New CDC data underscores importance of access to birth control for all women

Thursday morning, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the results of the agency’s first publication ever on the use of emergency contraception in the United States, showing that usage is on the rise and repeated use of emergency contraception is extremely low.
A second study tracked trends in birth control use from 1982 to 2010, reinforcing that almost all women (99 percent) at some point in their lives have used contraception, regardless of their background or religious affiliation. The study also shows that the use of long-acting reversible contraception, such as the IUD, is increasing.
“Both of these studies underscore the importance of increased access to birth control for all women in the United States,” said Sheri Bonner, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley. “The passage of the Birth Control Access Bill last session in California, and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act’s birth control benefit, giving women coverage without co-pays, will have an incredible impact on women’s ability to stay healthy and plan their best futures.”
Public polling finds overwhelming support for women’s access to birth control. Seventy percent of Americans believe that health insurance companies should be required to cover the full cost of birth control, just as they do for other preventive services, according to an October 2012 poll by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. Additionally, the Contraceptive CHOICE Study released last fall demonstrated that access to no co-pay birth control — as is outlined in the Affordable Care Act — leads to significantly lowered unintended pregnancy and abortion rates.
“Birth control works,” said Bonner. “Which is why all women deserve access to it – regardless of where they work or how much money they make.”

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