Policy Matters: How Legislation Impacts Women’s Sexual Health Access

Here at the SHE+ Foundation, our mission is to advance women’s sexual health and well-being through groundbreaking research, comprehensive education, and unwavering support. We strive to eradicate stigma, empower women with knowledge, and ensure equitable access to quality healthcare for all, regardless of socioeconomic status, race, or geography. 

We believe that sexual health is general health, and despite it being a critical aspect to overall well-being, it is shaped by the political and social landscape of the United States. 

Policy has always played a significant role in determining the availability, accessibility, and quality of healthcare that women receive in the United States. Policies can either empower or restrict their health outcomes, personal autonomy, and overall quality of life. 

Reproductive Choices 

• Government decisions around funding for programs that include access to contraceptives - like birth control - impact the access to contraceptive care for women across the U.S.

• Availability of contraceptive options varies widely across the U.S., and is often impacted by state legislatures - with some states - limiting the types of contraceptives available over the counter, mandatory parental consent laws, or bans on specific methods of contraceptive care. 

• Mandatory waiting periods, mandatory counseling, or procedural barriers can and do create obstacles for women seeking reproductive and family planning care. 

The reversal of Roe v. Wade in 2022, which removed the constitutional right to abortion, has led to a patchwork of state laws where access to abortion varies dramatically across the country. This has left many women, particularly those in rural states, with limited access to safe abortion services.

Sex Education

• Comprehensive, evidence-based, age appropriate sex education equips young people - especially young girls - with knowledge about their bodies, sexual health, consent, healthy relationships, and contraception. 

• Education empowers women and girls to make informed choices about their bodies, and to prioritize their sexual health. 

• This knowledge reduces the risk of sexually transmitted infections, unintended pregnancy, and unhealthy, harmful relationships. 

• Sex-Education in the United States is based on the legislature of the State, wherein some states omit important topics like consent or LGBTQIA+ issues, leaving young people under informed at best, and misinformed at worst. 

In some regions, the absence of comprehensive sex education contributes to higher rates of teen pregnancy, STI transmission, and gender-based violence, all of which have long-term effects on women’s sexual health.

Gender Equality

• Women who face gender-based violence, discrimination, or harassment are more likely to experience adverse sexual and reproductive health outcomes, including trauma, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unintended pregnancies.

• Policies aimed at preventing violence against women, promoting equal access to education and healthcare, and ensuring women's legal protection in relationships can improve sexual health outcomes.

• Legal protections for women’s workplace rights, including paid parental leave and workplace safety, play a crucial role in ensuring that women can balance sexual health decisions with other aspects of their lives, like career and family planning.

Healthcare

• Access to quality healthcare is a major factor in the experience of a woman’s sexual health. Policy regarding healthcare coverage, especially privately provided healthcare, can hinder access to sexual health services. 

• Policies that require insurance plans to cover a wide range of sexual health services—such as birth control, STI screenings, pregnancy care, and fertility treatments—make these services more accessible to women. 

• Policies that allow insurers to limit coverage or exclude essential health services can leave many women without the care they need.

• Healthcare systems that prioritize preventative care, such as routine gynecological exams, breast cancer screenings, and HPV vaccinations, also have a direct impact on women’s sexual and reproductive health. 

The inclusion of women’s voices in the policy-making process is essential to creating policies that genuinely address their needs and experiences. Whether it’s through access to contraception,  the promotion of comprehensive sex education, or the protection of gender equality, policy decisions can either empower or limit women’s sexual health choices. It’s crucial for policymakers to consider the diverse needs of women to ensure that all women—regardless of background or circumstance—have the knowledge, resources, and autonomy they need to make informed decisions about their sexual health.

Ultimately, investing in policies that promote sexual health not only benefits individual women but also contributes to the health and well-being of society as a whole.