Barriers to Reproductive Care

Women continue to face restrictions when they try to access the reproductive health care they need. We're working to defend access to reproductive care and to oppose challenges such as pharmacy refusals and religious restrictions by those imposing their beliefs on women.

Highlights

Fact Sheet | Requiring Crisis Pregnancy Centers to Disclose Limits on Care Is Part of a Long Tradition of Protecting Women’s Decision-making and Access to Reproductive Health Care

April 9, 2013

Women face many obstacles to receiving comprehensive, affordable, quality health care, including when individuals and institutions refuse to provide health care services.   Some even go so far as to refuse to inform women about their health care options or even to notify women that there are certain services or information that they will not provide.  This prevents women from participating fully in their own medical decision-making.  Not only are their rights compromised, their health may be harmed.

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Legal Briefs & Testimony | NWLC Amicus Briefs Supporting the Contraceptive Coverage Benefit

April 30, 2013

The Center is filing friend of the court briefs in lawsuits challenging the federal contraceptive coverage benefit, brought by employers who want to deny their employees this important benefit.  These cases involve suits brought under the First Amendment to the US Constitution and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.  These cases will decide whether a boss’s religious beliefs trump women’s health and women’s access to the health care they need.

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Fact Sheet | If Opponents of Birth Control Have Their Way, Millions of Women Would Lose Access to Birth Control

September 14, 2012

Opponents of birth control in Congress are working night and day to enact new laws and policies that would deny millions of women access to birth control -- including access already guaranteed to women by law. Thankfully, so far, supporters of birth control have stopped the worst of these Congressional attacks.  Although the anti-birth control efforts have taken several forms, they all would have the same effect: taking birth control coverage away from women nationwide. A comparison of opponents’ and supporters’ legislative priorities makes the difference clear: while opponents of contraception would take it away from women, supporters work to ensure that women have access to affordable birth control.

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Fact Sheet | Accessing Non-Prescription Emergency Contraception: The Basics

April 22, 2012

This factsheet provides basic information on types of emergency contraception and answers frequently asked questions regarding obtaining and using EC. 

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More Resources

Legal Briefs & Testimony | Written Comments for the Delaware Board of Pharmacy Regarding Proposed Regulation 3.0 Concerning Pharmacist Refusals

September 15, 2007
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Reports & Toolkits | Memo from Planned Parenthood and NWLC: Application of Research Findings

July 13, 2007

On behalf of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and NWLC Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc., has undertaken a comprehensive multi-stage research project focused on issues surrounding reproductive health and abortion. The research was driven by several core objectives, including identifying policy opportunities to advance a pro-family planning, pro-reproductive rights agenda. This research differs from other recent research efforts in at least two regards.

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Legal Briefs & Testimony | Written Comments for the Iowa Board of Pharmacy Regarding Pharmacy Refusals

March 15, 2007
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Reports & Toolkits | Don't Take "No" for an Answer: A Guide to Pharmacy Refusal Laws, Policies and Practices

January 15, 2007

This guide explores laws, regulations and other authorities that govern the dispensation of prescription medications. State law is the primary source of authority and constitutes the bulk of the discussion here. The resources in this guide can be used to inform a variety of advocacy efforts, primarily to improve state policy or prevent harmful policy from being put into place. This guide is an overview, not an exhaustive study of all existing statutes, cases, and policies.

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Legal Briefs & Testimony | Comments for Washington State Board of Pharmacy re: Proposed Regulations

June 09, 2006
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