Briana Medlin

English 112

Aristotelian Argument Essay

21 February 2017

Imagine picking up your birth control at a local pharmacy or even grocery store

when you need it, without worrying about a prescription or taking time out of your day

to go to the gynecologist. This sounds like the perfect convenience, right? When it comes

to the topic of contraceptives, many pro-choicers will readily agree that a womans

comfort is what is most important. Where this agreement usually ends , however, is on

the question of Is birth control safe and effective enough to be over-the-counter?

Whereas some are convinced that this idea is ____, others maintain that _____.

It has become common today to dismiss this controversial topic of

contraceptives, such as birth control, especially to fact that cost plays a major role. Many

naysayers snicker to the idea of over-the-counter birth control because women would

have to pay for their own contraceptives. Casey Gueren states, ...the current Affordable

Care Act birth control benefit allows women to receive any FDA-approved contraceptive

method without a co-pay, as long as they have a prescription. What many politicians are

supporting is a system where birth control comes out onto the store shelves to be more

convenient, but it likely wouldn't be covered at no cost. (Gueren) In other words, Casey

Gueren corroborates that, currently, under former President Obamas Affordable Care

Act, insured women do not have to pay a copay for their birth control. However, with the

proposal of birth control being over-the-counter, there is a chance that women, insured

or not, would still need to pay. Although, Gueren overlooks what I consider an
important point that under the new president, Donald Trump, Obamas Affordable Care

Act is up for repealment; therefore, making birth control an expense whether women are

insured or are not. (Add more)

Not only is cost a major player in this controversial topic, but the question if

women will continue to visit their gynecologists strikes conversations. Critics believe

that Many women are forced to visit their doctor for the retrieval of birth control or to

be prescribed contraceptives. Amanda Marcotte agrees when she writes, ... Doctors

have a uniquely difficult time in this country encouraging women to go to the doctor

regularly. [They] need to use the pill as bait to make sure women are going to their

doctoror to a local Planned Parenthoodto get their checkups. (Marcotte) Add more

about the pros

On the account of safety and effectiveness, birth control is an important concept

and its main function is to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Many pro-lifers believe it is

wrong that, in order to have the birth control effective, women will have a choice in

which method is best for them, whether it be the pill, patch, or the ring, and if they are

an appropriate candidate for the job. (Gueren) In short, women will truly have a choice

in what birth control method they would like to take and must understand the criteria,

such as side effects and risk factors, when making her decision.

For this controversial topic in todays society, over-the-counter birth control has

a specific role, which is to prevent pregnancy, and for that reason, women have a choice.

Works Cited

Greenwald, Morgan. "Over-the-Counter Birth Control Would Pose Risks." Daily Trojan
(4 Dec. 2012). Rpt. in Women's Health. Ed. Lynn M. Zott. Farmington Hills, MI:
Greenhaven Press, 2015. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context.
 Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

Gueren, Casey. "Should Birth Control Be Over the Counter?" Women's Health (31 Oct.
2014). Rpt. in Birth Control. Ed. Jack Lasky. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven
Press, 2016. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 20
Feb. 2017.

Marcotte, Amanda. "Birth Control Should Be Available Over the Counter." Birth
Control. Ed. Jack Lasky. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2016.
Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Time to Demand All Birth Control Pills Be Sold
Over-the-Counter." 5 May 2013. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 20 Feb.
2017.