Do These Pills Fit the Bill?
“My body, my choice”. This slogan, along with many others used by advocates for women’s rights, is especially poignant in a divisive and dangerous time for reproductive rights in the United States. With a loss of protection for abortion rights and several state lawmakers looking to restrict birth control, people have flooded the streets to call for their rights and autonomy to be returned. One small glimmer of hope has come with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent decision which allows retail pharmacies to carry both abortion pills and nonprescription birth control, making these services more accessible.
Mifepristone, a prescription abortion pill, has just entered retail pharmacies in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, pharmacies in states that have criminalized abortion are unable to carry the pill, meaning it is still out of reach for many of the women who would benefit most from access to safe abortion. Despite this, it will still do enormous good in states where it is available. While abortions can typically cost up to $800, the pill will only cost $79, and will even be covered by insurance for some customers (Planned Parenthood).
“Anyone who can get pregnant should have the right to obtain this pill, just like any other medication at the pharmacy,” senior Brooklyn Steele said. “Abortions can be very expensive without insurance, [which is a major] barrier stopping women from receiving the care they need. This pill allows for women to more easily access something that is their bodily right.”
The FDA has also recently approved Opill, a daily oral contraceptive, as a nonprescription pill, making it the first of its kind to be so widely available. The contraceptive is solely progestin-based, meaning health complications are “virtually impossible” (National Public Radio). Combination pills, or pills that contain both progestin and estrogen, commonly have more side effects and include higher risk for certain types of cancers (GoodRx Health). The main attraction of the pill, however, is its nationwide accessibility. The FDA’s ruling allows pharmacies across the U.S. to stock it as an over-the-counter pill, even in states that have severely limited abortion and birth control (The Washington Post). Opill is 98% effective, making it the most reliable non-prescription birth control (The Conversation).
These decisions come at a crucial time in the fight for reproductive autonomy, in the shadow of the recently overturned Roe v. Wade case. The case, which was overturned in June 2022, eliminated federal regulations on abortion access, which had been enforced in a previous case called Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Without federal law protecting abortion, 14 states have banned the practice altogether (Guttmacher Institute).
“Roe v. Wade being overturned decreases the amount of safe abortions, not the amount of abortions in total,” junior Sarah Porter said. “Just because one religion claims that abortions [are immoral] does not mean that we should apply these beliefs to an entire country. One religion is not representative of all of [the U.S., and yet] those beliefs are often weaponized against the entire country.”
Equal, safe and protected access to abortion is one critical way to protect bodily autonomy. Allowing retailers to carry mifepristone makes abortion more accessible, ensuring that fewer people are forced to carry unwanted or dangerous pregnancies to full term. Unwanted pregnancies are associated with hardships for both the mothers and children; increased levels of anxiety, depression and substance abuse are recorded in the mothers of unwanted pregnancies, with psychological and behavioral issues common for their children (Drexel). Although abortions are illegal in some states, having access to an abortion pill will be significant in decreasing the amount of unsafe abortions.
Birth control, a safety net before abortion, is also an important part of the equation of reproductive health. While abortion is typically a last resort, birth control is an everyday solution and preventative measure. However, many do not have access to prescriptive birth control, due to the barriers associated with medical healthcare in the U.S., such as expense, healthcare discrimination and insurance (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). This ultimately results in over 19 million women in the U.S. living in contraceptive deserts — areas lacking access to contraceptive methods — something that Opill can hopefully relieve (Power to Decide). In terms of birth control use among teenagers, the FDA’s ruling will make it easier for minors to bypass parental restrictions, especially if it is a taboo topic in their household. Some parents have raised concerns over this, since they wish to know if their child could be experiencing harmful side effects. Opill, however, lacks many risk factors for health complications that other pills have (National Public Radio). Furthermore, Opill opens access to contraceptives for teens who might feel unsafe otherwise discussing contraceptives and abortion with their parents.
“Opill and abortion pills are a step in the right direction,” senior Ashima Bhatia said. “In a time where abortion rights are up in the air in so many states, it is important for women to have options in case of an unplanned pregnancy. Making abortion illegal does not stop them from happening, but [rather] stops safe and healthy abortions from happening.”
Advocacy for reproductive rights is indivisible from advocacy for women’s rights, as well as those of people of all gender identities who are similarly impacted. Informed access to abortion and birth control are key to any society that truly dedicates itself to free will and equality. While the FDA’s rulings are undoubtedly steps in the right direction, true reproductive liberation cannot be achieved without the full return of the Roe v. Wade ruling.
