Planned Parenthood Campaign Asks Women to Share How Birth Control Helped Them

Rachael Schultz
·2 min read
birth-control-pill_0.jpg
birth-control-pill_0.jpg

Corbis Images

Whether it helped lessen your cramps, clear up your acne, or be responsible about starting a family, birth control has a special place in every woman's heart. Most of us who have been on the Pill since we were teenagers take it for granted, but Planned Parenthood's very public fight has made it clear that there are women out there who don't have access to the reproductive right. That's why the health giant has launched a new campaign with billboards in Times Square encouraging us all to tweet about how #BirthControlHelpedMe.

The hashtag is for women to share their personal stories about how birth control has improved their health and their life. And it's an important viewpoint to express, considering Republicans in the House of Representatives recently attempted to shut down funding for Title X, the federal program that gives women access to birth control, sexually transmitted infection tests and treatment, and reproductive health screenings.

"Birth control has been nothing short of revolutionary for women and society, yet we are still fighting to ensure that every woman in America has full access to the birth control method of her choosing-without barriers based on cost, availability, or stigma," said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. "As the nation's leading women's health care provider and advocate, Planned Parenthood knows the transformative effect birth control has on women's lives-we see it every day in our patients and supporters…birth control dramatically improves the lives and conditions of women and families, as well as the U.S. economy at large."

It's been a big week of women destigmatizing reproductive health in 140 characters or less! Women Are Live Tweeting Their Period to bring awareness to sexual health-and that time of the month. The #BirthControlHelpedMe tweets are particularly powerful, though: statements on how much the simple right of access to birth control can have a ripple effect on our lives. These are 10 of our favorites.