Guys don’t have a lot of contraceptive options – abstinence, condoms, and vasectomies are about the extent of it. All three of those options have drawbacks ranging from unrealistic (sup, abstinence for life) to mildly annoying to painful, expensive, and permanent. Luckily, the medical community has noticed a need for more options and one in particular has been getting a lot of buzz. While I totally support men having the opportunity to do their part to keep babies from being formed, I am not nearly as gung-ho about male birth control as a lot of people are.

It’s pretty obnoxious that women’s bodies are always preparing to get pregnant. I wish we all had an internal switch that defaulted to the “off” position, and could only be activated through some sort of baby-making chant, therefore notifying our bodies that yes, we are open for business. Unfortunately, that is not the case. So once we start fornicating for fun, the number one priority is keeping our uteri as unoccupied as possible. As women, we bear the majority of the consequences if our birth control fails. It’s not fair – in fact, it completely and utterly sucks, but that’s how it is, and I’ve come to terms with it. This is pretty cynical, but ultimately, I don’t expect anyone else to be nearly as invested in my body as I am. So even if  men had a zillion different birth control options, I would never relinquish an ounce of control in this regard.

However, I’m not suggesting that guys should be totally blase and laid back about contraception. At a bare minimum, dudes should at least be familiar with the most popular forms of female birth control and its side effects. If they’re in long term relationships, they should offer to help pay for some of the cost. And, when they’re engaging in casual sex, they should always be prepared with condoms and not say stupid shit like, “but you’re on the pill, right?” It’s not only absurdly immature and rude to put the onus on the girl immediately, but also beyond irresponsible from a health standpoint. And if guys are totally willing to let their balls be injected with a needle, that’s awesome. But, for as long as I’m the one who faces the most severe consequences of birth control goes awry, I will always assume more responsibility.

[Lead image via Deklofenak/Shutterstock]

Conservatives claim to love one thing more than anything else. And that’s cutting the size of government.

Yes, they want fewer taxes and less government spending. But recently it seems they also want to control contraception and other rights that affect women’s control over their reproductive systems. Unfortunately for those trying to make both these things happen is that they’re mutually exclusive. Limiting women’s reproductive rights is cancelling out the previous goal of reducing costs.

First off, there’s Medicaid. In 2006 it cost state and federal government $11-billion dollars to cover the cost of treatment and delivery of unintended pregnancies. It only costs $39 a year per female employee for companies who cover birth control—saving $9,000 per female employee over a two-year period.

It’s much cheaper to cover the costs of contraception, especially when paired with family planning services. It’s estimated these measures cut $19-billion in medical costs each year—while reducing the need for abortions (hey, Republicans! isn’t that what you want?)

The answers are really all there. As with many other aspects of healthcare, prevention is key, and most often the most affordable option. Giving women the right to determine their own reproductive rights would increase earning potential for women and could reduce strains on other social services.

What do you think? Do the numbers show it’s time to take a different approach?

Leah is so close to finishing her Bachelor of Journalism at Ryerson University in Toronto. When she’s not working on the Ryerson Review of Journalism she’s baking tasty cupcakes and hunting for a job (hopefully that pays). Follow her @Elleandbee. 

Seriously, has anyone ever turned down a chance for an amazing deal? My heart races when friendly baristas bump me up to a grande. I live for product samples at beauty and health expos.  And don’t even get me started on my quests for cheap and chic clothes at the thrift store. Maybe the best things in life can’t always be on the house, but it’s great when they’re affordable. President Obama and his administration realize that too.

On Friday, March 16, the Obama Administration issued a few clarifications to the Affordable Care Act’s consumer protections for student health plans. Are you scratching your head? Let me make it simple—beginning in the fall, all out-of-pocket birth control costs will be covered (meaning no copays or deductibles) by most* of the health insurance plans sold to students by their college or university. Of course, your student insurance plan isn’t free—you still have to pay a premium—but with the new policy eliminating those extra costs at the clinic or pharmacy, I think it’s a pretty good deal. And if you’re still on your parents’ insurance (which, also courtesy of the Affordable Care Act, can now cover you until you turn 26!), you may also get this benefit—though for some, it might not be until January 1^st of next year. Eventually, almost all health insurance plans will do the same thing.

This is a relief because birth control can be pretty costly. The patch can cash in at $55 while the pill may run you a monthly $25. According to the Center for American Progress, some methods can cost as much as $1,200 a year without insurance. It’s no secret that college costs are pocket drainers—with rising tuition, books, meal plans and housing. With the new coverage of contraceptives, students can pocket that cash and put it towards something useful (like a nice tip for your DJ at drunkaoke – or, you know, that bio textbook you’ve been saving up for).

So there it is. No more excuses for slip ups or Sunday morning regrets! And that, my friends, is priceless in itself.

*Note: Some religiously affiliated colleges and universities may be allowed to take up to a year to put these changes in practice.

[Lead image via Brooke Becker / Shutterstock]

Meghan McCain used to really bother me. I thought the only reason she had become a well known political commentator was because her father, John McCain, was a prominent politician. It’s obvious that she’s worked hard to brand herself as a new, young voice of the Republican party. I thought that most of her positions on issues were carefully calculated to help her achieve that image. This interview she just did with Playboy is an example of that – she has some good things to say, but she’s trying hard to seem cool and relatable.

But I’m starting to respect her quite a bit. Being very liberal myself, I disagree with Meghan McCain on many issues. But she supports marriage equality, and although she is anti-abortion, she’s very pro-birth control. Recently, she appeared on the Rachel Maddow show to speak out against the Virginia bill that would have required women seeking abortions to have a transvaginal ultrasound first. That’s an unnecessary and invasive procedure. Luckily, that part of the bill was eventually changed. But here’s what Meghan McCain had to say about it:

“I’m pro-life. I’m not pro-vaginal probing. I feel like I have to go on television and delineate between the two things. I’m horrified by the bill as a woman, as a Republican woman, I’m horrified. It scares me that this can go on, it scares me that a woman can be vaginally probed without consent or a doctor’s consent.”

And she also said this about birth control:

“I always say the best way to prevent abortions is supply birth control. I’m pro-birth control, something that alienated me with pro-lifers, but I’m not an extremist.”

I really respect her for taking that stand on women’s issues. The discussions about women’s health this election season have truly scared me. Seeing as almost every single woman I know is on birth control, I never thought we’d be debating whether or not women should be using it. But we are, and not only is it frustrating and insulting, it’s distracting from issues like the economy. So I’m glad that someone is standing up to the creepy boys’ club that the Republican party has become. And I’m especially glad that someone is a young woman.

Meghan McCain has also faced a lot of criticism about her body. Last year, Glenn Beck mimed vomiting on his TV show after watching a skin cancer PSA that McCain did. She also faced attacks from the Twitterverse after tweeting a picture of herself in a tank top. She’s handled all the controversy with class, and admitted that the criticism led her to see a therapist:

“Now I’m very sensitive to any pictures taken of myself at photoshoots and whatever because the Internet has this very weird … especially people in politics … this very weird reaction to my body because I’m not super skinny, I have large breasts, I know, they’re real, I can’t do anything about it, and like the Internet just has this really weird reaction to my body … I’ve seen a therapist about it.”

I think her openness and honesty about the media’s reaction to her body is important. It’s an unfortunate reality that women are often criticized based on their appearance in situations when it shouldn’t matter. It isn’t fair, and it can be seriously damaging. It’s a brave thing to stand up to that, and at the same time admit that it really hurt.

So I’ll be paying more attention to Meghan McCain. I’d feel a lot more comfortable about the future of our country if the Republican presidential candidates sounded more like her and less like… all of the Republican candidates.

Garnet is a student at Columbia University in New York City. She is “that person” who starts dancing at a party when everyone else is standing around, and if there were a Facebook stalking Olympics, she would be a gold medalist. She also loves cheesy 90s music, and almost died of happiness when Vanilla Ice retweeted her. Once. Follow her on Twitter @garnethenderson.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock lately (which is totally possible, it is midterm season), you’ve heard about all of the controversy surrounding birth control. From Congress to the presidential debates to Twitter to Facebook, everybody is talking about birth control, who should have access to it, and how they should get that access.

That conversation mostly focuses on the birth control pill. Sometimes Nuva Ring and Depo Provera, the monthly shot, are also mentioned. But there’s another form of long-term birth control that’s gaining popularity in the U.S. And when considering your birth control options, it might be worth a look.

The intrauterine device, or IUD, is the most popular form of contraception worldwide. But not in the U.S., where oral contraceptives are the most commonly used form of birth control. Why? In the 70s and 80s, lots of poorly conducted research incorrectly linked IUDs to serious infections. It was also thought that IUDs might affect future fertility, so they were only recommended for women who had already had children and wanted to prevent future pregnancies. But better research has disproved all of these fears, and now IUDs are becoming more popular among young, unmarried, childless women. And they’re blogging about it, too, on sites like IUD Diva.

Since 2002, the number of women using IUDs in the U.S. has more than tripled. IUDs now account for 10.4% of contraceptives issued by doctors in the U.S. That’s still low compared to many other countries, but it’s a big increase.

IUDs are more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. The Association of Reproductive Health Professionals reports that the number of women who become pregnant while using an IUD is about 1 in 100. Compare that to 8 in 100 women on the pill, and 15 per 100 among condom users.

IUDs last for 5 or more years, depending on the type. Once implanted, they don’t require any maintenance beyond usual checkups. So no pill to take, ring to insert, or shot to get. They’re helpful for women who have heavy periods, as they can reduce or even stop menstrual bleeding. Plus, they’ve been shown to reduce the risk of developing endometrial cancer, and they may help protect against cervical cancer as well. Sounds pretty great, right?

So how does an IUD work? Unlike the pill, IUDs don’t prevent you from ovulating. Instead they interfere with the fertilization and implantation of eggs.

There are two types of IUD available in the U.S. The first, ParaGuard, is a non-hormonal IUD that can stay in place for 10-12 years. It contains copper, which stimulates the production of natural sperm-killing fluid in the reproductive tract. If an egg becomes fertilized, the copper causes changes in the uterus that prevent the egg from being implanted.

The second, Mirena, is a hormonal IUD that lasts for 5 years. It thickens the cervical mucus, making it difficult for sperm to reach the fallopian tubes. It also prevents changes in the uterine lining that are necessary for the implantation of a fertilized egg.

IUDs have to be implanted by a doctor, and taken out by a doctor as well. They’re not appropriate for some women with certain preexisting medical conditions. And they don’t protect against STDs, so unless you’re with a trusted and tested partner, condoms are still needed. Another issue is cost – implantation can cost between $300 and $1,000. But it’s covered under many insurance plans, and it’s also a one-time cost for a device that lasts for years.

I’m a longtime user of the pill, but all this new information about IUDs has me thinking. It’s definitely something I might look into.

What do YOU think? Do you use an IUD? Would you consider using one?

Garnet is a student at Columbia University in New York City. She is “that person” who starts dancing at a party when everyone else is standing around, and if there were a Facebook stalking Olympics, she would be a gold medalist. She also loves cheesy 90s music, and almost died of happiness when Vanilla Ice retweeted her. Once. Follow her on Twitter @garnethenderson.

There was a study completed recently about college-aged women and condom usage, and the results were that the women used condoms less frequently the more time they spent in college. This was true for both women in monogamous relationships and women who engaged in casual sex.

Of course, women often blow off condoms when they go on the pill or another form of birth control, but preventing pregnancy isn’t the only aspect of safe sex that is important. Condoms are the only way to prevent the spread of most STDs (HPV and herpes not included). Maybe this is just my perception, but it seems like in the last few years, there has been a huge de-emphasis in the importance of staying STD-free. There’s still a significant stigma against people who have them, but not a lot of talk about preventing the spread. I think it’s interesting that this study chose to highlight women’s role in condom usage, when ultimately, it’s up to the guy to agree to wear one (yes, female condoms are available, but they’re more expensive and more difficult to use properly, and they are not really discussed).

How many of us have been in a situation where we’re hooking up and the guy just slides in without much warning? Or how many of us have encountered men who are absurdly petulant when their partner asks them to put one on? They always have a litany of excuses or justifications — “It doesn’t feel as good”/”I can’t stay hard with one on”/”I’m clean, don’t you trust me?” This is the point where you should definitely extricate yourself from the situation, because he’s obviously a jerk and isn’t looking out for your best interests. Unfortunately, when you’re in the moment it doesn’t always feel that way, especially if neither of you have condoms handy.

While there is a lot to be said about moving slowly enough to take the time to confirm each other’s STD status, that’s often not how it happens. Which is…well, it is what it is. But that’s what condoms are for — avoiding the semi-awkwardness that comes with asking someone to show you their recent STD results before getting it in. I think that our society is neglecting to really make condoms seem imperative, so unfortunately there are going to be men out there who treat condoms like they’re completely unnecessary. And it’s hard to be that person who has to inform a grown man that they are, in fact, a must.

However, since we can only control our own actions, I think it’s really important for us, as women, to at least use the agency that we have to protect ourselves. There is absolutely nothing wrong with keeping a stock of condoms, and having a couple in your bag, just in case. So even if you’re in a situation with a guy who conveniently doesn’t have one on him, you’re prepared. If he still resists, take your ball, go home and resolve to find less lame guys in the future.

[Lead image via Dino O./Shutterstock]

After the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform filled a panel discussing President Obama’s Affordable Care Act and the birth control mandate with only men, it’s time to explain one thing. If you don’t use birth control you probably don’t fully understand it, am I right? Yes, and as such, many of the men who want to control your reproductive rights (Rick Santorum included) fail to realize the cost of birth control. Last week Santorum told CPAC that birth control costs “a few dollars.”

And well, this just isn’t true. The Center for American Progress released a report saying that the cost of birth control is prohibitive to many women. The pill, patch or ring (methods that are likely primary choices for college-aged women) can cost as much as $1,200 a year without insurance. This includes the cost of a visit to the doctor as well.

Sorry Santorum, but it’s not cheap. Even for women with insurance, certain types of birth control pills require forking over $50 a month out of pocket. What’s even more expensive? Having a baby. Money is the number one reason that women delay having kids. While birth control will always be cheaper than supporting a child, it can still put a dent in income. As a result of the cost, the report says almost half of young adult women don’t use their method as directed.

So let’s include some women into the decision making process and add some real insight into the birth control payer debate, okay?

[Lead image via lev dolgachov/Shutterstock]

A federal appeals court knocked down California’s Proposition 8 — an amendment to the state constitution that banned gay marriage. In 2008, California voters decided to restrict marriage to just a man and a woman. Now, four years later, the court has found that measure to be in violation of the equal protection rights of lesbian and gay individuals. This is big news for California, but doesn’t mean much for other states. The court was ruling on the constitutionality of Prop 8 specifically, not the restriction of gay marriage in general. And, despite the decision, gay couples still can’t get married in Cali — they’ll have to wait ’til the decision goes before a larger panel of justices. However, the debate is now only a couple steps away from the Supreme Court, which means the gay marriage issue could come before the nine almighty justices by the beginning of next year.

President Obama backed off (somewhat) on a rule that would require religious organizations to provide their employees with health insurance covering birth control. Now, groups can “opt out” of this type of coverage, as long as they offer their employees alternative healthcare options that provide contraception. This comes after weeks and weeks of criticism from religious groups that believe contraception is immoral. Maybe Obama came up with a good compromise…but still, getting birth control will require an extra step for lots of people, including students at religiously affiliated colleges.

The violence in Syria, where tens of thousands of protestors are demonstrating against the government, is getting worse and worse. Over the past year, rebels have been attempting to oust President Bashar al-Assad’s controlling government. Assad has responded with unprecedented and unrelenting violence — since the beginning of the revolution, 6,000 Syrians have died. In fact, it’s gotten so bad that on Monday, President Obama made the decision to close down the U.S. embassy in capitol Damascus, getting all American diplomats out of the chaotic country, fast. This move, which some say came way too late, demonstrates that the U.S. will no longer hold any peaceful relations with the Syrian government. Finally.

Scientists say… don’t drive stoned. A new study reveals that driving within three hours of smoking pot doubles your chance of being an accident. So, don’t do it. Duh.

In an attempt to save their troubled (understatement) economy, Greek Parliament passed a number of spending cuts on Sunday, leading to mass protests in Athens. The city was set ablaze by tens of thousands of protestors after the government passed a $4.3 billion package meant to save Greece from quickly-approaching debt default. What’s everyone’s problem? The financial strain will ultimately fall on the shoulders of the Greek population. About 45 buildings in Athens were burned out, and security forces ran out of tear gas twice. This is, ultimately, a last resort for Greece — the best among a number of unhappy options.

Pic o’ the Week

Martial Trezzini / Keystone via AP

Sometimes Europe seems glamorous and luxurious. But sometimes it seems…not so fun. Record low temperatures — some as low as minus 40 Farenheit — have killed hundreds across Europe. This pic was taken in Switzerland. I wonder how long it would take to defrost that windshield?

Occasionally, despite my generally laissez-faire, non-judgmental attitude towards sex, there are a few things that perturb me. Rape, of course. Slut shaming. Abstinence-only sex education. And ignorance about contraception. One of the most disturbing manifestations of this that I’ve encountered are ladies who take the pill and have absolutely no idea what they’re putting into their bodies and how it works. Maybe it’s because the pill has become so normalized and routine, like popping Advil, so the complexity of it isn’t apparent, but I definitely feel that once you start playing with the hormones in your body, you need to know what’s up.

1. The pill tries to keep you free of pregnancy in four different ways.

It tries to stop an egg from leaving your ovary. Then, it makes your cervix produce more mucus so neither an egg or sperm can stick. The hormones also prevent the lining of your uterus (or potential womb) from getting thick enough for a fertilized egg to be viable. Finally, the pill manipulates the movement in your Fallopian tubes to prevent an egg from meeting a sperm in the first place. So, it’s a pretty complicated process, and every once in awhile, the pill fails to execute it properly, which is why most of us know, or know of, someone who has gotten pregnant while on the pill.

2. It loses effectiveness if you don’t take it at the same time every day.

One of the reasons the Pill is so popular is because it doesn’t affect your fertility in the long run, which means that if you’re not diligent about taking your pill daily, it does start losing its pregnancy protection magic. So pick a time that is most convenient for you, set an alarm on your cell, and pop it on the regular. If you do miss a pill, here are the guidelines for how to get back on track.

3. Your side effects aren’t going to be the same as your friend’s side effects.

Everyone’s body reacts differently to changes in the hormonal structure. Your skin may clear up while your friend’s looks like she just went back in time to 7th grade, or you may experience consistent spotting while someone else’s periods become non-existent. It’s perfectly normal to have to go through multiple pills to find one that best suits your body and your needs.

4. The pill does not protect against STDs. 

I would never deny that the pill has been a major game changer for women, especially in the way that we are able to have agency over our reproductive choices, and we don’t have to rely on men using condoms in order to stay baby-free. However, if you are getting it in with someone new, and you have no idea what their STD status is, please use a condom (correctly).

5. Your birth control shouldn’t make you miserable. 

Whether your appetite has been out of control and you’ve been gaining a bunch of weight, or your cramps are unbearable, or you’re spotting a lot in between periods, you don’t have to endure it. If your body hasn’t adjusted after 3 months, it’s time to look into a different option. Whether it’s another pill or an IUD or a Nuvaring, your contraception should not make your daily life uncomfortable at all.

[Image via Calek/Shutterstock]

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