Women stockpile contraceptives amid post election uncertainty

 Searches for IUDs and emergency contraception surge as students and advocates prepare for potential policy changes under Trump.

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The morning after the election, Google data on search trends showed a drastic spike in inquiries like “IUDs” and “is Trump banning birth control?” 

These spikes reflected the flood of uncertainty that women are experiencing across the nation when it comes to reproductive care—a trend that’s also emerged across college campuses.

The American Society for Emergency Contraceptives (ASEC), a nonprofit that works to ensure easy access to contraception across colleges in the United States, said it has received inquiries from multiple colleges about installing contraceptive vending machines that provide morning after pills at a lower cost. 

“The need for accessible birth control is crucial and wanted across the nation in colleges, especially as it is becoming harder and harder to get abortion care,” said Nicola Brogan, assistant director at ASEC. 

Many public colleges and universities do not supply emergency contraceptives in their student health centers, and other options like Planned Parenthood's are becoming increasingly rare, especially in smaller college towns.

A 2018 study conducted by medical students in southwest Pennsylvania found there were significant barriers to obtaining timely emergency contraceptives, with only five percent of pharmacies in the area having same-day access. This study was reported as reflective of pharmacies in areas across the country that contained similar demographics as southwest Pennsylvania, an area containing majority white, lower income families. 

“When I had to get Plan B it was all locked up and even though it’s legal, it made me very self conscious to ask the pharmacist for it,” said Anna, a student at Liberty University who declined to provide her last name due to privacy concerns. 

Following the election, women on New York University's campus were also trying to prepare by stocking up on accessible emergency contraceptives. 

Sara Hunt, an NYU student who worked for a company that promoted Cadence OTC, an affordable morning after pill, was given samples to distribute across campus. 

“I had a lot of people taking extras for their friends and stocking up in case of a future emergency,” Hunt said. “Especially after the election people kept texting me to ask if I still had any.” 

NYU and Columbia University both have multiple vending machines on their campuses that dispense emergency contraceptives for only $15. 

“EC and birth control gives me the confidence that I dont ever need to worry about finding an abortion clinic in a state where it's outlawed,” said Pooja Advani, a TikToker who uses her platform to raise awareness of birth control.