Access to Contraceptives with Dr. Robin Sawyer

In recent days, there's been a bit of controversy over access to condoms at major pharmacies--while we won't go into the issue here, it does it give us an opportunity to discuss the larger issue of access to contraception for young people.

Young people's access to condoms and other types of contraceptives is an important issue, as the proper use of contraceptives can help lower the rates of sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy. For expert insight, we turn to Dr. Robin Sawyer, award winning film maker, noted author, and Associate Professor in the Department of Public and Community Health.

The Healthy Turtle: What role does ease of accessibility play in young people using contraceptives?

Dr. Robin Sawyer: A huge role - the stereotypical nervous young man not wanting to purchase condoms from the matronly drug store clerk on a Saturday night is all too real. Very few teens would feel confident enough to actually ask for condoms if they're locked up so this becomes yet one more reason not to use them. Making emergency contraception over-the-counter has helped but even then the FDA placed an initial age limit of 18 (recently reduced to 17) despite the drug being rated as safer than aspirin. Again, politics trumps common sense.

HT: Are there other challenges you see to making sure young people use condoms and practice safe sex?

RS: Oh yes ... this would take hours to discuss! Major issues - definitely alcohol use, as many individuals feel uneasy about sex and so alcohol reduces inhibitions and tends to increase risky behavior; many teens are in denial that they'll ever get an STI or get pregnant ... the invincibility of youth syndrome; also a culture that has become hypersexualized with constant images of sexuality heightened by technology - Internet, texting etc.

HT: How do you see this fitting into the larger issue of abstinence only vs. comprehensive sex education?

RS: It's another example of politics leading policy rather than common sense and science ... abstinence-only education has been proven to be a failure and yet many people still cling to this one-size-fits-all approach because they wish it would work...only in Disneyland! Providing condoms does NOT increase or encourage sexual activity, it only makes the activity that will happen regardless, safer. Some people refuse to believe that truth.

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Thanks to Dr. Robin Sawyer, Associate Professor in the Department of Public and Community Health, for his time and expertise. In addition to teaching the popular course in human sexuality, he is also the author of Sexpertise: Real Answers to Real Questions about Sex.