Birth control, a commonly debated topic in the media today,  is any form of contraception that prevents sperm from meeting the egg within a woman’s fallopian tubes. Condoms, birth control implants, IUDs, birth control pills, abstinence, and more are considered forms of birth control.

However, what this article addresses is birth control pills- a form of oral contraception taken daily in order to prevent pregnancy and/or regulate menstrual symptoms. Not all women take birth control pills for contraception purposes- many take it to regulate their cycles, deal with painful symptoms, or cope with medical conditions such as menorrhagia or endometriosis.

History behind birth control

The birth control pill was invented in 1960, and within five years 1 in 4 women reported taking the pill consistently. While its primary use was to prevent pregnancy, birth control later was marketed to younger women as a way to regulate their menstrual cycles and prevent painful symptoms. Women of all ages, however, will be able to access birth control pills without a prescription (this is known as “over the counter”)  in early 2024 at any pharmacy.

A prescription-free birth control

“Opill” was FDA- approved in 1973, but vanished from the market because the original manufacturer went bankrupt. Opill is clinically known as Nogesterol, and is similar to all other oral contraceptive pills in that it regulates the menstrual cycle and prevents the release of eggs into the fallopian tubes.

 Like most other forms of oral birth control, Opill runs on a 28-day cycle. It contains 21 days (3 weeks) of active pills, and one week of inactive pills which starts the natural release of bodily hormones. The inactive week of pills is usually when a woman gets her period. 

Risks of birth control

Any birth control pill contains health risks. Usually when you receive a packet of pills, as most women know, there are several pages of possible adverse effects that the medication can cause. These typically include, but are not limited to: extreme mood changes, weight gain, headaches, breakouts, nausea, abnormal menstrual bleeding, dizziness, etc. Opill chemically consists of progestin, a synthetic form of progesterone. This hormone, in excess amounts, causes these side effects. Progesterone is a naturally occurring sex hormone in the female body; it functions to prepare the lining of the uterus for a possible pregnancy. 

Zena

Another prescription-free birth control coming out in future years is Zena, a birth control pill similar to Opill. This pill, manufactured by pharmaceutical company Cadence, is a new type of birth control that would be even more effective at preventing pregnancy. Zena includes more hormones, such as estrogen, to balance out the possibly hazardous effects of excess progestin. Zena is expected to be on the market for consumers, over the counter, in the next two years.

Why didn’t this happen sooner?

One possible explanation for the slow development of new types of birth control pills is the stigma associated with needing them. Pentucket senior, Sarabeth Belliveau, was interviewed on the subject. She says,“People think it’s just to prevent pregnancy. Meanwhile, it helps people with things like heavy periods and endometriosis.” Many parents also are hesitant to put their children on birth control, thinking it opens up the doors for reckless behavior. Belliveau continued to say,“Parents tend to think that only ‘promiscuous’ people use birth control.” Belliveau went on to say that this assumption isn’t true, and that the general close mindedness of older generations has had an impact on teens’ access to birth control. “All women should have access to birth control…because of the stigma [around it] a lot of parents won’t help their children get on birth control,” Belliveau concludes. This is important because most teens need permission from their parents and a doctor’s visit with a prescription to access birth control. In the present day, it is estimated that over 19 million women of reproductive age in the United States alone are in need of birth control and have no access to it due to a variety of reasons. These include geographic location, economic struggles, or a lack of medical insurance.

The future…

It’s clear that society has not always done its best to uplift women’s health issues. However, with rising debates on abortion, sexual health, and premenstrual syndrome, it is more important than ever to focus on the future of the birth control industry. Birth control can be a valuable resource for women, and having equal access to such a medication is important. Especially with over the emergence of over the counter birth control coming in the next year.