By: Shereen Mohammad
Smohammad@kcautv.com
According to The Muttmacher Institute, almost half of all pregnancies are unplanned. That's why one group of doctors is now calling for easier access to birth control pills.
Birth control is a touchy subject most parents and teens do not like to talk about.
Right now, the only way to get "the pill" is through a prescription, meaning you need to see a doctor first.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist Committee said oral contraception needs to be available without a prescription to help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies.
One Siouxlander, Kate Erickson, thinks the recommendation is a good idea.
"For people who don't have access to healthcare readily, this would help them gain access to something they wouldn't have had before," she said.
But others like Amber Soderlund, think folks should still see a doctor.
'There are a lot of side effects and a lot of recalls on birth control that I've seen on TV so yeah they should see a doctor too," said Soderlund.
Cindy Lewin, a nurse practitioner at St. Lukes is not on board with this new recommendation.
"The cons outweigh the pros from a medical stand point, I really feel that the patients need to be counseled on birth control pills any medication you take has side effects and ill effects in the future," she said.
The committee said some of the risks linked to birth control such as a blood clot is relatively low. It also said those that smoke should avoid the pill altogether.
