We are heartbroken for Britney Spears. Every person deserves the right to make decisions about their own body. That includes the choice to use contraception, the choice not to use contraception, and to decide if and when to become pregnant.
Unfortunately, Britney is not alone. There is an ugly history in this country of forced sterilization and reproductive coercion often targeting people of color and people with low incomes. We must recognize this injustice and do everything in our power to correct it. We must protect patient autonomy and choice.
At Upstream, we will continue our work with health centers across the country to strengthen reproductive care and autonomy by empowering women to become pregnant if and when they want to and by increasing equitable access to the full range of contraception. We must ensure that patients feel listened to by their providers, feel no pressure to use birth control, and, when they do want to use birth control, feel in charge of choosing their own method.
