Birth Control Is Health Care: Expanding the Conversation on Contraception and LARCs

August 11, 2025

There’s More to This Story

For decades, contraception has been narrowly framed around not getting pregnant. But for millions of girls and women, birth control is far more than pregnancy prevention—it’s a lifeline. It helps manage chronic health conditions, supports educational and career goals, and protects futures.

When we broaden our understanding—especially around Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs)—we begin to see that birth control isn’t just a “women’s issue.” It’s a matter of public health, economic stability, and human dignity.

More Than Pregnancy Prevention

Any girl or woman who’s gone to a doctor with complaints about pain, bleeding, or irregular cycles knows this. But let’s shout it louder for the ones in the back: what’s often just called birth control plays a critical role in treating common medical conditions.

It’s about more than not getting “knocked up.” Hormonal birth control is commonly used to:

• Regulate cycles in women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

• Treat heavy or painful periods

• Decrease ovarian and uterine cancer risks

• Manage symptoms of peri/menopause

Without treatment, these conditions can lead to anemia, missed school or work, and long-term fertility issues. For many, birth control is the first line of defense in managing pain and improving quality of life. Hormonal contraceptives also reduce the risk of ovarian and uterine cancers—especially for those with increased risk factors like family history or obesity. Even short-term use can offer lasting protective benefits.

Let’s be honest. If we were talking about medication that could improve the lives of men so profoundly, we wouldn’t even be talking.

LARCs: Powerful, Reversible, and Not Used Enough

LARCs—including IUDs and hormonal implants—are revolutionizing birth control access. They offer:

• 99% effectiveness at preventing pregnancy

• Reversibility at any time

• Protection lasting 3 to 10 years

I love sharing a study that highlights the strong preference for LARCs among both OB/GYNs and patients—once financial barriers are removed. You can read about it here: Why OB/GYNs Love LARCs.

This may be TMI, but there’s even a study showing that female OB/GYNs themselves use LARCs at much higher rates than the general population—because we know their safety, convenience, and reliability beyond just being great birth control.

Their low-maintenance nature makes them ideal for teens, busy parents, those with limited access to health care, and importantly, those with high-risk medical conditions to avoid pregnancy.  The key here is to understand that having a medical condition to avoid pregnancy doesn’t mean you can’t functionally get pregnant. In states with abortion restrictions that severely limit access, having an unplanned pregnancy can have particularly devastating consequences.

Expanding access must go hand-in-hand with protecting autonomy. Historically, LARCs have been used coercively in marginalized communities—particularly among Black, Indigenous, and low-income women. Reproductive justice demands that every person can choose freely, without pressure or bias. Access must be patient-centered, involving open discussion about risks and benefits. 

An interactive birth control comparison tool can be helpful in choosing the right method for you.

Contraception as a Catalyst for Change

Data shows that birth control positively affects maternal-child health and economic mobility. Access to contraception—including LARCs—has measurable outcomes:

• Increased participation of women in the workforce

• Higher rates of continued education beyond high school

• Improved birth spacing, reducing risks of low birth weight and prematurity

• Fewer missed school or work days due to menstrual-related health issues

• Lower risks of certain cancers

When people can make empowered decisions about their reproductive health, entire communities benefit

Breaking the Silence Around Stigma

Even when contraception is medically available and financially accessible, cultural stigma can quietly undermine its use. Common barriers include:

• Associating contraceptive use with sexual promiscuity

• Community disapproval, especially for teens and unmarried women

• Misinformation and fear of side effects

These stigmas seep into every corner of care. I can’t count the number of teenagers I’ve treated for medical problems—pain, missed school, severe anemia—whose families hesitate to start birth control out of fear of what others might think.

Some providers also hesitate to prescribe more effective options, perpetuating the myth that IUDs are only for women who’ve given birth.

To truly expand access, we must also expand acceptance—through education, testimonials, supportive partnerships, and inclusive conversations.

Insurance Coverage: A Critical Access Point

Even the most effective birth control is out of reach without proper coverage. In the U.S., LARCs can cost up to $1,300 without insurance—placing them out of reach for many.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) improved birth control access by requiring most insurance plans to cover FDA-approved contraceptives without copays or deductibles. But gaps persist in employer-sponsored plans, Medicaid restrictions, and for the uninsured.

A major step forward came in 2014, when the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMS) launched the Maternal and Infant Health Initiative, encouraging coverage of LARCs immediately after birth and before leaving the hospital. This strategy helps reduce closely spaced pregnancies and improves maternal outcomes.

HerHealthMD on Empowering Health and Protecting Futures

Contraception isn’t just a birth control method—it’s a cornerstone of health care, driving dignity and autonomy for girls and women.

Whether helping a teenager with crippling period pain or empowering a working mother to plan her career and family, birth control access is foundational.

The evidence is clear. The impact is measurable.

Now is the time to expand—not restrict—access. We can all:

• Call on policymakers to protect coverage

• Urge providers to offer judgment-free care

• Uplift stories that normalize birth control as essential health care

Let’s move beyond stigma. Let’s center dignity. Let’s ensure every person has the tools to thrive.

You can explore more on this topic through ACOG’s LARC Program and Resources, which also advocates for broader access and education around these methods.