Opening The Conversation On Birth Control
As I enter my third year of college, I think about how increasingly shocked I am by the lack of education on birth control. From talking to 20-year-olds who don’t know that condoms have expiration dates, (Yes, they do expire!) to listening to misinformation about birth control, the more dismal my outlook on sex education has become. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
For example, there are a lot of misconceptions about Plan B. Did you know that Plan B is not effective when you are ovulating? It also becomes far less effective when you are past a certain weight range. If you weigh over 165 pounds, Plan B will not be as effective, in fact, some studies indicate that it can be up to four times less effective in people who are over a BMI of 30. In these cases, Plan B is still better than nothing, but it is important to be aware of how this contraceptive works. Because it has a higher rate of failure than other contraceptive methods, Plan B should not be used as a primary form of birth control, it should be used as a last option.
I am convinced that having a more open and honest conversation about sexual health and birth control is the key to destigmatizing elements of the conversation that lead to misinformation. Having these conversations ensures safety, comfort, and in-depth education on sexual health.
