Birth control is a vital medical treatment that biological females rely on all around the world. Many teens struggle with harsh menstrual cycles or seek protection from unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STI). While conversations around sexual health have historically faced stigma, having access to information and protection is an important part of teens’ health and well-being.

Biological females have used birth control for centuries, and various forms are popular in different cultures. Past treatments such as spermicides and sponges were historically less effective and more dangerous, yet many relied on them despite the risks. Advancements in modern science have made birth control safer and more effective, leading to greater trust among those using sexual healthcare and improved access to contraceptives.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 82 percent of women currently report using at least one form of birth control in 2024, with 78 percent of them receiving care from a doctor. Fourteen percent of these women choose birth control to treat sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and medical conditions, while the majority use it for pregnancy prevention.

Although contraceptives are widely used they often have negative connotations; a survey of teens provided by Taylor & Francis reported that 54.4 percent of teens believed there was a stigma surrounding contraceptive use. However, Archie Williams is working to destigmatize conversations around sexual health.

In collaboration with Marin Community Clinics, the Archie Williams Wellness Center offers monthly sexual health clinics to support students. The clinics provide free birth control, STD testing, and opportunities to get condom-certified, which includes free condoms for a year. Clinics are completely confidential and private, so students can keep their private information and needs to themselves. 

Archie Williams Wellness counselor Beatrix Berry helps promote and organize school sexual health clinics, a resource many students rely on for sexual protection. 

“You can get Plan B [at the sexual health clinics], you can get birth control there. You can get STI tested. You can get pregnancy tested right here on campus, all for free, it’s all very confidential,” Berry said.

To access these resources, students sign up via a QR code on posters in the halls or go to the Wellness Center and ask a counselor to sign them up. Once signed up, students receive a pass to go to the Wellness Center and enter a private space with a clinician where they fill out paperwork to request the free resources. 

“It’s extremely important for people to be informed of their decisions…. it can help you feel that you have control over your body,” Berry said.

Research on birth control has become more advanced than ever before, and studies show that an increase in availability correlates with an increase in use. The National Library of Medicine states, “The addition of one [birth control] method available to at least half the population correlates with an increase of four–eight percentage points in total use of the six modern methods, for example, from 40 percent to 44 percent or 48 percent.” 

Lack of access to birth control resources can lead to a number of life-altering issues. Teen pregnancy itself is a difficult topic to tackle as teens must face options of termination, giving up the baby, or devoting the rest of their lives to taking care of a child despite their circumstances.

Junior Chase Unger is a member of Archie Williams Peer Resource (PR), an organization where students provide support and education for their peers on mental, sexual, and physical health. Chase has witnessed how students rely on birth control resources, specifically the ones that Archie Williams provides. She believes her peers must have the ability to protect themselves from life-changing risks that come with being sexually active. 

“PR does a really good job of spreading awareness and giving everyone access to the resources they deserve to have… Everyone’s sexual journey is a little different, and you deserve to be able to explore your journey… without any risk,” Chase said. 

According to the National Health Service, every method of birth control currently prescribed, if used correctly, has an over 90 percent success rate in preventing pregnancy. However, each method has its side effects such as moodiness, abnormal menstruation. Certain methods cause specific issues like cramps from Intrauterine Devices (IUD), and headaches from birth control pills according to Cleveland Clinic. 

With all the options available, biological females can find the one that works best for their bodies. Options range from hormonal, non-hormonal, and permanent. Popular options include long-lasting IUDs and implants, oral contraceptives such as “the pill,” vaginal rings, and contraceptive patches. 

Birth control technology’s recent advancements and the creation of Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives have changed the game. Specifically, teens haven’t typically received prescriptions for IUD in the past, but they are now one of the most common forms of birth control.

Gynecologist Rebecca Yee treats teens in the Bay Area, helping them navigate what treatments are right for them. She has worked as an obstetrician-gynecologist for 20 years and has witnessed the evolution of birth control prescribed to teens. 

“20 years ago, we didn’t offer [IUDs] to teens, and now I offer it to teens all the time… it’s evolved to birth control pills and IUD use,” Yee said. 

Birth control methods such as IUDs and subdermal implants hitting the scene have made consistent and proper birth control use highly effective and much more manageable for biological females seeking sexual healthcare. Yee feels that young adults must have the opportunity to understand their bodies and make sexual health choices that fit their circumstances. 

“When women take their own birth control into their own hands, they know that they are on something that is going to protect them from pregnancy…. You want to use something that is reliable and empowers women to make their own choices,” Yee said.

With the scientific advancements and variety of options available, biological females can find the birth control method that works best for them. It is typical for teens to be curious about their birth control care options, so it is important to be guided and educated on options and have resources available. Access to reproductive resources is available in different organizations such as planned parenthood, Marin Community Clinics, and for Archie Williams students in particular, the Wellness Center.