On Thursday October 23, the Peer Educators hosted an event on the history, science, and use of various forms of birth control. The panel featured professors from the Neuroscience and SWAGS departments and clinicians from the Health Center: Professor Jen Manion, a social and cultural historian whose work examines the role of gender and sexuality in American life; Professor Sarah M. Turgeon, a professor in behavioral neuroscience; Alyssa Pawloski, a nurse practitioner at Amherst College; and Jeremiah Berlin, a registered nurse.
Resources at Amherst College
The panel opened with Alyssa Pawloski and Jeremiah Berlin highlighting Amherst College’s wide range of contraceptive resources. They stressed that many students are unaware of the comprehensive birth control support available on campus, emphasizing the need for greater awareness.
For instance, Pawloski and Berlin shared that there are free contraceptive supplies available in the Health Center lobby (condoms, oral dams, and lubrication). There are also options that students can access through confidential counseling and prescriptions. These include the Oral Contraceptive Pill, the NuvaRing, and Emergency Contraception (Plan B). There are also longer-term and more permanent birth control methods, which are available through referral. Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) offer protection for three to ten years depending on the type. Likewise, Nexplanon, a small hormonal implant inserted under the skin of the arm, provides up to three years of protection. The Health Center offers counseling to help students decide whether these options fit their personal health needs and can connect them with local providers for procedures.
Historical context and attitude around birth control
Professor Jen Manion discussed the historical trajectory of birth control in the United States. In the nineteenth century, birth control methods were quietly available through pharmacists and catalogues, yet public conversation around their use was heavily suppressed. The Comstock Law of 1873 banned contraceptive distribution through mail, reflecting a broader societal belief that reproductive control was immoral, especially for women.
By the early twentieth century, activists such as Margaret Sanger began to challenge these restrictions, framing birth control as a matter of health and autonomy. Her work led to the formation of the American Birth Control League in 1921, a precursor to today’s Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Incremental change arrived in 1936, when the Supreme Court ruled in U.S. v. One Package of Japanese Pessaries that physicians could legally provide contraceptives to married couples.
The modern era of birth control began in the 1950s and 1960s, when hormonal contraceptives, most notably the Pill, were developed and approved by the FDA. This innovation coincided with feminist movements gaining traction; reproductive rights became intertwined with broader questions of gender equality and privacy. The landmark 1965 Supreme Court case Griswold v. Connecticut affirmed the right of married couples to access contraception, grounding the decision in a constitutional right to privacy. This ruling would later serve as the legal foundation for Roe v. Wade (1973) and even future cases concerning same-sex marriage.
By the 1980s, contraception had become not only a medical norm but a social one. Despite opposition from religious authorities, such as the Vatican’s stance against the Pill, data showed that roughly 80% of American Catholic women used some form of birth control.
Professor Manion concluded by noting that birth control’s history reflects an ongoing negotiation between individual rights, social values, and political power. The same legal principle of privacy that once protected access to contraception and abortion has come under renewed scrutiny following the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade. This shift has reignited debate over whether privacy remains a stable foundation for reproductive and sexual rights. In today’s climate, Manion suggested, access to birth control is no longer merely a question of healthcare, it is a measure of how society values personal autonomy and the right to make private decisions about one’s own body.
The science behind birth control
Professor Sarah M. Turgeon focused on the fundamental biological mechanisms of hormonal birth control. She explained how synthetic estrogen and progesterone prevent ovulation and also affect brain regions involved in mood and behavior, shaping both fertility and overall well-being
She also noted that because these hormones interact with the brain’s chemical systems, their effects can be wide-ranging and individualized. Some research has linked hormonal contraception to changes in mood or an increased risk of depression. However, findings remain mixed because of the limited sample sizes of existing studies, which often focus on younger populations. At the same time, she emphasized that hormonal birth control can have beneficial physical effects, such as a reduced risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, suggesting that hormonal regulation influences not just reproduction but also muscle and joint stability.
Importantly, Turgeon discussed how the timing of hormonal exposure may shape brain development. At earlier ages, the brain is still undergoing critical periods of growth and synaptic pruning. Therefore, hormonal contraceptives could influence how certain neural circuits form and function, but the long-term implications of these effects are still being studied. Professor Turgeon emphasized the idea that reproductive health decisions are deeply connected to both biology and identity. Understanding these hormonal mechanisms allows individuals to make more informed choices about contraception, not just as a means of preventing pregnancy, but as a factor influencing overall mental and physical well-being.
Addressing side effects and individual experiences
The clinicians highlighted that students often misunderstand birth control, mistakenly believing all methods are alike and frequently fearing side effects. They stressed that contraceptive experiences are highly individual. The Health Center works closely with each student to identify a contraceptive option that best fits their preferences and experiences. Nurse practitioner Alyssa Pawloski and registered nurse Jeremiah Berlin explained that counseling often involves dispelling common misconceptions, such as the belief that birth control inevitably causes weight gain or mood changes. In fact, hormonal contraception can sometimes improve mood, while any unwanted effects can usually be managed by adjusting methods. This personalized approach helps students make informed choices grounded in accurate information rather than fear or rumor.
Pawloski illustrated this point with her own experience, noting that she had taken the same birth control pill both as a young adult and again later in life, but experienced dramatically different effects each time. The clinicians further clarified that some risks, such as blood clots, are associated with hormonal contraception. Berlin shared that these risks remain comparatively low compared to the significantly higher health risks of pregnancy and childbirth in the United States.