I am overwhelmed with grief and rage and sadness. My heart is broken for legions of women in the near (and far) future who will have to make difficult decisions about their bodies and their lives, at the risk of their mental and physical health. I am enraged at the woman on the supreme court who, as my mother says, “climbed over the backs of women who gave her all her opportunities.” I am angry at the conservative women I’ve known for years, who migrated from high school and college friends to Facebook acquaintances — who had unplanned pregnancies and abortions as young women and are now cheering with the decision to end the constitutional right to abortion. To those women in particular, I say fuck you. Because if you don’t want to have an abortion, then don’t have an abortion. Abortion is healthcare.
The supreme court is on a tear this year, and the future is bleak. Be gentle with yourself.
I feel adrift in this shameful nation, so I will rely on the comfort of what I do best: write. I spent years of my life and career as an educator of reproductive and women’s rights. Women of child-bearing years, listen up: YOU are responsible for managing your parenthood. Of planning your pregnancy. Whether you’re in middle school or your mid-forties, YOU are on the hook for your own body. And unless you’re ready to begin a family, be smart. Educate yourself on the variety of birth control methods available. Talk to your physician. Get a prescription for birth control pills TODAY. Talk to your partner. Prevent unplanned pregnancies and STDs. Use a condom. Abstinence-only education endorses reproductive ignorance. Woman up!
Barrier methods:
- male condoms
- female condoms
- diaphragm
- cervical cap
- contraceptive sponge
Short-acting hormonal methods:
- Birth control pills
- Vaginal ring
- Skin patch
- Contraceptive injection
Long-acting hormonal methods:
- IUDs
- Contraceptive implant
Sterilization:
- Tubal ligation
- Vasectomy
– – > Here’s a list of U.S. companies offering abortion travel benefits. Check the list and buy the shit out of their products because consumer-buying power speaks volumes.
– – > Here’s a list of U.S. companies offering abortion-related benefits.
– – > Plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace® must cover contraceptive methods and counseling for all women, as prescribed by a health care provider.
Find help if you need it:
- National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255
- American Psychological Association: the facts about abortion and mental health
- American Psychological Association: How do I find a good therapist
- Healthline: 9 Tips for Finding the Right Therapist
- WebMD: How to find a therapist
If you don’t have anybody to ask about birth control methods, HMU.
The Doctor is IN 
June 24, 2022 at 11:22 am
You have said it all. Also saw Clarence Thomas wants to ban birth control next. There’s a war coming and it will be led by and for women. I never thought I’d see such disregard for women’s rights and health in my lifetime.
June 24, 2022 at 11:26 am
I fully expect birth control to be in the crosshairs.