The more we learn about and explore our sexual lives, the more we’re able to understand and embrace that we can have wholesome sexual routines, both pleasurable and healthy. If you’re anything like me —someone who loves to engage in adventurous sexual interactions but who also wants to launch into safer sexual practices—you’ll want to take some time today to celebrate World Contraception Day!
Observed every year on September 26th, World Contraception Day is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the existence and the improvements in contraceptives or birth control available to us. The World Health Organization further recognizes this day as an opportunity to emphasize on individuals’ rights to independently make decisions on the number and spacing between their potential kids. I mean, hell yeah!
Family planning is one of the most important factors when it comes to reducing high-risk, unplanned pregnancies and subsequently child/mother mortality rates. With this in mind, World Contraception Day serves as a reminder that the pursuit of sexual health and pleasure involves making informed and intentional decisions: a true “slut” would be ethical and responsible when engaging with other “sluts.” Unfortunately, education regarding sex and reproductive health is often just abstinence-focused. And even if condoms are mentioned as a contraception method, no one seems to discuss topics like: How to put on a condom? What to do when your partner doesn’t want to put on a condom? How to properly discard the condom? and How to proceed when you don’t have a condom available in the moment?. Simply telling people that there are contraceptives available is not the same as a comprehensive discussion of contraception. People (especially students who suffer from a serious lack of comprehensive sex education) must be taught the “whys” and the “hows” of all contraceptives accessible to them—including pills, devices and surgeries.
Now, I want to point out that using the words “world” and “contraception” together open up important conversations about global accessibility. Not every country in the world enjoys a sex-positive culture and subsequently provides safe and low-cost contraceptive methods. Due to less funding in contraceptive research and academic studies, there is a lot of misinformation around the use of contraceptives and their side effects. A 2015 study done across Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal found that some regions experienced an increased prevalence of myths regarding birth control—including the one that says using birth control can harm the uterus and the potential to give birth in the future. The lack of proper education results in the spread of harmful misinformation. Additionally, there is also a huge disparity in using birth control between low, middle, and high income communities in other parts of the world, including the U.S. The racial and socio-economic history of the U.S. has shaped the access of modern use of contraception among women. Given the political and cultural contexts that birth control is circulated in, not every individual can reap the benefits of advancements in sexual and reproductive health—with especially BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ persons often left on the margins.
Understanding the do’s and don’ts of contraception is as important as discussing and using the one that’s right for you! Every body is unique, so someone’s personal experience with birth control might be different that what you experience. You need to have an honest conversation with a medical professional about your contraceptive wants and needs in order to find the option that works best for you and your body. For instance, would you want to opt something that helps with your periods or you want to prioritize STI prevention? Asking yourself what you want to prioritize in your birth control journey is extremely important! (Personally, I picked “convenient use” and “best at pregnancy prevention” over other concerns when I started my Nexplanon journey.)
No matter how you choose to approach and implement contraception, there are lots of other things to consider. As there are both reversible and irreversible methods available, for example, it is also necessary to consider the long-term usage and requirements to make a fully informed decision about your sexual and reproductive health. To help you along the way, here is a recap of all the birth control options out there for you to learn about and explore as you commemorate World Contraception Day!
Written by Shreya Tomar.