Start Talking About Sex

By Dr. Jen Gunter, Wielding the Lasso of Truth

25 October 12

Stop talking about the non contraceptive benefits of birth control and start talking about sex.

have a copper IUD. It serves one purpose, to prevent pregnancy.

My boyfriend had a vasectomy, a procedure that has no health benefits beyond preventing pregnancy.

I am proud of these decisions because A) we both don't want me to get pregnant and B) we both like sex.

These should be reasons enough to use contraception. So, I am more than a little put off by the discussions regarding the heath benefits of contraception. I am not for a minute suggesting that hormonal contraception is not without health benefits that are completely apart from controlling reproduction. There are many medical reasons to prescribe hormonal contraception outside of birth control. However, that's not the point. When I prescribe hormonal contraception for acne it should be considered as an acne medication. When I prescribe hormonal contraception to treat menstrual migraines it should be considered as a migraine medication. Hormonal contraception isn't listed in the treatment algorithms for these conditions because it is a contraceptive.

When advocates resort to the, "But birth control has health benefits beyond contraception" argument they have conceded that wanting to have sex but not wanting to be pregnant is simply not reason enough. They have retreated to a defensive position. They have made it okay to question contraception. It makes me think of the 80's in Canada when women would have to petition a 3 member panel for an abortion. It was a rubber stamp. An, "Of course you will be psychologically harmed by continuing the pregnancy" nudge-nudge wink-wink rubber stamp. A degrading rubber stamp.

We should not be ashamed of wanting to have non-procreative sex.

If you want to talk about the health benefits of controlling reproduction, I'm all for that because it's a valid argument supported by evidence-based medicine (notably absent from many State level decisions on reproductive health). Contraception allows women to lead longer lives, to work outside of the home should they choose, and reduces poverty. Contraception also reduces health care costs, because every contraceptive is cheaper than the cost of prenatal care and delivery. In addition, contraception is a green choice because our world can not sustain the carbon footprint of 3 children families. Seven billion is already too many.

If you focus on the non-contraceptive health benefits you've told your opponents that you're willing to bargain with reproductive rights because you've come to the table. I'm not.

Sex is my Maginot line where contraception is concerned.

Dr. Jennifer Gunter is a nationally and internationally renowned obstetrician/gynecologist. She is the recipient of numerous research awards and has published extensively in medical journals and authored many book chapters. "The Preemie Primer" is her first book. Her writing has also appeared in USA Today, the A Cup of Comfort series, KevinMD.com, EmpowHer.com, Exceptional Parent, Parents Press, Sacramento Parent, and the Marin Independent Journal. Dr. Gunter also writes a sexual health column for examiner.com. She has been interviewed by numerous national media outlets and magazines, including CNN.com, More, US News and World Report, Runner's World, Glamour, Redbook, Woman's World, and Shape.

Dr. Gunter was born and raised in Winnipeg, Canada, and graduated from The University of Manitoba School of Medicine in 1990 at the age of 23. In 1995 she completed her OB/GYN training at the University of Western Ontario and moved to the United States to complete a fellowship in infectious diseases at the University of Kansas. After completing her fellowship she continued her studies in pain medicine and currently is the only OB/GYN in the United States who is board certified in both OB/GYN and pain medicine. Dr. Gunter is one of the select few physicians in the United States who holds four board certifications.