Duncan Ashlee Project4 Formal Report

0
Over the Counter
Contraceptives
By Ashlee Duncan 4/13/2023 Intro to Professional Writing

1
Over the Counter Contraceptives
Abstract
The Purpose of this report is to investigate the public policy regarding the
arguments of “should contraceptives be available over the counter?”. The
process used in this report to gather information was collecting subject matter
experts’ arguments, popular sources, visual arguments, and public comments.
All this research material is categorized based on the Stasis Theory. They are
multiple sides and arguments regarding the Over-the-counter birth control
issue and in this report, I plan to go over each perspective’s points and
arguments.
2
Table of Contents
Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………………………1
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………...3
Methodology……………………………………………………………………………………….…….3
Results and Discussion……………………………………………………………………………....3
Conjecture………………………………………………………………………………………………4-5
Definition………………………………………………………………………………………………….5
Oral contraceptives………………………………………………………………………….5
Value…………………………………………………………………………………………………………5
Woman’s Health and Rights……………………………………………………………….6
Raising Prices, Encouraging Unprotected Sex, and Abortion……………7-8
Action……………………………………………………………………………………………………….8
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………………………8
Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………………………9-11
3
Introduction
The goal for this report is to dissect the argument/ controversy regarding over-the-
counter contraceptives. Over the last few years this debate has started to become
more relevant today and is causing quite the stir among people with differing
opinions. The issue currently surrounding over the counter birth control is that not
having it readily available makes it easier to create gaps in doses and eventually lose
effectiveness due to inconsistencies.
This report’s main objective is to provide explanations of the different views

regarding this issue. Below the information will be presented and explained in the
categories of methodology, results, and discussions, as well as using the Stasis
Theory.
Methodology
The information gathered and presented in this report if though internet searches. I
had four main sources I researched: Subject -matter expert arguments, popular
source arguments, visual arguments, and public comments. I also used One Note to
gather all if the information into a research dossier and organize it into correlating
categories.
I used stakeholder and stasis theory as well. Stakeholder was used to identify my
targeted audience for the policy issue I had chosen. My targeted audience that I
identified for this report was healthcare providers, pharmacies, and people with
female reproductive systems.
The Stasis theory has four parts: Conjecture, Definition, Value, and Action. Based on
these categories you ask a series of question to identify areas of agreement and
disagreement withing the issue.
Results and Discussion

This section of my report will go over my results in a categorization following the
four main classifications of the Stasis Theory. (i.e., Conjecture, Definition, Value, and
Action)
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Conjecture
Conjecture has to do with whether
sources agree that the public policy
issue is indeed a real issue or not. For
this policy both sides agree that this
is an issue, but for different reasons.
Those who are pro over the counter
or OTC birth control want the
application the two pharmacies, HRA
Pharma and Cadence Health, have
submitted to the FDA to be approved
for their specific oral contraceptives.
Figure 1: Five Reasons People consider Birth Control a Positive for
(Gobel). They want easy accessibility; woman’s health, making it necessary (Image source: Google)
a person with the username Lee
commented on a New York Times article called “F.D.A to Weigh Over the Counter
Contraceptive Pills” by Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Kate Kelly saying “Of course birth
control should be OTC. Are condoms prescription? As a 18 year old I paid for birth
control pills on my own, through Planned Parenthood, because I was college bound
and responsible. Yes, it should be free, but more importantly, it should be readily
available to all who need it." They also want this as Birth control can be used not
only for preventing unplanned pregnancies but can help with, cramps,
endometriosis, and hormonal fluctuations. ‘Poot and beans’ commenting on a news
video by NBC regarding OTC Birth control called “Over-The-Counter Birth Control
Consideration By FDA” saying “Not all women use birth control for preventing
pregnancy. I use it because I need the hormones and I practice abstinence. BC is the
best when it comes to controlling acne, lengths of periods, major cramping etc.
People don’t realize how painful it can be without BC.”
Those who do not agree with this sentiment
want it to be less accessible and only through
your primary healthcare provider. There is a
lot of controversy regarding how Birth control
can affect a Woman’s mental and physical
health. In a comment on the same New York
Times article, ‘Priya’ said “Finally!
Contraceptive pills are "medication" and
should not be used by healthy young women
indefinitely. It is terrible for long term health.
Figure 2: Four Common side effects of taking Birth The rise in auto immune diseases and cancer is
Control (Image source: Google)
testimony to this. Pharma companies suppress
this information. In this age of awareness and options, women, please say NO to pills
and IUDs. Educate yourselves and your partners and work together to live naturally
5
and healthier." Others are concerned with the maturity it takes to have access to
something like birth control. MWatson commented on a New York Times article
stating “In the age of tide pods and the Benadryl challenge, I don’t really think we
can trust people with this over the counter. The risks to the people who take it far
outweigh the benefits without doctor supervision."
Definition
In the Stasis Theory, Definition refers to if sources agree about how this issue should
be defined and if there are any definition limits that can be talked about. For over-
the-Counter Contraceptives there’s is a concern regarding the different types of birth
control being offered over the counter.
Oral Contraceptives
Currently, the only types of birth control being petitioned for over-the-counter
use are oral contraceptives. Oral contraceptives, as defined by the National
Cancer Institute are “A pill used to
prevent pregnancy. It contains
hormones that block the release of eggs
from the ovaries. Most oral
contraceptives include estrogen and
progestin.” These don’t need any type
of procedure or injection to be effective.
Options like IUD, Dep-Provera, and
Nexplanon’s are not considered ‘oral’ Figure 3: Different methods of Birth Control (Image
source: Google)
contraceptives as they need a
procedure and or injection done for them to be functional.
Value
Value is referring to whether sources agree about who or what should be valued in
this issue and why. There is a rather large divide between both sides’ opinions on
who/what should be valued in this issue. Those who are pro OTC contraceptives
agree that this issue is important for woman’s health, independence, and rights.
Those who do not agree believe that what should be valued is how prices will raise
for birth control, encouraging unprotected sex, and if it can be connected to
abortion.
6
Woman’s Health and Rights

Shareholders are very adamant that OTC birth control will help woman in the
long run. One of the most common points they talk about is that because
birth control is so common now it’s only right to make it easier on women and
make it over the counter instead of having to wait months for it to be
renewed. In an
article by
Procon.com
that talk about
Denicia
Cadena who is
Policy Director
for Young
Woman United
in New
Mexico, and
she states “Our
rural
communities
are most
profoundly
impacted by
our state’s
Figure 4: Statistics on Women using OTC Birth control (Image Source: health care and provider
KFF Women's Health Survey) shortages. Patients face
three – to six-month wait times for any primary care and even longer for
specialty care… 11 of the state’s 33 counties have no obstetrics and
gynecology physicians.” In Figure four, it shows a study done by the KFF
Women’s Health Survey 2022, showing that more than half of woman prefer
OTC due to convenience.
They also focus on how birth control is also used for medical purposes other
than pregnancy prevention o have it over the counter can alleviate some
stress surrounding medical conditions. Hagia Theia commented on NBC
broadcast “There are woman who have type 2 diabetes who take birth control
to stop debilitations and sometimes potentially deadly menstruation. This has
been a great help.” Another Commenter called M, said “I take birth control to
correct hormonal problems and what I have and I am using works for me
when I take it every night routinely, so this will be a great help for people like
myself and people who are preventing pregnancy.”
7
Raising Prices, Encouraging Unprotected Sex, and Abortion

Opposing arguments believe the focus should be that having it more
accessible will cause more problems like Raising prices in Birth Control. If
birth control becomes over the counter its most likely going no longer be
covered by insurance anymore; 89% of American woman had free birth
control under the Obamacare birth control mandate(procon), and without
coverage from insurance the prices will start to rise.
Figure 5: Statistics on why women may avoid birth control (Image source: KFF woman’s Health Survey)
Another concern that they believe should be a main point is that having birth
control more accessible will encourage more unprotected sex and cause
unplanned pregnancies. In an article on the BBC website called “Moral Case
Against Contraception” they mention a woman named Judie Brown, the
founder and president of the American Life League, and she mentions her
concerns about what they called “Contraceptive culture” Saying “The
contraceptive mentality suggests that man and woman have absolute and
total control over their reproductive lives. Once you have that mindset and the
contraceptives fail, then you can eliminate that problem (the pregnancy) as
well.” In a YouTube comment section on a video by Daniella Hernandez, 80s
BABY BOY said “Wreckless… easy access will only encourage unprotected
sex.”
This also leads to the idea that contraceptives are a form of abortion. As Roe v
Wade was just recently overturned in the United States people are having a
much more negative outlook on contraceptive. In the same BBC article those
8
who oppose this policy issue believe that taking contraceptives is
participating in an “anti-life” lifestyle as they are preventing life from coming
too. 10 Tampa Bay reported on this issue and loganlocke1 commented “And
somebody’s going to be giving that pill to murder a child that they don’t want
with their partner. This is not a good idea. They’re just going to get sued.”
Action
In the final step to the Stasis theory, we look at the category Action. This focus on
whether both parties agree upon a solution for this issue or not. As of right now
there seems to be very little agreement from both counterparts regarding OTC birth
control. One side wants to push through to the FDA to get them approved and the
other wants tighter restrictions on birth control and a guarantee that they see their
health provider for it.
The main plan of action is on the pros side
now. In an article written by Allison Aubrey
called “Over – the- counter birth control
pills are available worldwide. The U.S may
be next.” She talks about how HRA Pharma,
a pharmaceutical company passed in Paris Figure 6: HRA Pharma Logo (Image source: Google)
has sent in applications to the FDA for
approval on their progestin only Birth
control. If approved, this will be the first over-the-counter contraceptive available in
the United States.
Conclusion
With this public policy issue the most disconnected part of this argument is values.
Both sides have a rough understanding of each other and their ideals regarding the
situations but have vastly different belief in what matters most for this subject.
Those who are pro OTC birth control want a more convenient way for woman to get
this type of contraception. Their focus is on women’s health and how birth control
can help regulate hormones, cramps, acne etc. and not just prevent pregnancy. On
the other side of things, they believe the main value/ focus should be how
insurances will not cover them anymore, it may encourage more unprotected sex,
and create more unplanned pregnancies. Whether or not they understand each
other they have completely different views on what important in the matter.
The most they had in common was the definition portion. Both sides for the most
part understood what types of birth control could be offered. Some people did not
understand that it would only be pills offered but over most partied understand the
implications of ‘oral contraceptives.
9
Bibliography
“Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pills - Pros & Cons - Procon.org.” OTC Birth Control
Pills, 29 Mar. 2022, https://birth-control.procon.org/.
Stolberg, Sheryl Gay, and Kate Kelly. “F.D.A. to Weigh over-the-Counter Sale of
Contraceptive Pills.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 11 July
2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/11/us/politics/fda-contraception-pill-
hra-pharma.html.
“NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms.” National Cancer Institute,

https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/oral-
contraceptive-pill.
“Over-the-Counter Birth Control under Consideration by FDA.” YouTube, YouTube,

11 July 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNJedGQfw64.
Michelle Long, Brittni Frederiksen, and Nov 2022. “Interest in Using over-the-
Counter Oral Contraceptive Pills: Findings from the 2022 KFF Women's Health
Survey.” KFF, 14 Nov. 2022, https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/issue-
brief/interest-using-over-the-counter-oral-contraceptive-pills-findings-2022-kff-
womens-health-survey/.

Aubrey, Allison. “Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pills Are Available Worldwide. the
U.S. May Be Next.” NPR, NPR, 14 July 2022,
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/07/14/1111297318/over-
the-counter-birth-control-pills.
“Ethics - Contraception: Moral Case against Contraception.” BBC,

BBC, https://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/contraception/against_1.shtml.
“All Hormonal Birth Control Should Be Available over the Counter, OB-GYN Group
Says.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 24 Sept.
2019, https://www.nbcnews.com/health/womens-health/all-hormonal-birth-
control-should-be-available-over-counter-ob-n1058341.
10
Gobel, Reyna. “Interest in over-the-Counter Birth Control Surges in Post-Roe
Era.” Harvard Public Health Magazine, 22 Sept.
2022, https://harvardpublichealth.org/health-policy-management/post-roe-
expanding-birth-control-access/.
Field Dates: June 28-29, 2022 1 -

Harvardharrispoll.com. https://harvardharrispoll.com/wp-content/uploads/
2022/07/HHP_June2022_KeyResults.pdf.
Lee. article " F.D.A to weigh over the counter sale of contraceptive pills."
"Of course birth control should be OTC. Are condoms prescription? As a 18 year old I
paid for birth control pills on my own, through Planned Parenthood, because I was
college bound and responsible. Yes, it should be free, but more importantly, it
should be readily available to all who need it."
hra-pharma.html.
poot and beans. “Not all women use birth control for preventing pregnancy. I use it
because I need the hormones and I practice abstinence. BC is the best when it comes
to controlling acne, lengths of periods, major cramping etc. People don’t realize how
painful it can be without BC.”
“Over-the-Counter Birth Control under Consideration by FDA.” YouTube, YouTube, 11
July 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNJedGQfw64.
Hagia Theia. “There are woman who have type 2 diabetes who take birth control to
stop debilitations and sometimes potentially deadly menstruation. This has been a
great help.”
M. “I take birth control to correct hormonal problems and what I have, and I am
using works for me when I take it every night routinely, so this will be a great help
for people who are preventing pregnancy.”
11
MWatson. "In the age of tide pods and the Benadryl challenge, I don’t really think we
can trust people with this over the counter. The risks to the people who take it far
outweigh the benefits without doctor supervision."
hra-pharma.html.
Priya. “Finally! Contraceptive pills are "medication" and should not be used by
healthy young women indefinitely. It is terrible for long term health. The rise in auto
immune diseases and cancer is testimony to this. Pharma companies suppress this
information. In this age of awareness and options, women, please say NO to pills and
IUDs. Educate yourselves and your partners and work together to live naturally and
healthier."
hra-pharma.html.
80s BABY BOY. “Wreckless… easy access will only encourage unprotected sex.”
Daniella Hernandez. “How over-the-Counter Birth Control Would Differ from Pills
Available Now.” YouTube, YouTube, 19 Aug. 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=2yVAPq2MP-c.
loganlocke1. “And somebody’s going to be giving that pill to murder a child that they
don’t want with their partner. This is not a good idea. They’re just going to get sued.”
10 Tampa Bay. “First over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill Seeks Approval from the
FDA.” YouTube, YouTube, 11 July 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8U-
24sGEVw.
“Over-the-Counter Access to Hormonal

Contraception.” ACOG, https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-
opinion/articles/2019/10/over-the-counter-access-to-hormonal-contraception.

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Over the Counter

By Ashlee Duncan 4/13/2023 Intro to Professional Writing

Results and Discussion……………………………………………………………………………....3

Woman’s Health and Rights……………………………………………………………….6

Raising Prices, Encouraging Unprotected Sex, and Abortion……………7-8

This report’s main objective is to provide explanations of the different views

Results and Discussion

Woman’s Health and Rights

Raising Prices, Encouraging Unprotected Sex, and Abortion

“NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms.” National Cancer Institute,

“Over-the-Counter Birth Control under Consideration by FDA.” YouTube, YouTube,

“Ethics - Contraception: Moral Case against Contraception.” BBC,

Field Dates: June 28-29, 2022 1 -

“Over-the-Counter Access to Hormonal

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