People here at Daily Kos probably already saw this article already, but for those who hasn't.... well, here it is: http://www.policymic.com/...
I have to say, all of the talking points in that article is so true!
Birth control has far more uses beyond preventing you from having babies. It's been used to treat Cyst cancers, etc. Hell, the majority of young women mainly use it to control their periods. So that "Aunt Flo" doesn't act like a evil, raging b**h who likes to take a baseball bat to their stomach. (which is how periods often feel for some women out there). With the pill, the period is tamed into something the woman can actually control... as opposed to something utterly uncontrollable and painful.
And then there's other medical uses for birth control, such as:
#1: Lower cancer risk
Taking oral contraceptives (OCs) can slash your risk for both endometrial and ovarian cancer by more than 70 percent after 12 years; even just one to five years may lower your risk by 40 percent. They work by reducing the number of times you ovulate in your lifetime: Ovulation may trigger cell changes in the ovaries that can lead to cancer. If you're worried about using the Pill for too long, relax. "You can safely take the Pill for 20 years or more," says Stephanie Teal, M.D., director of family planning at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver. Barring health issues, the only reason to stop is if you want to get pregnant.
#2: Clearer skin
Estrogen - the female hormone found in most OCs - helps clear your skin by decreasing levels of testosterone, a male hormone that stimulates oil production. Although Ortho Tri-Cyclen is often used to treat acne, many pills, such as Yasmin or Desogen, can banish blemishes. You'll likely see results within a couple of months.
#3: Endometriosis relief
Endometriosis, a condition in which uterine-lining tissue grows in other pelvic areas, can lead to scarring, severe pain, and sometimes infertility. The Pill stops the growth of tissue in other areas by reducing the hormones that cause the lining to build up.
And let's look at how many people actually use the pill for purely medical reasons:
http://www.guttmacher.org/...
"The study—based on U.S government data from the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG)—revealed that after pregnancy prevention (86%), the most common reasons women use the pill include reducing cramps or menstrual pain (31%); menstrual regulation, which for some women may help prevent migraines and other painful “side effects” of menstruation (28%); treatment of acne (14%); and treatment of endometriosis (4%). Additionally, it found that some 762,000 women who have never had sex use the pill, and they do so almost exclusively (99%) for noncontraceptive reasons.
Menstrual-related disorders and irregular periods are particularly common during adolescence. Not surprisingly, the study found that teens aged 15–19 who use the pill are more likely to do so for non-contraceptive purposes (82%) than for birth control (67%). Moreover, 33% of teen pill users report using oral contraceptive pills solely for noncontraceptive purposes.
“It is well established that oral contraceptives are essential health care because they prevent unintended pregnancies,” said study author Rachel K. Jones. “This study shows that there are other important health reasons why oral contraceptives should be readily available to the millions of women who rely on them each year.”
Wow, women who use the pill aren't total slutbags... who knew? (actually, I did).
And then there's the double standard that opponents of government-mandated birth control have. They actively condone using tax payer money to give men Viagra and penis pumps. And they give that out far more often than you'd think.
Now to be fair.... Viagra gets the same rap that Birth Control pills do. It does in fact have real medical benefits going for it... which you can find out more about here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/...
But, when you think about it.... why should one "sex" pill be okay to use for medical reasons, and be government-mandated while the other one is not? It just seems kind of unfair.
Then there's the penis pumps... it honestly doesn't have that much medical benefit going for it unlike the Viagra. But it's apparently very good for performing surgeries on a guy's prostate. or treating poor blood flow to the penis.
the guys who are so against women getting birth control from their insurance and companies..... they often say that they're gonna use it for "non-medical reasons". (if you know what I mean).
So why shouldn't we turn it back on them? Accuse them of using the penis pumps that they get from insurance and their company for "Non-medical reasons".
I mean, Fair is fair... right?