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Does Roe v. Wade protect birth control?

THE SUPREME Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has left people wondering if birth control could be under threat.

Experts have weighed in on the impact the Supreme Court's decision could have on birth control

Picture of someone holding contraceptive tablets
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Picture of someone holding contraceptive tablets

Does Roe v. Wade protect birth control?

As of the time of writing, Roe v. Wade does not directly protect birth control.

However, legal experts argue that the fact that it was overturned could pave a way for some states to restrict access to certain birth control methods.

For example, Wendy Parmet, the director of the Center for Health Policy and Law at Northeastern University : "The states that are trying to limit abortion from the moment of conception — not even from the moment of pregnancy, as the medical profession would define it — could well try to challenge Plan B, emergency contraception, potentially even IUDs."

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What is Roe v. Wade?

The 1973 ruling of Roe v. Wade asserted the 14th amendment and declared access to safe and legal abortion as a constitutional right.

The case was heard to decide if Texas' ban on abortions, which were completely outlawed except when a woman's life was in danger, was constitutional.

The Supreme Court voted 7-2 in favor of the right to an abortion.

It said women had a right to privacy, which meant it was up to them to decide whether to continue their pregnancy.

It also divided pregnancy into three trimesters, declaring that the first three months are solely at the discretion of the woman.

In the second trimester, the states can regulate abortions in the interests of the woman's health.

In the last three months, states can prohibit abortions in the interest of the fetus, provided the pregnancy will not bring harm to the pregnant woman.

Picture of contraceptive pills on a table
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Picture of contraceptive pills on a tableCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Has Roe v. Wade been overturned?

On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court officially overturned Roe v. Wade.

This means that Americans no longer have a constitutional right to abortion.

"Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences" Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the majority, via .

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