Pros And Cons Of Birth Control

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Ever since the 1960s when the US Food and Drug Administration approved hormonal birth control pills, there has been a large controversy over whether birth control is worth taking. Especially in the more recent years regarding the pill and teens. Oral contraception today often contains one or two types of synthetic (manufactured) female hormones, estrogen, and progestin, similar to the hormones that the ovaries produce. There are both advantages and disadvantages to any decision including when deciding whether to take birth control. Teens should always be able to talk to their doctors and see what options are best suited to their needs. However, if the choice is based on their anxiety over the risks of taking an oral contraceptive, discussing how the benefits such as PMS relief, pregnancy prevention, and many more far outweigh both …show more content…

One of the major benefits of oral contraceptive is the decrease chances of becoming pregnant. According to New England Journal of Medicine, pregnancy rates in the United States are still higher compared to though in other countries even though the pregnancy rates in the United States have declined immensely over the past two decades (Secura). Meaning that teen pregnancies are still a large health problem in the United States. The New England Journal of Medicine also states that “births involving teenage mothers cost the United States nearly $10 billion in increased public assistance, health care, and in income lost because of lower educational attainment and reduced earnings among children born to teenage mothers” (Secura). According to Pediatric Annals, convincing and informing adolescents about birth control is a challenge due to several reasons (Woods). One is that many teens have the false belief that to be prescribed oral contraception that they need to go through an intensive pelvic exam when this is not true (Woods). Doctors advise that it is a good idea to get a pelvic exam,