By: Harsna Chahal (she/her/hers), Sexual and Reproductive Health Intern in W*SS
Let's be real…birth control and pregnancy tests can be expensive. Sometimes, we don’t want to pay these expenses but have to. Being a Michigan State University (MSU) student, occasionally acquiring these products might not be accessible or affordable. Some of us may not have health insurance or can afford to pay the bills for these items.
Why don't we begin by discussing pregnancy tests? I went to 1855 Sparty's Market Place the other day and noticed they sell many varieties of condoms, Tylenol, and even a hairdryer. Yet, no pregnancy tests! I was shocked and a little angry because, once again, this area of sexual and reproductive health is overlooked. Why have a variety of different condoms but not a single pregnancy test? This forces students, who may be dealing with many emotions, to go to a store like Target on Grand River. And we all know how expensive that place can be. If you have a car or live near it, it might be accessible. But let's say you live on the east side of campus, that is a FAR WALK! It is even a hassle to take the bus just to get one item! I heard a rumor back from other students that Olin gives us free pregnancy tests. Unfortunately, after going to Olin for my primary care visit, they DON'T offer free pregnancy tests. It cost 20 dollars. It's pretty much the same price you get across the street. (I did, however, find out that I have vitamin D deficiency, which is "quite a shock" for a being Michigander)
20 bucks is a lot! Let’s be real. As students, we face high educational costs, from textbooks to tuition and housing. That is why, as Women*s Student Services, we started to provide FREE pregnancy tests. So, stop by the Student Services Building and come to the basement to RM 104 to get a free pregnancy test. Unfortunately, Target on Grand River may be your only option if our office is closed and you don’t have a car. Then, make sure to price match their pregnancy test with their website prices or other major stores like Meijer or Walmart. We all know that this Target sometimes inflates their prices. So, while browsing, compare the items to Target website prices or to other known stores like Walmart or Meijer. When comparing prices, just make sure that it is the exact item (like quantity and brand). Then, when checking out, show the employee the lower price, and they will price match it for you. Doing this can be stressful and awkward; you might think the employee will judge you. TRUST ME when I say that you are not the only one who has been in this situation. However, many people take pregnancy tests not to know if they are pregnant. Some have to before they take certain medications. Advocate for yourself to be able to get more affordable pregnancy tests, and don't let society push you down.
You can also get a pack of 25 pregnancy tests for $10.95 on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/PREGMATE-Pregnancy-Strips-Urine-Predictor/dp/B01H7P7MHY/ref=asc_df_B01H7P7MHY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=675774800072&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6692044500188862484&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9017203&hvtargid=pla-1966737613425&psc=1&mcid=79f486553b373acdb30d84744351da85). Just make sure you buy some disposable cups.
Lastly, I wanted to talk about birth control. Only on July 13, 2023, the FDA approved Opill, a norgestrel tablet, as a daily contraceptive over the counter. YEAH!! This was a major win! However, it is 2024, and I still haven't seen it yet in stores. WHAT IS THE HOLD UP PEOPLE!! For the time being, let us talk about how you can save money on prescribed birth control. Some individuals may not have insurance and are turned away from being prescribed birth control because of its high cost. Have you ever used GoodRx.com (https://www.goodrx.com/)? It is a website that allows you to search for your medication and provides you with a cheaper price for the medication. Once you find your medication, the pharmacy can adjust its pricing, and you can pay as low as about 6 dollars for some birth control.
Why are pregnancy tests and birth control more expensive and inaccessible than other products like condoms? I mean, we are seeing it first hand at our very own Sparty’s, with the lack of pregnancy tests but MANY condoms. However, it is like this in other stores nationwide. Could it be because of underlying sexism? Perhaps the idea is that a woman’s role in society should be to bear children. Or that single women should not have the opportunity, like men do, to be able to have sex without the fear of getting pregnant. Maybe it is the fear that women can decide when to have children and go on to pursue other dreams and aspirations, especially fields that men dominate, rather than simply caring for their children. Guess what is stopping this fear….birth control. And if individuals in society can’t take it away, of course, why not put barriers like affordability and accessibility? It angers me that we live in a society that does not unanimously support women's sexual and reproductive health.
Currently, I am working as a sexual and reproductive health intern for Women*s Student Services, where I am advocating to increase student’s sexual and reproductive health education and accessibility to products. I want to thank the many donors who purchased over 200 pregnancy tests to be provided for free for MSU students. Currently, I am partnering with East Lansing Free Emergency Contraceptives (ELFreeEC), an organization that I helped co-founded that provides free Plan B for MSU students and other student organizations, to advocate for a health vending machine on the MSU campus. This will allow students to be able to affordably purchase pregnancy tests, emergency contraceptives, and many more products.
P.S. Listen to this song called “The Pill” by Loretta Lynn (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DcdONaKSQM)
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