Tonya Lewis Lee talks sex, birth control on new site
OPINION - As a mom, daughter, sister and friend, I can’t fathom any woman being able to afford being in the dark about the various forms of birth control available...
Just recently, a federal judge in New York ordered the Food and Drug Administration to make the morning-after pill available over the counter to people of any age. Yet while increasing the availability of the morning after pill may be one approach, perhaps more important is educating young people, particularly young women, on their options when it comes to sexual intercourse.
What once was considered one of the best pieces of news a woman could hear has become an unwelcome scare for many. Today, seven in 10 pregnancies among single women ages 18 to 29 are described by women themselves as unplanned. For young, impressionable women, the need has never been greater to educate on the various birth control methods that are available, especially with all the opposing information that young women are taking in.
How we’re spreading the word
As a mom, daughter, sister and friend, I can’t fathom any woman being able to afford being in the dark about the various forms of birth control available. As a result, I am at the forefront of bringing awareness to this common problem for young women. My digital health and wellness platform, Healthy You Now, has just launched a web-wide awareness initiative in partnership with Bedsider.org. The motivation behind this initiative is to educate women on available birth control options and encourage more honest and open conversations about sex.
I am thrilled to partner with Bedsider.org to spread this important message to women everywhere. Bedsider is an online birth control support network for young women, 18-29, operated by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, a private non-profit organization. The goal of the network is to help women find the method of birth control that is right for them, and to learn the most consistent and effective way to use it.
Healthy You Now and Bedsider just released “Birth Control, An Open Discussion.” These four videos give a glimpse into my conversations with personal friends, as they divulge their varying perspectives on sexual myths, personal responsibility, society’s expectations and what kind of sex is the safest. To talk about something is to know about something, and these videos offer stories and impressions from real women that other women can relate to on a personal basis. The ultimate goal is to jumpstart conversations among women to spread knowledge and advice.
Women should open the door to conversation
Have you ever sat down to chat with girlfriends about the role of birth control in your lives? If you need some encouragement, here is what happened when I sat down with Charreah Jackson of Essence Magazine, as well as Liza, Shay and Katrice to discuss everything from finding the right birth control method to discussing birth control with your partner.
My hope is this initiative will really get young women actively talking about sex and more importantly, get them to make the best choices for their bodies and sexual health.
This video series is available on Bedsider.org and HealthyYouNow.com.
Tonya Lewis Lee, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Healthy You Now is a national best-selling author, award-winning TV producer, national spokesperson for the Office of Minority Health and just began production of her first full length film. Lewis Lee is also a tireless health advocate, dedicated to educating and helping women take control of their health and wellness. Follow her @tlewislee or on Facebook. Send your questions here.
