We’re all aware of our president-elect’s history with women— three wives and a son young enough to be his grandson. I’m sure most of us have heard about Trump’s tape scandal, and the accusations of sexual assault, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Trump’s upcoming presidency has a large influence on the birth control offered to women right now— and a negative one, too.
A major piece of legislation that currently protects women’s reproductive rights is the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, which ensures that those covered get FDA-approved birth control methods for no extra cost. In a rally, Trump announced that, “Repealing Obamacare and stopping Hillary’s health care takeover is one of the single most important reasons that we must win on Nov. 8.”
The coverage and protection Obamacare offers to women is crucial. However, Trump doesn’t seem to see birth control as in a statement to CNN, Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley of Planned Parenthood Federation of America wrote that, “While we truly hope that birth control methods will be available, accessible, and affordable to all women under the Trump administration, we understand people’s real concerns about losing access to birth control, which is basic health care for women.”
The availability, accessibility, and affordability of birth control methods are all protected by Obamacare. Obamacare, which Trump promises to repeal, helps keep these birth control methods available, accessible, and affordable by ensuring that their prices are kept to a minimum. Because of this, women, regardless of economic standings, have access to them. However, with the repealment of Obamacare, guaranteed access to these birth control methods may not be possible anymore.
The change that lies ahead has also been reflected in social media comments after the presidential election. According to a 2016 CNN article, “Tweets and Facebook posts about getting intrauterine devices, or IUDs, swept social media Wednesday as women warned each other that their access to birth control might dwindle once the President-elect takes office next year.” The demand for birth control has soared after the presidential election, adds Forbes, due to Trump’s victory. Many Americans are afraid they will miss the opportunity to get birth control before Trump becomes president.

Trump’s influence on birth control lies in the system right now, the law that he has promised to repeal: Obamacare. The Affordable Care Act guarantees just what its name suggests: affordable care, which includes birth control methods. However, with the repealment of this act, women may not be able to access birth control anymore because of its new costliness, like it was before Obamacare. Because of our president-elect’s promise, a new era of birth control has begun.