The Choice is Yours

By Kathryn Coffey

Junior English education major Tillie Ann Boliard has explored the possibilities and identified the birth control suited for her. She now considers it an essential part of her life. She uses an intrauterine device (IUD) so she won’t worry about becoming pregnant from sex with her boyfriend. The use of birth control empowers her to accept and explore her sexuality. She believes people shouldn’t have to sacrifice their comfort and pleasure. “If I don’t want a baby, that shouldn’t mean I can’t have sex,” Boliard says.

Birth control is empowering. By helping women track menstruation cycles, control hormones that produce acne, and prevent pregnancy, birth control allows women take greater control of their bodies. Granting people the ability to regulate their own reproductive system gives them more authority over their lives. I personally use Xulane, a patch that helps track my periods. I don’t feel comfortable swallowing pills or permitting a doctor to implant an IUD in my uterus. Xulane empowers me because I’m in charge of my period. However, I will admit it wasn’t my first preference. I would rather On October 9, 2019, Planned Parenthood held their annual condom bingo in the University Commons lobby. Attendees won prizes and learned more about Decatur’s branch of Planned Parenthood, and bingo participants could take the condoms and lubricant for free. Both items represent important tools for when partners engage in sexual relations. Although condoms are readily available, easily obtainable, and usually a free birth control solution, they apply specifically to men. Doctors and manufacturers provide multiple birth control choices to women as well, and knowing the range of options can assist them in making an informed decision about what works best for them.

have Nexplanon, the birth control implant, but my insurance won’t cover it. The potential insurance complications are unfair but are part of the limitations on obtaining effective birth control.

For some, abstinence is the only birth control method familiar to them. In religious should be able to get it,” Wier says. “People should know what they’re getting themselves into.”

Every woman’s body operates differently, so one “size” does not fit all. A person’s unique needs should remain one of the most important factors when contemplating what birth control to employ, and women who possess a full understanding of their individual bodies will likely discover a beneficial solution. Birth control isn’t a required commitment, but investing in it shouldn’t lead to unnecessary hassles. Ladies, they’re our bodies, so it should be our decision!

communities, some individuals believe abstinence is the correct path because partners should save sex for marriage as a testament to the couple’s sacred bond. By her admission, senior music education major Leah Wier’s viewpoint on birth control is complicated. On the one hand, she believes sex is sacred, but she also views birth control as helpful and thinks women should invest in it.

In addition, she thinks that while requiring insurance to cover birth control is great, not having insurance shouldn’t prohibit people from obtaining it. “Birth control is fine, and people

The following birth control methods, listed from least to most expensive, help prevent pregnancy. It’s important to remember that each comes with different benefits and drawbacks. Some people don’t want to have sex or don’t feel comfortable with it. That’s okay! You shouldn’t have sex if you won’t feel relaxed or enjoy the moment. If you’re not comfortable having sex, it’s all right to take your time or not engage in sexual activity at all. You can find these in Millikin’s Health Center waiting room, and most drug stores or pharmacies carry them. Depending on the manufacturer, you can purchase a box of about 24 condoms for less than $20. They are one of the only male birth control methods and prevent pregnancy from vaginal sex. Don’t wear two at once because they could break more easily from increased friction. The sponge is small, rounded, and made of plastic with an attached loop for easy removal. Women place it in the cervix before having sex. Prices range from free to $15.

You receive one every few months. The shot contains progestin, a hormone that prevents ovulation. It costs as high as $150 per shot.

The patch is a weekly affair. Place the patch on your shoulder, near the abdomen, above the rear, or on the hips. Wear it for a week and replace it with a new one on a different area of your body. During the fourth week, don’t wear a patch, and your period should happen around that time. This method is especially useful for keeping track of your menstrual cycles. Patches cost as high as $150 per box, and each box contains three patches. The pill is one of the most common methods. You take one daily, and the hormones block ovulation. If you forget to take the pill one day, don’t panic. Use a condom until you contact your doctor. When taking the pill, you must keep track of when you take it.

A calendar app or setting alarms or reminders on your phone will ensure that you remember. The pill typically costs as much as $50 each month. 32 BURST

Nexplanon and others like it are tiny sticks implanted in one of your arms. You replace it every few years, and it costs as high as $1300. As with many of the methods listed here, the implant won’t stop you from acquiring sexually transmitted infections, but it’s 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy. Some people with the

Nexplanon implant never experience periods.

An IUD costs as much as $1300. It consists of either copper or plastic material that is inserted into the uterus. Partners must be careful the first few times having sex because the material could poke the penis, making intercourse uncomfortable. Even so, its rate of effectiveness is 99 percent.

You must replace the ring monthly. It sits inside the vagina to absorb hormones in the vaginal lining. It costs between $30 and $35 per ring.

Consult your doctor to find your ideal birth control method. You should always talk with your health care provider about what you want and what makes you feel most comfortable. Have fun responsibly!

Tubes in a man’s scrotum carry sperm.

During a vasectomy, a doctor either blocks or removes the tubes. Surgeries cost as high as $1000.

This surgery removes or blocks a woman’s fallopian tubes from the rest of her reproductive organs so sperm won’t be able to reach the eggs.

This solution is a permanent one, and the surgery could potentially cost $6000.