Should birth control be for sale over the counter?

Birth control reduces the number of unwanted pregnancies

Question: Should birth control be for sale over the counter?
Position1 of 2›: Yes, OTC birth control should be for sale
Argument‹2 of 3›: Birth control reduces the number of unwanted pregnancies

A majority of unwanted pregnancies are caused by the absence or misuse of birth control. Over the past few years, the rate of teen pregnancies has lowered due to the increased use of contraceptives, including the pill. By making birth control pills available over the counter, as well as other birth control methods, the number of unwanted pregnancies would decrease.

The argument

Women should have more options when it comes to taking control of their own reproductive health. Many women are often put in difficult situations because they do not have the proper resources to ensure their safety and to prevent pregnancy. By making birth control available over the counter, the number of unwanted pregnancies would decrease. Studies have shown that over half of unintended pregnancies are caused by not using contraceptives, or an inconsistent use of birth control. While birth control pills are not always 100% effective, only 5% of women have unintended pregnancies while taking the pill. If birth control methods like the pill were more easily accessible, these numbers would likely decrease dramatically. Teen pregnancy numbers would drop significantly as well. Many believe that teens are not responsible enough to take birth control, and that it should not be so easily accessible to these populations. The reality is, teens will engage in sexual activity whether they have access to birth control or not. By making the pill more accessible, teens will be more likely to use it. There are several forms of contraception that are easily accessible in any CVS or Walgreens pharmacy, but birth control pills are a preferred method for a majority of women. Taking the pill once a day is easy, and gets rid of the stress of having to worry about an unintended pregnancy.

Premises

[P1]Most unintended pregnancies result from not using contraception or using it inconsistently, while consistent pill use reduces unintended pregnancy rates to around 5%. [P2] Making birth control available over the counter would remove access barriers and increase consistent use among women and sexually active teens. [P3] Increased consistent use of effective contraception would substantially reduce unintended and teen pregnancies. [C] Therefore, birth control should be sold over the counter because doing so would reduce unwanted pregnancies.

Counter-arguments

Birth control pills are not 100% effective. By making the pill available over the counter, many populations would be even more at risk of having an unintended pregnancy. There are many instances where birth control is not taken properly. Directions advise that women take the pill around the same time every day to increase effectiveness. There are many instances where women forget, or take the pill at inconsistent times. The misuse of birth control often leads to unintended pregnancies, and if the pill was made available over the counter without consulting a doctor, more pregnancies would occur while taking the pill.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P2] Removing the consultation step is treated by the counter as a cost rather than a pure gain, since directions require the pill to be taken at around the same time each day and supplying it without a doctor's involvement removes the point at which that regimen is explained. [Rejecting P3] Availability and consistent use are not the same thing: the counter notes that the pill is not fully effective and is often taken late or missed, so wider access could increase the number of people relying on a method they are using incorrectly, and with it the number of pregnancies occurring while on the pill.