How will the current political landscape impact people under the age of 18 accessing reproductive healthcare?

The current political landscape is making it trickier for people under 18 to access reproductive healthcare, especially in states with restrictive laws around contraception, abortion, and even certain types of gynecological care.

Here are some key ways younger folks might be impacted:

• Limited Access to Birth Control: In some areas, restrictions on birth control could mean fewer options for teens, especially if parental consent becomes required. This could make it harder to access contraception at places like school clinics or Planned Parenthood.

• Challenges to Confidentiality: Normally, young people have some confidentiality in their healthcare visits. But with certain laws pushing for more parental involvement or reporting requirements, teens might not feel as comfortable seeking advice or treatment, worrying that their health info won’t stay private.

• Abortion Access: For teens, abortion access is already more complicated in many states, and stricter abortion bans are increasing those barriers. Some states now have no access at all, meaning that young people may have to travel out of state or navigate additional legal hurdles, like parental consent or judicial bypass.

• Sexual Health and Education Gaps: Some states are dialing back on comprehensive sexual health education, focusing more on abstinence-only or restricting information about reproductive health and options. This can leave young people with limited or incomplete information to make safe and informed choices about their health.

• Access to Preventive Care: Routine gynecological care, like getting information on periods, safe sex, and reproductive health, could also be affected if certain clinics face restrictions, making these services harder to find in some areas.