The pill turns 50 this weekend.

But a half-century after birth control pills were FDA-approved, Planned Parenthood says too many women continue to lack access to them.

A national survey released today by the organization found 79 percent of women and 68 percent of men consider the pill to be preventive health care, just like other medications and vaccines. Three out of four women surveyed consider the birth control pill to be one of the most important medical advances of the last century and believe it to be a positive impact on womens’ day-to-day lives.

“I just think that the anniversary of the pill gives us a moment to reflect on the important role it has played and the tremendous impact it has had on the lives of women and men around the globe, in that it has allowed women to have more control over her ability to plan if and when to have children, advance in the workplace and to attain higher levels of education, said Beth Kanter, senior vice president of external affairs for Planned Parenthood of Illinois.

Kanter said health care reform legislation includes a provision for insurers to cover the pill and other contraceptives like other preventive medicines at a low or no cost, but that will be determined by how the regulations are written by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Kanter couldn’t say how many insurers balk at covering birth control now, but she does know some 250 million women internationally want access to safe contraception and don’t have it.

“There are some insurance companies that won’t cover the pill but will cover Viagra,” she said.

Bill Beckman, executive director of the Illinois Right to Life Committee, says he’d advise people to think about something else this weekend during the  50th anniversary of the pill: its connection to various cancers, serious implications for women with circulation and heart problems and, according to a new German study, a reduction in womens' sexual function.

“I think birth control pills have been a very dangerous affliction on women,” he said.

As for low or no-cost birth control included with  health care reform, Beckman contends that’s misleading.

“It’s going to cost the taxpayers a lot of money, so you’re going to be paying for it one way or another,” he said.

Something he’d like people to think about on the 50th anniversary of the pill: “I think they need to revisit natural family planning,” he said.
 

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