There are a million and one reasons why someone would use birth control. For me, taking hormonal birth control helps me manage symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a chronic health condition that causes enlarged ovaries with small cysts on the outer edge. Every day I feel bloated, run down, and in constant pain; the pill helps ease those symptoms. But President Donald Trump and the GOP's assault on reproductive health threatens my access to that necessary treatment, which is why securing your birth control will be the best decision you make during Trump's presidency.
Conservative efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act died for the umpteenth time last month when Senate Republicans failed to garner the support needed to make Better Care Reconciliation Act — a.k.a. Trumpcare 5000 — a thing. But that hasn't stopped the Trump administration from trying to chip away at key parts of former President Barack Obama's landmark health care act. According to Talking Points Memo, the White House plans to roll back the ACA's birth control mandate by greatly expanding the number and types of organizations eligible to opt-out of the provision. The proposed rule is similar to a draft memo leaked back in May.
Currently, only churches and other houses of worship are exempt from having to offer insurance that covers birth control. But, according to Talking Points Memo, the Trump Administration would broaden exemptions to allow for moral or religious objections and reverse the White House's position that the government has "a compelling public health interest" in covering the cost of birth control.
Reproductive health activists and civil rights lawyers say the move to undo the contraception provision would be unconstitutional. Brigitte Amiri, a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, told Talking Points Memo,
This raises a couple of constitutional issues, including sex discrimination, because they’re singling out care that only women need. They are not targeting other kinds of preventative care, and they’re taking away a benefit that’s otherwise guaranteed by law. Additionally, they’re targeting something, contraception, that allows women to achieve equality in society.
As studies from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show, increased access to birth control means decrease in use of emergency contraception. So losing that access to birth control would be devastating to millions of people. For others, it could mean spiraling into poverty because they can't afford to support a child. For me, it would mean an increase in frequent, intense pain.
When Trump became president, requests for IUDs soared. According to WTVR, the number of people trying to get an IUD at Planned Parenthood skyrocketed 900 percent. With the impending rule change, it seems the nationwide health clinic may see another surge. Whether you need an IUD or birth control pills, making sure you've secured access to contraception before the Trump administration's new rule is implemented is vital. If you know what's best for you, you'd make your appointment today.
