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Whitney Henry
Christina Coyle
English 12 B (3)
Mr. Gross
9 May 2013
Contraceptives Free in Local Places
Imagine hearing about a seventh grader, not even in high school yet, who is
sexually active. A ninth grader, who is about to have a baby and has no money. Pre-teens
and teens are being sexually active a lot more than in the past. Teen and Pre-Teen
pregnancy is a big conflict that has recently aroused. Contraceptives are available to
make sure people practice safe sex and stay protected from diseases. Most birth control
will cost money if it is not covered by insurance and that is a major problem.
Unprotected sex can lead to a second problem, sexually transmitted diseases. Lastly,
teens and pre-teens are not communicating with their parents about sex and
contraceptives because it is not comfortable talking about it. Placing free contraceptives
in local places would help reduce teen pregnancy, unwanted diseases and awkward
conversations with parents.
All birth control for girls will cost money if they do not have insurance to cover it
and this is one of the problems for girls. If contraceptives were given out for free it would
make things easier for girls that would like to be safe and protected if they decide to be
sexually active. Contraceptives for girls are not as affordable as perceive.
Contraceptives, yearly, out of pocket can cost from 590.00 dollars to 6,000.00 dollars
(American Progress). Even with insurances, some will expect cash for half the cost of the
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contraceptives (American Progress). Imagine being a twenty year old, without insurance,
paying for this every year, out of pocket. Believe it or not, women have stopped taking or
delayed the contraceptive they were on because cost was too much (American Progress).
Others have chosen to get a less effective method that is more affordable (American
Progress). The less effective method could not be protecting them for what they are using
it for. That would result in unwanted pregnancy. Paying for the contraceptives, when
money is already a problem, when it does not work like it should be is a waste. These
kids, under 16 and over 16, simply cannot afford it. Nor, could teens with no insurance.
Even with insurance and paying half. Imagine being in college, trying to make ends meet.
Having to pay for food, gas or any other necessities and on top of that, paying a minimum
of 60.00 dollars for birth control a month. In reality, most college kids cannot afford that.
Being in a tough economic time, students have little money to spare (Advocates For
Youth). Having free contraceptives locally would help solve these issues. It would be a
total benefit.
Unprotected sex can lead to sexually transmitted diseases. Sexually transmitted
diseases or getting an infection are rarely on a pre-teen or teenagers mind. Many do not
think they can catch them easily even though it is easy to catch. Using contraceptives can
slash your risk of getting a STD or STI (Globalpost). Medically, infections (STIs) are
only called diseases (STDs) when they cause symptoms (Planned Parent Hood). Some
STIs and STDs that are possible to catch while being unprotected are chlamydia,
gonorrhea, herpes and syphilis. Twenty-five percent of U.S teens who have unprotected
sex will, in time, develop a STD or a STI (Globalpost). Teen girls may get an infection,
STI or STD, of the uterus and fallopian tubes called, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
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(Globalpost). Boys may develop Epididymitis, an inflammation of the coiled tube next to
the testes which, is a form of a STI or STD (Globalpost). STIs have no symptoms that
occur, while STDs do (Planned Parent Hood). Practicing safer sex will reduce the risk of
catching a sexually transmitted disease (Planned Parent Hood). Using latex condoms are
the best method to protect against STDs and HIV/AIDS (NIH). Getting tested right away
is the best bet and provides the right treatment needed (Planned Parent Hood). Some pre-
teens and teens, again, do not have money or the insurance that will cover contraceptives.
For those people, they may be at higher risk to get STDs or a STI. Having free condoms
and birth control, locally, would help reduce STDs and STIs tons.
Teens and pre-teens are not communicating with their parents about sex and
contraceptives because it is not comfortable talking about it. Talking about sex and
contraceptives with parents can be awkward and uncomfortable (Planned Parent Hood).
Pre-teens and teens think that parents will reach negatively or start to make assumptions
(Planned Parent Hood). Parents can be happy that it is brought up so they can inform
them on contraceptives and stay protected (Planned Parent Hood). Pre-teens and teens
normally will blow off talking to parents about contraceptives and have unprotected sex.
Being concerned that parents would get upset, putting off the conversation until ready is
normal (Respect Yourself). Turning to another adult or any kind of service to talk about
sex and contraceptives is normal too (Respect Yourself). Unfortunately, most pre-teens
and teens do not talk to their parents about contraceptives and sex at all until they are
pregnant or caught a STD/STI. Most pre-teens and teens that have contraceptive and
condoms, got it from their parents. Now, how do they get condoms or contraceptives if
they do not receive it through their parents? Paying for it by themselves or not getting it
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at all is the only two options. They will blow off talking with their parents and not even
use protection. Pre-teens and teens will go ahead and have sex, unprotected, and think
they will not get pregnant the first time they have unprotected sex (Global Post). It only
takes one time to risk the chances of becoming pregnant. Some believe that having sex in
a certain position can make it impossible to get pregnant, which is not true, and begin to
do it unprotected (Global Post). Many think douching and urinating after sex will wash
away the sperm in the vagina, which is not true at all. (Global Post). The famous
unprotected sex move is, pulling out (Global Post). Girls and guys believe if that is
done before ejaculating, you cannot have sperm in the vagina. It does not guarantee, at
all, that sperm wont find its way up in the vagina (Global Post). Having free condoms,
locally, would help save the embarrassing talk with parents and save someone from
getting knocked up. If parents cannot be there for their kids and provide contraceptives to
be safe, local places should have them available for free to prevent all this from
happening.
Parents think that if contraceptives are free in local areas, that their kids will go
out and have sex right away. Parents will start to think they are losing their ability to
parent their children. According to Debate.org, if a parent does not want their child
having sex, the government, Planned Parenthood and liberals cannot say otherwise. It is
not the governments job or their right (Debate). Many would argue, if a teenager is not
above the age of parental consent, 16 years old, they should not be allowed to participate
in sexual activities. Many would say if they are going to be free and available for teens, it
should be for the ones above the parental consent age. Having contraceptives free and
available in areas is not encouraging them to have sexual intercourse, it is more so telling
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them to be protected when they decide to. Teen girls and boys do not want to talk to their
parents about sex or contraceptives because it is embarrassing or even having them think
they are having sex (Debate). If contraceptives were free and available, that will protect
them from what their parents did not tell them about. Having free contraceptives locally
would be benefiting both parents and teen girls and boys simply because the teen will be
protected and the parents will not have to worry as much. If contraceptives were free, it
would allow the young people to use it without being afraid to come out to their parents
about having sex. This would help save young people from the awkward conversation
with the parents, save money and not have to worry about becoming pregnant or catching
a STD or STI.
The solution to all this is, having contraceptives free in local places. It would help
protect young people from getting STDs, STIs, pregnant and save an awkward
conversation with parents. It would also save people money and help them when they
most need it. Contraceptives for girls are not as affordable. Contraceptives, yearly, out of
pocket can cost from 590.00 dollars to 6,000.00 dollars (American Progress). With some
insurance companies, they will expect cash for half the cost of the contraceptives
(American Progress). Not being covered by insurances means high prices for birth
control. Having free contraceptives would help solve this problem in a heartbeat. That
solution would also solve young kids getting pregnant and catching unwanted diseases.
Pre-teens and teens are being sexually active a lot more than in the past. Teen and
Pre-Teen pregnancy is at a high recently. Contraceptives are available to make sure safe
sex is practiced and protects people from diseases. Most birth control will cost money if it
is not covered by insurance and that is an issue. Unprotected sex can lead straight to
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sexually transmitted diseases. Teens and pre-teens are not communicating with their
parents about sex and contraceptives options because it is awkward to talking about it.
Placing free contraceptives in local places would fix and help reduce teen pregnancy,
unwanted diseases and awkward conversations with parents. Lets make a good change
and help young kids stay protected.












SOURCES
http://www.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/issues/2012/02/pdf/BC_costs.pdf
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/blogs-main/advocates-blog/1967-yes-women-do-
struggle-to-access-birth-control
http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-teens-be-allowed-to-obtain-birth-control-without-
parental-consent
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/27/birth-control-facts_n_3416638.html
http://www.cdc.gov/STD/
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/stds-hiv-safer-sex-101.htm
http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/teenagers-having-unprotected-sex-3232.htm
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/contraception/conditioninfo/pages/std-
prevention.aspx
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/info-for-teens/relationships/talking-your-parents-
about-sex-33822.htm
http://www.respectyourself.info/parents/talking-to-your-parents/