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The Great Contraception Conundrum: Navigating the Wild World of Birth Control

Who is responsible?

Lateefah Messam-Sparks
6 min readMar 4, 2024

Picture this: You’re lounging on the couch, binge-watching the newest season of Love Is Blind , when the question, “So, who’s responsible for birth control anyway?” comes up. Cue the dramatic music! It’s a question that’s as old as time and has puzzled couples for generations. But fear not, for we are about to embark on a journey through the quirky landscape of contraception.

In this modern age of Netflix and chill, the birth control conversation has taken centre stage in many relationships. Did you know that according to the Guttmacher Institute, about 99% of sexually active women in the United States aged 15–44 have used at least one contraceptive method at some point in their lives? Yet, despite this widespread use, there’s often a lingering sense of unease when it comes to discussing contraception openly.

As we delve into the tangled web of contraceptive choices, let’s first address the elephant in the room: Why does it often feel like the burden falls disproportionately on women? Ah, societal expectations, you mischievous trickster! Did you know that according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, nearly half of women aged 18–44 say they or their partner have ever worried about paying for birth control? Financial…

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Lateefah Messam-Sparks
Lateefah Messam-Sparks

Written by Lateefah Messam-Sparks

Expat building a Chess and English business in Madrid and wanting to share my life, stories and other musings with you along the way. @safsparks

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