U.S. Military Women's Access to Contraceptives Still Limited

Limited access to contraceptives is still a major issue among women who serve in the U.S. Military. According to NPR, women make up fifteen percent of active-duty service members. In addition, 97 percent of women in combat are of childbearing age. 

PBS notes that the unintended pregnancy rate of women in the military is 50 percent higher compared to women who did not enlist. This increased rate reveals that sexually active women in the military are having trouble protecting themselves during intercourse. 

The problem of contraception may seem small, but it is a major issue for women in the U.S. military. Dr. Daniel Grossman, vice president of research at Ibis Reproductive Health, explained that an unplanned pregnancy could damage the career of a military woman.

There are healthcare options available for women in the military, who are looking for contraceptives, but these options do not seem to be helpful when on the field. 

For example, over nine million active and retired members of the military are covered by Tricare, which does include coverage for most FDA-approved contraceptives. News Week adds that active members of the military do not have to pay anything with their own money under Tricare. However, there may be some copayments for spouses and dependents. 

Nancy Duff Campbell, copresident of the National Women's Law Centers, commented: "It is unfortunate that here we have the military, that has one of the best health care systems in the country, and where we still ahve a gap is in contraception." 

While Campbell is right, health coverage is not the main problem with contraception. Many contraceptive measures are simply not available to women while on active-duty.

For example, it can be difficult for women to refill their specific brand of birth control pills while overseas, reports NPR. In addition other forms of birth control may not fare well abroad. For instance, PBS notes that birth control patches are easily removed in desert areas. 

Abortion is available at military facilities and covered by military healthcare plans, but only if the woman meets certain conditions. According to News Week, abortion is only allowed if the woman's life is at stake, or if the pregnancy involved incest or rape. 

Department of Defense healthcare officials clarify that if the woman does not meet these abortion conditions, she must go to a nonmilitary healthcare provider and pay for it herself. However, some countries do not allow abortion, which make it difficult and unsafe for a military woman to seek other healthcare providers. 

Fortunately, both houses of Congress are working on a bill that will help resolve the issue of contraception in the U.S. military. The version of the bill the Senate wrote includes family planning education and counseling.

The House version of the bill plans to make a broader range of FDA-approved contraceptives available at military health facilities. In addition, women will be supplied with their speific contraceptive for the entire duration of their deployment, instead of the previous 180-day supply.