Long Acting Birth Control is Great for State Health- Why Not Texas?

   

      On Monday, July 6, 2015 Genevieve Cato wrote a blog in the Burnt Orange Report titled “Long Acting Birth Control is Great for State Health- Why Not Texas?” Author Cato is a native Texan, feminist activist, member of Reproductive equality and also works for the State Representative Mary Gonzales. Cato’s intended audience for her blog is: Women of all ages and Texas voters.
     According to the Guttmacher Institute, 51% of unplanned pregnancies are in America. In the state of Texas the rate for unplanned pregnancies is around 54%. In 2009, Colorado was curious and wanted to know if there was a greater access to the most effective methods for family planning. The state of Colorado then funded a program for two specific demographics such as teenagers and low-income women. By using long acting reversible contraceptives (LARC), it has helped these women access the best methods of contraception. LARC include an intra-uterine device or otherwise known as IUD and this birth control implants and carries the lowest risk of Pregnancy. “Fewer than 1 in 100 women using an IUD will become pregnant”- The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
     Since LARC is covered under the Affordable Care Act, access to these contraceptives has increased greatly for women all across the country. The Colorado state Health Department estimates that the state saved $5.85 in Medicaid costs per dollar spent for providing LARC’S. Colorado saved money through these reductions and also saw a 42% decrease of unplanned pregnancies especially young women who have dropped out of school.
     In Texas over a third of single mothers facing unplanned pregnancies have not finished high school, and Republican Legislators focus on increasing obstacles to reduce the numbers of abortion clinics in the state.  Cato believes that long acting contraceptives can be key to improving health and welfare in Texas teens.
     In my opinion, I think making LARC readily available in Texas is well intentioned, but it does not address the underlying cause of pregnancy. Sexual education is almost non-existent in this day and age, and most young adults learn about sex from resources like the internet and television. LARC does not prevent the spread of STDs. Also, depending on the methods you use, IUDs can have long lasting side effects, such as perforation of the uterus, pelvic inflammatory disease, and ectopic pregnancy, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Having contraceptives available to the public is always a great idea, but is not a substitute for proper sexual education.