Safe sex just got pricier.
Ball State University students who get their birth control from the Amelia T. Wood Student Health Center are in for a big surprise. Prescription birth control is set to increase in cost up to threefold with the implementation of the federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.
This means students will have to shell out more cash for prescription birth control, find new forms of contraceptives - or give up sex altogether.
We know an increase in birth control cost isn't likely to stop students from having sex. It is likely to cause couples to look for new, less expensive forms of birth control, however. Those students willing to try unfamiliar alternatives need to consider the potential consequences and educate themselves on the risks of each.
According to a 2004 study by the Alan Guttmacher Institute, typical use of oral contraceptives has an 8 percent failure rate. For condoms, the failure rate increases to 15 percent - a significant jump, especially where possible parenthood is concerned.
If you thought practicing safe sex was important before, the prohibitive costs of prescription birth control have made it even worse. It's students' responsibility to educate themselves on the proper use of alternate contraceptives like condoms. The risks are inherently higher, which means students need to be more cautious - as if worrying about parenthood isn't bad enough.
Nearly all birth control costs have increased, with only one brand staying the same price. The NuvaRing price has already increased threefold, and most other brands will double soon. Health Center stocked up on birth control when prices were low, but the stockpile can only last so long.
Students should follow suit and stock up on contraceptives of their own. It could mean buying more birth control while the prices or low, or it could mean buying condoms instead. As most students know, the Health Center provides five free condoms per student per day as an alternative to prescription birth control.
Stocking up doesn't mean safe sex, however. Educated students need to put the lessons they've learned to use. If not, a happy little surprise that costs a lot more than birth control could be on the way.
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