Contraception: What has access been like for you over time? How has contraception shaped the life you have?

• Planned mother fucking parenthood. I have accessed their services in Texas, Georgia and Alaska. They have provided me with birth control and routine exams. I took the pill in my late teens early twenties (circa 2003) which really affected my mood. I stopped taking birth control in my early twenties because of this. It wasn’t until I was 29 that I went to planned parenthood and got a copper IUD. It was a 10 year IUD. 4 years later, I became the 1% and got pregnant. My son is now 7 . I'd say that shaped my life most unexpectedly and most wondrously in ways words can't express.

  
  

• My experience with contraception has been empowering and deeply meaningful. I used to take a contraceptive pill, which allowed my partner and I to plan our family during our marriage and avoid pregnancy until we were truly ready. Having that choice gave me confidence, and it’s something I’ve encouraged our 26-year-old daughter to value as well in protecting herself and learning about her options through life-saving organizations like Planned Parenthood. Access to reliable contraception has shaped my ability to maintain a healthy love life while also sustaining a demanding career as both an artist and a teacher. It has given me control, stability, and the freedom to pursue the life I want.

  
  

• Contraception is the gateway to life choices. My generation's contraception access has been unparalleled. BUT I see it changing and eroding. It is wild to have been born with more reproductive freedom than I currently have.

  
  

• My access to contraception (after high school) has been adequate and this has been absolutely instrumental in being able to live my life the way that I want to. I was able to do life on my terms, just like a man.

  
  

• Access to contraception choices has been crucial to allowing me to control the path of my life. I was able to end an emotionally/financially controlling relationship and cut all ties in part because I had access to safe abortion options. I was then able to plan a family when I was emotionally ready to care for a child

  
  

• 1. I was VERY lucky to not to get pregnant in my youth, with all of the bad decisions I made. However, when I tried to get pregnant it took a very long time, and an even longer time for the pregnancy to "stick". It's hard not to wonder if this was my karmic payback. 2. I have been very fortunate when it comes to accessing contraception, it's something that I've always felt strongly about and felt responsible for. However, I now feel frustrated. My husband and I agreed that he would get a vasectomy when we were done having kids– Something he's "gonna do" but hasn't made happen yet. It's a good thing we're too tired and busy to have sex anyway, I guess.

  
  

• I had access to the BCP as a teen before I started having sex due to heavy periods. It would have been hard to ask my parents about contraceptives. I was able to talk to my NP at well visits privately and she explained confidentiality. I had health insurance for most of my life and getting contraceptives was easy. I utilized planned parenthood when I didn't have insurance and had amazing experiences. Access to contraceptives let me make choices for my body and my life. I could finish my education, take care of and improve my own health, and plan for a life I wanted.

  
  

• Got on the pill in college and stayed on that for a few years past. Once I had a steady partner, I got off the pill and did "natural family planning" for a few years. It was amazing to learn about my cycles more intimately (body temperature, cervical fluid viscosity, cervix opening, other signs), and use them to avoid pregnancy during my fertile phases. In our later years, once we had some kids and didn't want more, I used an iud and eventually the partner got a vasectomy. Enjoying sex and intimacy without the fear of getting pregnant when we were young and not ready was important. Now that I'm older, I wonder about those hormones and methods as I learn more about estrogen and bone density. Many considerations to balance.

  
  

• Thanks to growing up in Homer and Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic, I have had access to contraception since I first needed it. It's also where I took my daughters when they became of an age and ready to take that step. What an amazing resource in our community.

  
  

• I was on birth control from the age of 13 until 30. The pill and eventually an IUD. After my first child I had a second IUD. I recently removed it, wanting to feel what it's like to have an uncontrolled cycle. I'm lucky to have had a mother who believed in birth control, gave me access to it and encouraged me to use it.

  
  

• Contraception was something that I needed to learn how to access on my own and advocate for myself with a healthcare provider. Because my mom didn't talk to me about contraception, consent, relationships, or sex in general, I had to ask a supportive adult to take me to Planned Parenthood. Having access to birth control beginning at age 15 changed the trajectory of my life. I imagine with very little information that I would have had a teenage pregnancy. I didn't want a family or a child until much later in life. Birth control gave me the power to decide my own future.

  
  

• Contraception for me has never been hard to get and I am very thankful for that! When I was probably a freshman, so about 14 maybe, I had the worst periods, heavy, extremely painful, lasted 7+ days and would sometimes be so bad I would have to stay home from school. It wasn't until my mom got me onto the pill that they were far more tolerable and I was extremely grateful for that! As an adult I was always on the pill but after having my first daughter I changed to an IUD and honestly it's been life changing in a great way! I have been on an IUD the last 9 years and for the last 7 after I had my youngest, it completely stopped my periods and I hope I can continue to be this lucky with an IUD!

  
  

• I've had good access to what I need over the years and my husband got a vasectomy thanks to KBFPC's sliding fee scale which helped us plan our family.

  
  

• Oh man, that's a tough question to answer. The quick response? If it weren't for community programs with "free condom bins" and organizations like Planned Parenthood making themselves visible- there's a high likelihood my life would have included teen pregnancy. It was a taboo/forbidden subject to ask for help with back then. In my late teens and 20s I was on Depo (horrible!!!) and many versions of the pill. I hated the way it made me feel- a hormonal roller-coaster. Ironically, I ended up getting pregnant on birth control anyway!!! I've since banned all forms of birth control from my body. Life has been easier to deal with since. If I ever needed it again, condoms would be my only choice.

  
  

• I've always had good access . Never a financial or religious or lack of medical care barrier. As far as saving my life, it's giving me the control of creating my family very intentionally with the right person at the right time.

  
  

• I have only ever used condoms as a means of contraception. It's always been easy to gain access to those. Once I entered a long term stable relationship, we would use the calendar method. I was never drawn to the other forms of contraception.

  
  

• My experience with contraception has been empowering and deeply meaningful. I used to take a contraceptive pill, which allowed my partner and me to plan our family during our marriage and avoid pregnancy until we were truly ready. Having that choice gave me confidence, and it’s something I’ve encouraged our 26-year-old daughter to value as well�=94protecting herself and learning about her options through life-saving organizations like Planned Parenthood. Access to reliable contraception has shaped my ability to maintain a healthy love life while also sustaining a demanding career as both an artist and a teacher. It has given me control, stability, and the freedom to pursue the life I want.