As a psychology major and social work minor student, I was outraged to learn that President Trump is considering making access to birth control more difficult for women in America. Access to birth control isn’t only used to prevent pregnancy, but is also used for horrible menstrual cycles, endometriosis, acne and Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI). If Trump does make access to birth control more difficult, this will create more of a problem.

In 1960, the first oral contraceptive was provided by the FDA. In 1965, the Supreme Court granted married and unmarried women the right to use birth control and ruled that it was protected in the Constitution as a right to privacy. In the years and decades that followed 1965, the FDA and feminists have made changes for safer and effective alternatives. Additionally, access to free birth control has shown to reduce abortion rates.

It is difficult to imagine a society where access to birth control is rare because male politicians decided women shouldn’t have access. As a female in college, I rely on birth control not only to prevent an unwanted pregnancy, but also because acne and painful menstrual cycles are symptoms I deal with each month. Limiting access to birth control or even making birth control unattainable would cause my symptoms to get worse. This would also increase my chances of an unwanted pregnancy at a time where I am graduating and starting a career.

I encourage you to take the time to understand why women have fought diligently to have access to birth control and reproductive health care for decades. I also encourage you to understand the consequences of limited access or no access to birth control. Men should not have a say in a women’s reproductive health, especially men in politics. A woman’s reproductive health should only be based on her opinion of contraceptives and other forms of prevention. Taking her voice away and making that choice for her is unjust.

Kelly McLaughlin

Bridgewater State University