40 percent in some places. It was only through advances in health care that this "natural state" was changed. Others fear that if health care covers birth control pills, it will also cover the morning-after pill, which many view as a form of abortion.
Around half of all pregnancies are unplanned, a good portion of which occur despite the use of contraceptives---though human error or inconsistent use is still seen as the main problem. Many believe free birth control will address this problem by giving women access to more effective contraceptives, like IUDs. These implants have a lower failure rate than condoms or pills because they leave less room for human laziness or error. While many IUDs are cheaper than paying for monthly pills, the upfront cost scares many women away.
In other countries where birth control is free, there are lower rates of pregnancy, abortions, and teen pregnancies. Providing free birth control may also help reduce the instance of teen moms like Bristol Palin, Levi Johnston, and those annoying pregnant teens on MTV from being rewarded for their mistakes.
This whole debate brings up another issue that few discuss. Considering that women are only half of the equation when it comes to unsafe sex, why are men never included in the debate about free contraceptives? Part of the reason the FDA has yet to approve a hormonal birth control for men is due to the stigma that contraception is a exclusively a woman's rights issue. Until scientists come up with a way for men to remotely detonate their sperm, men have no authority when it comes to what a woman does with her pregnancy---though they are certainly held accountable once the child is born. If researchers can find ways to disrupt the extremely complex reproductive cycle for women, surely they can find a way to stop sperm production. There's no question that condoms still should be used to prevent pregnancy and STIs. But condoms break and then the question of what to do with the resulting pregnancy is left entirely up to women. Many men, myself included, would gladly receive a male IUD or take regular birth control pills in exchange for the peace of mind of not having to worry about a one-night-stand or crazy ex-girlfriend controlling our lives by choosing to keep an unplanned pregnancy.
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