Sharing the Gift of Birth Control

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Sharing the Gift of Birth Control

November 14, 2022
A hand with a present hovering above it.

Why do you say, “Thanks, birth control?” Has birth control opened up opportunities for you? Has it made your life better? Maybe you graduated college or got your dream job Maybe it helped you to expand your family on exactly your timeline. Or maybe you’re one of the millions who use birth control for non-contraceptive reasons and your birth control alleviates symptoms associated with illnesses like endometriosis, fibroids, and PCOS.  

Since #ThxBirthControl was launched in 2013, I always get a bit excited when November rolls around.  I love hearing about the variety of ways that birth control has had an impact on their life, and celebrating the variety of ways it has allowed me to accomplish my life goals. This year I’m saying “Thanks, birth control”, because it has allowed me to achieve my dream job—joining the Power to Decide team to help create a culture of reproductive well-being for all.

No matter what birth control has made possible for you, it boils down to this: accessible birth control increases power and possibilities for folks everywhere. 

But for too many, birth control access is out of reach. More than 19 million women in United States who are in need of publicly funded contraception live in contraceptive deserts—counties without reasonable access to the full range of contraceptive methods. This means that millions in the US live in the difficult circumstance of having to not only navigate direct cost barriers to contraception, but also associated transportation costs, childcare costs, and unpaid time off work.

A map of the contraceptive deserts in the US as of November 2022.

In April 2019 we began BCBenefits to provide access to free or low-cost birth control methods and appointments to those with limited income. Since then, we have helped more than 6,700 people get the birth control they need to live life on their own terms. 

We are so grateful for your voice, your support, and your efforts to help everyone realize their full possibility. That’s why we’re asking you to donate to our BCBenefits fund today. 

Here’s what your generosity can accomplish:

  • $5 gives a month of birth control pills to a person who needs it. 
  • $60 gives a year’s worth of birth control pills to a woman who needs them through a telehealth provider. 
  • $200 provides birth control pills for a year for 4 people, delivered right to their doors.

With your help we can continue our work of helping to build a network of support across the US. Be sure to tell your friends and networks if you make a gift—and encourage them to give, too. After all, there is strength in numbers. 

Together, we can make a difference. Donate today because now more than ever we need your help.