Do you know when your last women’s health appointment was? While it is recommended to see your gynecologist annually for preventative measures, some of us may need a little more TLC. I started well woman exams when I was around 18 years old and I am so glad I currently have the basic right to do so.
But that could change this coming election.
There is a lot of uncertainty right now in the United States revolving around women’s rights in particular, and this is unfortunately not a new topic for us. But it has gotten a lot more traction since the reversal of Roe v. Wade in 2022, the landmark case that made it unconstitutional for states to ban abortion. Now, 14 states have almost entirely banned legal and safe abortions. Realistically, a person does not have to experience abortion first-hand to see that having those bans takes away from all women’s bodily autonomy. Why are we taking away health options?
In the June 2024 FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine case, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously reversed a lower court decision suspending the FDA’s (Food and Drug Administration) approval of mifepristone, a pill taken to end pregnancies in the first trimester and treat early miscarriages. This allowed several states to be able to provide a legal avenue for women to have a safe abortion. With that in mind, don’t forget about the 14 states who have a near-total ban on this exact drug. Those states are Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia. Of the remaining 36 states and Washington D.C. that do allow the drug, 14 of them require a physician to prescribe the drug. Those states are Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah and Wisconsin.
For my state of Arizona, along with North and South Carolina, Nebraska and Wisconsin, if I were in need of mifepristone, I would have to have an in-person physician visit to be able to get the pill. In Arizona and North Carolina the drug is also banned from being mailed, which makes that in-person visit even more imperative which isn’t always the most accessible option for patients. Lastly, Georgia only allows for the pill to be used within a 6-week gestational period. On average, women realize they are pregnant right at that 6-8 week mark.
And now, the stakes are even higher, as this private, medical decision is not only “morally or religiously binding,” it is also flat out against the law and you could go to jail in some states. That is the current situation for several women across this country.
Imagine you are in the middle of college and you have a one-night-stand that turns into a pregnancy, but since you live in Texas, you are forced to drop out of college because it is illegal for you to have an abortion. There are SO many other scenarios, all valid, ranging in age and circumstance, and so many stories of women who are faced with this newfound challenge. Instead of the time, care, and legal protection needed to uphold women’s right to choose, there’s an added layer of scrutiny and consequence that’s regressed by several decades.
Regardless of personal religious standings, as a human right, we should be able to say what should and should not happen to our bodies. If a woman is not in a place where she can financially, emotionally and physically carry and birth a child, she should not be punished for it or forced into motherhood. The fact that said woman and their prescribing physician could face jail time in 14 different states is beyond ludicrous.
When it comes to the upcoming election, there are potential policies that could dramatically affect women’s rights. One of them in particular is called Project 2025. Created by the Heritage Foundation think tank; the over 900+ page policy plan hopes to enact a ton of changes including the expansion of power the president has, ban pornography, halt sales of mifepristone, and eliminate a long list of terms from all laws and federal regulations including “sexual orientation,” “gender equality,” “abortion,” and “reproductive rights.” There are several other elements that Project 2025 entails, but you get the point. This is a conservative and Trump supported policy plan. This plan alone could change the country as we know it today, and not in a good way.
The U.S. has a huge choice to make this November. That choice will drastically affect how women are able to use all healthcare options. Before that comes to pass, don’t forget that there are still options out there for basic healthcare needs such as birth control and getting STD testing. Which brings me back to getting your annual well woman appointment in while you can.
Think about your typical well woman appointment – you strip down to nothing and put on a cloth “robe” to then have a doctor ask a bunch of questions about your sexual history and periods while doing a physical exam of their own. As uncomfortable as the whole exam may be, that appointment is an investment in your health and future. This is a check for signs of cancer, STD risks and all gynecological factors that affect your overall health.
During this appointment you should always ask those uncomfortable questions. Is this lump serious? Should I get checked for ovarian cancer? What is the best birth control to take while on antidepressants? When I asked that last question, thankfully I was encouraged to stick to a birth control that suits my lifestyle. But one day, we might not be given those kinds of answers, let alone ask those types of questions because birth control as a whole can be off the table.
The access to basic health care is a human right not just a woman’s right. More, now than ever, we should feel encouraged to vocalize our needs with our government appointed officials. That being said, visit your gynecologist this year and thoroughly do your research before you hit the polls this November.
