Today is “World Contraception Day”. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the purpose of creating this day was to promote the right of couples and individuals to make decisions about their pregnancy.

As of 2021, WHO found that the use of contraception could have reduced maternal mortality by 40%. However, students find that many of these methods, such as condoms, birth control, and intrauterine devices (IUDs), are not covered in detail or not at all in high school sex education.

“(It) was almost ascetic,” said Ava Zanglin, a sophomore in journalism. “We never talked about birth control, we barely talked about condoms, we never talked about other options. It was just an absence.”

Zanglin, like many others her age, had to look elsewhere to learn about birth control. While she relied on her mother and doctors for these lessons, Anna Yarnal, a sophomore in acting and journalism, found them through social media.

“I feel like[my sex education class]was very short,” Yarnall said. “They touch on it, but they talk mostly about STDs and stuff like that, more than basic protection. I think I just touched it.”

Zanglin believes people are afraid to talk about contraception because it’s a sensitive topic, but not teaching it doesn’t stop students from having sex, she said. thinking.

“They’re going to do it anyway,” Zanglin said. And so on, we need to talk about everything.”

Will Baus, a third-year digital storytelling student, said his high school health class in Chicago had a unit on sex education that covered many contraceptive methods. Although this unit was only a small part of the class, he said it was a smart decision to teach about birth control.

“I mean, you can teach abstinence too. That’s fine, but you can teach me everything else,” Bauhs said. “It doesn’t matter what school you go to. Make sure everyone knows everything.”

Since the overturn of Roe v Wade in June, many pro-choice organizations have reinforced the need for easily accessible contraception. Zanglin said this has also surfaced people’s opinions about contraception.

“I didn’t know it was so controversial,” Zanglin said. “Obviously, I thought abortion was, and probably will always be, controversial, but I don’t think birth control pills attack people’s religions or anything they’re against. I don’t know if people’s opinions have changed.I think they are becoming clear now.”

Since the Roe v Wade decision was overturned, the right to contraception has also been called into question. The 1965 Griswold v. Connecticut ruling, which overturned a law banning couples from using contraception, was called into question after Judge Clarence He Thomas asked the court to reconsider.

“A lot of people feel scared because[the right to contraception]is being taken away,” Yarnall said. “I don’t think they realize how much contraception can help people. So when people start talking about birth control pills, I think there’s a kind of fear just because it’s scary. I don’t know if I can actually get them, or how long I’ll need to get them before they’re taken away.”

Mr Bauhs said his opinion on the importance of contraception has not changed since the ruling.

“Now that this is becoming a more real issue, I feel like more people are starting to realize how important and relevant it really is,” Bauhs said. . “I’ve always found them to be an important part of it, but I feel like more people are starting to realize how important they are.”