Introduction
Birth control is the use of devices, drugs, agents, and sexual practices to prevent pregnancies. Availability of this method over the counter will make them easily accessible. According to Sonfield and Barot (2014), birth control methods include the vaginal ring, the pill, condoms, and spermicide. Impacts of these practices are discussed in detail below, such as risk factors associated with them, budget impact, compliance, and economic and community impact at large.
Risk Factors
Many risks are associated with birth control methods. Breast, cervical cancer, headache, nausea, breakthrough bleeding, and breast tenderness (Yuan & Li, 2018). The longer the use of the contraceptives, the higher the risk. Headache and nausea occur due to changes in hormone levels being high or low. Many women experience bleeding during their active pills days and tend to experience unscheduled bleeding while on birth control.
Budget Control
The birth control methods have a budget impact both on an individual level and the society. According to Crespi and Sood (2013), the long-acting methods have a lower failure rate when used correctly and have low cost. From the client’s perspective, there is less cost associated with unwanted pregnancies, and from the society’s perspective, there is reduced cost associated with postnatal and prenatal healthcare needs.
Compliance and Economic Impact
The rejection of birth control methods across the globe has been influenced by a number of factors. These factors include the risk of producing unwanted pregnancy, adding flavor to the sexual acts, and the need to prove fertility (Gordon, 2002). On the economic impact, according to Pop-Eleches (2010), contraceptives reduce maternal and child mortality. Women’s earnings and their level of education have improved due to access to contraceptives over the counter.
Community Impact
While birth control techniques have gained public acceptability, their influence on social and lifestyle is little unknown. There has been an increase in sadness, poor sexual desire, marital delays, cohabitation, and other mental health issues. Premarital sex decreased the rate of marriages, and the use of contraception has become more common and has resulted in a drop in church attendance and acceptance of church doctrine among Catholics. (Wilkinson & Rafie, 2018).
Conclusion
In conclusion, birth control methods are important to an individual and the economy. Accurate information helps to reduce the risk associated with these methods. The cost involved and the acceptability of the methods by people can be made so through public awareness. Birth control methods can vary from one method to another, including oral ones such as pills and the implanted ones such as intra-uterine copper devices.
References
Crespi, S., Kerrigan, M., & Sood, V. (2013). Budget impact analysis of 8 hormonal contraceptive options. The American Journal of Managed Care, 19(7), e249-55.
Gordon, L. (2002). The moral property of women: A history of birth control politics in America. University of Illinois Press.
Pop-Eleches, C. (2010). The supply of birth control methods, education, and fertility evidence from Romania. Journal of Human Resources, 45(4), 971-997.
Sonfield, A., & Barot, S. (2014). Birth control pills should be available over the counter, but that’s no substitute for contraceptive coverage. Health Affairs Blog. Web.
Wilkinson, T. A., Miller, C., Rafie, S., Landau, S. C., & Rafie, S. (2018). Older teen attitudes toward birth control access in pharmacies: a qualitative study. Contraception, 97(3), 249-255.
Yuan, X., Yi, F., Hou, C., Lee, H., Zhong, X., Tao, P., & Li, J. (2018). Induced abortion, birth control methods, and breast cancer risk: A case-control study in China. Journal of epidemiology, JE20170318.