Half of American Pregnancies are Unplanned
I'm pretty shocked by this, since birth control is so highly effective. I suppose I simply assume that if you don't want to get pregnant, you'll make sure to take birth control each and every time! Accidental pregnancies can happen - but most are highly preventable.
According to Reuters, the statistics out for 2004 (yes, statistics take time to collect!) show that "there were almost 6.4 million pregnancies in 2004, down 6 percent from 1990. Forty-five percent were to women who were not married, and there were 1.22 million abortions and 1.06 million stillbirths and miscarriages." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24594416/
Many women who are a bit lazy about birth control admit that they secretly hope to get pregnant. Many others claim poverty disallows for regular use of effective birth control, although the grand irony there is that a pregnancy and raising a child is thousands of times more expensive.
"As a result, 28 million women in the United States are at risk for an unintended pregnancy, according to the study conducted by the Guttmacher Institute in New York.
They found one in four women is very likely to become pregnant because of inconsistent contraception use.
Some of this gap is due to lack of access to health care, with many women saying they cannot afford some of the more effective methods of contraception such as birth control pills that require a doctor's visit and prescription.
"It is critical to have a better understanding of what is preventing women from using contraception consistently and correctly, or even at all," Dr. Jennifer Frost, a senior research associate at Guttmacher, said in statement." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24594416/
In summary, women are bad at taking birth control! I am confounded as to why, because an unwanted pregnancy would be such a nightmare for me. Birth control is free at many clinics, and although condoms can take away spontaneity at times, it beats a pregnancy every time! Many women who claim to be on birth control while getting pregnant often skip doses or forget altogether. If they are on the Pill and taking other medications, they fail to use a back up method of birth control.
Tell Us -
Why do you think we, as women, face so many unwanted pregnancies in this day and age? Is it apathy or lack of education? Laziness or a secret desire for conception? Or are we so wrapped up in other areas of our lives that pregnancy prevention is unimportant?
Comments
So far, I know three couples that were surprised -- to say the least -- when they found out they were pregnant. All of them said they were using the pill at the time. They seemed so overwhelmed with the children they had, I can't imagine they would skip doses. Now, two of the men from those couples have been snipped and we're no longer anticipating the phrase "Guess what?" To your point, Susan, I also know couples who double up on birth control just to be sure ...
I wonder what would effectively increase access to birth control for those women who are having trouble getting it ...
Maybe with Planned Parenthood opening more suburban area clinics, these stats might go down.
Kristin Davis
My 7-year-old daughter is living proof that even taking the birth control pill religiously, without skipping a single dose, is not fireproof. It's not 100% effective.
I'm not lazy nor uneducated -- we just simply don't have a 100% effective form of birth control unless we choose sterilization.
My ex-husband and I were devastated by her pregnancy. We already had a 6-yr-old son and 5-yr-old daughter and felt our family was complete.
Of course, now, 7 years later, I can't even imagine this planet without our little Lara walking around on it. :) Some things just happen for a reason.
You're right, Optimist -- there is a stereotype here about women not paying attention or simply being "at fault" for having an unwanted pregnancy. But it does take two!!
Kristin Davis
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