bedsider’s comprehensive guide on condom types and how to use them correctly.) PLUS, you don’t need a doctor to prescribe condoms, so it’s a way for everyone involved in a hook-up to share responsibility for preventing pregnancy and reducing the risk of STIs.
There are more options than just these three, and you have the right to know about all of them – how to use them, how effective they are, and their side effects.
Everyone’s birth control journey looks different, and some people may never use it, and that’s okay! Aside from having
stigma-free, organic conversations about birth control, it is also incredibly important to acknowledge the amount of time, energy, and people that it took to be where we stand today in having access to birth control. The legal landscape of reproductive rig
hts can be complicated and stressful, but as long as there are people who can get pregnant in the OU and Norman community, Women’s Health Advocacy wants you to know that you are worthy of, and have the right to reproductive healthcare.
We have a lot to worry about as students, and birth control shouldn’t be one of those things. There are free condoms available on campus in the LGBTQ+ lounge in the Gender + Equality Center and on the second floor of Goddard. The Goddard staff can also help you get birth control that works for you, and they can help you figure out how to get birth control that you can afford. To find out more information regarding how OU can help in your birth control journey, please feel free to check out Goddard Health Services
So, as we say at Women’s Health Advocacy, find a doctor who doesn’t make you feel weird about your body, don’t forget to take your pill tonight, and #LiveLaughLARC.