Why are Servicewomen are denied birth control?

Oh Wow. I never knew that!

Maybe they don't want them having sex so they don't need it?!?! I have no idea!

That's weird, they tried to talk me into an abortion when I was pregnant with my daughter (now 30yrs old) and I was active duty Army, in Germany.

Interesting. I was listening to a story on NPR that cut many servicewomen's leaves short (or eliminated them) because too many were coming back pregnant.

Now how does that policy, coupled with the one you mentioned, make any sense???

That is fu**ed up.

But I certainly believe it.

10.

Yes, it's being going on unfortunately

Wow. That's crazy! Maybe Bridget's right...but that wouldn't make sense either cause they almost expect men in the military to be horn dogs...why would they want women to be nuns?

Bridget, it is exaclty for that reason. But honeslty that reason seems a little unfair if you ask me. Just because these women are serving out country doesn't mean they won't have sex, they are much more likely to even get pregnant since they have no access to birth control. And they can't even have access to abortions, because the administration won't allow it. Its the same argument they try to drill in six grader's heads in their health class: abstinence only. Well that won't work. Some women are raped, others have sex without protection ( it is very hard to get protection being that they are not provided with these service)

I don't think it's right either!

Well, that's great you made the decision to have her Deborah =)

That's very true Kathy. If anything they should see that servicewomen becoming pregnant is a problem. You can't force someone to abstain from sex. But you can definitely provide them with contraception or other health services in case they were to get pregnant.

SIGRIF, unfortunately this does not surprise me at all. I seriously think that the current government's birth control, abortion and reproductive rights policies are getting more and more twisted. I thought America was a land of the free....well, I sure hope the act will pass. These brave and honorable women certainly deserves to be treated with respect and dignity.

I totally agree j.r

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S.847
Title: A bill to extend the period of time during which a veteran's multiple sclerosis is to be considered to have been incurred in, or aggravated by, military service during a period of war.
Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 3/13/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 3/13/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
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Here is the link to the Senators:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

To contact the Committee, please write to:

House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
335 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
or call:
(202) 225-9756
http://veterans.house.gov/about/index.html
Senator Murphy
Washington, D.C. Office
173 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2621
Fax: (202) 224-0238
http://murray.senate.gov/email/index.cfm

Maybe the government feels they would be condoning abortion and sex by providing these services.

It is pure ignorance if you ask me.

Susan, thanks so much for the info. This is very unfortunate for our vets and very heartless and cruel of our administration. I will try my best to help

I agree M.P

bush just loves the military doesn't he ????
Call congress tell them to IMPEACH!!!!!!

I couldn't agree more Don. I truly wish things were that easy

How are they going to replenish the ranks?? LOL

.

lol

It is news to me. Thanks for the info.

That's horrible Karen. I had no idea! I knew this was occurring as does everywhere, but I didn't knwo it had such prominence

If we had a congress that did what the people want this horror would be over.

That's very true

Do they have access to birth control pills (for before sex)? On that same count, do the men have access to condoms?

Condoms are probably easier to carry and access. I doubt the military will be provided with them as the Bush administration is opposed to birth control, but condoms seem to be more accessible than prescription pills. The convenience and significance of plan b is it can be used in emergency circumstances.

Sigriet - they aren't being denied all birth control, which is what is implied by the headline, and kind of understood by the readers. They are being denied "morning after pill" and abortions, from the sounds of it. Last I knew, the military PREFERRED their members not pregnant.

Lisa, the morning after pill is an emergency measure not somethign taken for entertainment purposes, it is neccessary in cases where there is consensual unportection sex, or rape. Yes,the military prefers its members non-pregnant, os that is why there should be access to plan b and in last case scenarios abortions. Just because the military PREFFERS somthing doesn't mean it will happen. Bush and his administration PREFERS that all teens wear chastity belst and never have sex until marriage, but such notions are fantasy-like and don't goad well with relaity.

Thanks for sharing this information. It's unfortunate that women endure this standard not only in the military but in civilian life too.

Huh? I'd say your title is inaccurate. I didn't read the comments, but I can tell you that I know of a woman who was in the Navy and she was offered contraception countless times.

It's interesting....You take kids in the prime of life, when biologically, they are supposed to be procreating, their hormones are raging, send them away from family and friends so that they are suddenly starved for emotional connection, have them live in a situation where they see their new friends blown apart and suddenly realize there may not be a tomorrow, and expect them not to have unplanned sex. When it is consensual and done right, sex is an affirmation of life and a way of connecting to someone for the few hours you may have between military maneuvers. But, you see, this country is pretty much run by the religious right and they say abstinence. I agree that would be best, but this is the real world we are talking about. And, since sex may be part of a very short term relationship when the soldiers finally get some R&R, it seems like we would want to have the emergency solutions ready when reality hits some female soldier.

A shame, should not be that way.

They have access to birth control (my brother and his wife are military).

Some jobs in the miliatary require females to be on birth control.

They are denied access to plan b, and emergency contraceptive and they are denied abortion procedures. these are all last resort procedures, but should nevertheless be accessible to servicewomen.

never knew that!

I believe servicewomen are denied abortion procedures at "military" hospitals. They could probably go to a "civilian" hospital but I doubt their military insurance would pay for it. Seems this is all about choice, unless pregnancy in the case of rape. I see your point but I think young men and women should consider carefully before enlisting in the military. We do not have a draft so they should know all their options before enlisting.

Very interesting. I didn't know this. Thank you for sharing.

yup

I am a veteran. At the time I was in, abortions were not available on base. I do know several women who had complications following abortions and received treatment for those complications on base. You can look at this like most hospitals...in my area, none offer abortions. Abortions are done at clinics that often do not have the strict regulations at hospitals.

Birth control is available to women in the service in many forms and at no cost.

This has been a very good discussion. Thanks for starting it, Sigriet

thanks

First, our service women don't have to have sex willingly -- many of them have to pair up in Iraq to go to the latrines or face the very real possibility of being raped -- by male US military! If a woman is raped, emergency contraception--which is what Sigriet is writing about--is safe for the woman, keeps her trauma at the minimum.

Very true, Kim

I was in the Army and Kim notes a problem in a war zone. There is a lot of peer pressure to drink and to score. Most women are kept separate from men in Army bases and there are areas of curfew and areas off limits. When I was in the Army, I kept my distance from Army women. If an Army woman made a complaint against you, it was almost an automatic Article 15 (punishment). I had a German girlfriend and I seldom drank beer, so I never had a problem, but I saw some fellow soldiers get the dreaded Article 15. Personally, I'm against abortion, but not against contraception or morning after pills. I really doubt male culture is going to change in the Army, or on a college campus. The Army does need to provide a safer environment for women.

Grrr, just ..Grrrrrr!

this is news to me.

yup

My supposition would be that the Pope ordered that.

haha

Thanks for sharing