Topics Discussed: Pro Choice, Effects of Birth Control on the Female Body, Cost
for a Single Parent Raising a Child
If women and men were to share unpaid tasks equally, women would gain 5 hours of free time per
week. Altogether, the estimated annual value of women’s unpaid work totals $10 trillion, or 13% of
global GDP.
214 million women still have an unmet need for modern contraception, meaning they want to avoid
pregnancy, but are not using modern methods to do so.
Around 25 million unsafe abortions were estimated to have taken place worldwide each year, almost all in
developing countries.
Each year between 4.7% – 13.2% of maternal deaths can be attributed to unsafe abortion.
Around 7 million women are admitted to hospitals every year in developing countries, as a result of
unsafe abortion.
Interview With Arianne
Arianne Elmy (Designer and Founder): Pro Choice and Reasons for the Campaign
Interview With Amy
Amy Quichiz (Human Rights Advocate): Pro Choice
Facts You Should Know
26 countries still ban abortion altogether, with no explicit legal reason for exception (Meaning the
following aren’t even exceptions: rape, incest, mother’s safety or health).
A further 37 countries ban abortion unless she will die without abortion.
A further 36 countries restrict access unless an abortion is necessary to protect the woman’s physical
health (meaning she won’t have to prove she is dying but could be having serious complications).
A further 24 countries ban abortion unless it is for the woman’s health but also include protecting the
woman’s mental health as grounds for access.
Sixty one countries do not restrict access to abortion.
Overall, only 37% of the world’s 1.64 billion women of reproductive age live in countries where
abortion is permitted without restriction
Interview With Lauren
Lauren Perea (Designer): Pro Choice
In El Savador, where abortion is totally banned, authorities can prosecute women whose pregnancies
end before 40 weeks, even if by miscarriage or stillbirth, if they are suspected of harming their fetus. Prison sentences range from two to eight years, though some women have been convicted on charges
of aggravated homicide and sentenced for up to 30 years.
Birth Control Facts (We Deserve Better!)
Micronutrient deficiency – hormonal birth control prevents the absorption of micronutrients,
vitamins and minerals. It robs your body of B vitamins, magnesium, and vitamin C in particular which
has short and long term impacts on your health.
Hormonal Birth Control - This causes increased inflammation which puts you at higher risk heart disease,
cancer and dementia- later in life.
Damaged Microbiome – hormonal birth control acts just like an antibiotic in your gut, destroying the
essential microbiome balance. research revealed the pill can trigger Crohn’s, a symptomatic disease of
imbalance in the microbiome.
All forms of hormonal contraception were associated with an increased risk of developing depression,
with higher risks associated with the progesterone-only forms, including the IUD. That the IUD was
particularly associated with depression in all age groups is especially significant, because traditionally,
physicians have been taught that the IUD only acts locally and has no effects on the rest of the body.
Clearly, this is not accurate.
Other Side Effects of Birth Control Include: Nausea, breast tenderness, weight gain, headaches, yeast
infections, mood swings, melisma (brown spots on face), decreased sex drive.
