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Can You Still Afford Birth Control in the Recession?
May 16, 2009 at 7:00 AM by Cafe Kim - Comments (22)
The Los Angeles Times recently reported that the recession may be leading to an increase in unintended pregnancies.
Why?
Because hard times have forced many women to switch to less expensive, less reliable methods of contraceptives or even abandon them altogether due to the high expense or loss of health insurance.
Here are the specifics: According to a survey of more than 1,000 women by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 20 percent of women are more worried about having an accidental pregnancy today than they were one year ago. Three percent of women have quit using birth control because it is too expensive. Six percent of women using a hormonal form of birth control—for example the pill—switched to a less expensive form of birth control or abandoned it altogether. And ten percent of women are worried that they soon won't be able to afford birth control.
I found the results of this survey alarming because if these women can't afford birth control, how will they afford the cost of having a child? What can be done about this?
What about you? Are you still able to afford your method of birth control?
FILED UNDER: birth control, in the news, obgyn, sex life
Comments:
I am going to be blunt and not worry about feelings here.
Please...a child is a hell of a lot more expensive than a baby! If you can't afford BC then, joy of joys, the rest of the country can pay for your baby because you couldn't keep your pants on...grr...sorry makes me mad.
My hubby got a vasectomy a few months ago...we have an 'economy' pack of condoms until we know it is effective.
If you need BC...Planned Parenthood has FREE condoms...you just have to go in and ask for them.
I happen to agree with Octobersmom. And reguardless most insurances cover BC. I'm on the Mirena so I'm fit until I want my next one :]
Ugh..pull and pray..moron.
BC is a necessity because we can't afford another baby. $100 every 3 months for Depo is a hell of a lot cheaper than the alternative.
I was just about to say, doesn't PP give it out for free?
I agree with Octobermom I am paying with insurance 30 for the seasonal pill which means I don't get a period for 3 months and less refills. having another child would just set us so far back, Babies grow into children then teens and it so expensive. My son is almost 5 and we just couldn't afford another one. I think BC is a small price to pay for a childs lifetime .
Pregnancy is my birth control right now! ;) We're military, though, so we're fortunate enough to have free health insurance and prescriptions.
aurorabunny, no, the only think PP gives out for free is condoms. Everything else works on a sliding scale, and sometimes that scale includes things it shouldn't that make your cost higher than you can afford. Not to mention, you have to pay for the appointment as well, so something like a Plan B pill can actually cost you $50 at Planned Parenthood.
For anyone who is struggling, Wal-Mart and other stores have programs to get you generic medications for $5 or less, and of course, you can always get free condoms from PP and health clinics. Also check with PP and health clinics to see what you can afford on a sliding scale as far as other methods as well.
If you can save up a little money, getting an IUD put in is a one-time cost that lasts 3-10 years.
we don't use any artificial or hormonal BC. we follow NFP - its completely free and 99% effective when used properly.
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I have not been on BC since my first DD was born 4 years ago.....pull and pray lol
kaylajean86 May. 16, 2009 at 8:26 AM