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Literature Review 6 PRESCRIPTION REQUIREMENT By removing the prescription requirement, obtaining birth control pills becomes more convenient to women. This is especially helpful for women when they are traveling, or when they are almost out of pills. Further, it is much easier for women to coordinate a time to visit their pharmacist rather than their clinician. Participants of Dennis and Grossman’s study (2012) recommended making pills over the counter by eliminating the required clinician visit and eliminating the limit on the supply that can be purchased monthly. Most clinicians required women to check in once a year, which women noted as being inconvenient and a “hassle”. They felt the visit was unnecessarily, and that it was often difficult to get an appointment (Dennis and Grossman, 2012). However, when the women did not visit the clinician annually, they were unable to refill their prescriptions. Nearly half of women who use oral contraceptive methods stop use within the first year (Vaughan, 2008). This greatly increases the risk of unintended pregnancies. Factors that influence why women give up use include cost, inconsistent use, and side effects. Research shows that dispensing greater quantities of oral contraceptives, such as a year's worth at a time, results in greater continuation than does dispensing lower quantities (Foster et al., 2006). Evidence suggests that over the counter options for oral contraception may improve continuation rates. BARRIERS TO ADOLESCENT ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE USE During the 1970s, adolescents were more prone to use oral contraceptives than condoms. However, since the 1980s, among adolescents use of oral contraceptives has declined while condom use has increased (Mosher, 1990). Research has shown that men are more likely to use contraceptives when their partner participates in the contraceptive decision making process. (Providers’ Perspective: Perceived Barriers to Contraceptive Use in Youth and Young Adults, 2008). As major influences on their partners, men can pose large barriers when they are uninvolved with or opposed to contraceptive use. Further, many men are confused by or lack understanding about contraceptive methods (Providers’ Perspective: Perceived Barriers to Contraceptive Use in Youth and Young Adults, 2008). Parents are often barriers for adolescents seeking to access contraceptives. Some teens are frightened that family members will see them when they go to a gynecologist or pharmacy to obtain contraceptives (Long-White, 2008). Others are afraid that their parents will find out that they are taking oral contraceptives if they go to the doctor on their own (Wallace, 2015). Further, for the adolescents who only see a doctor with their parents, some face a lack of privacy with their physicians when their parents are allowed to stay in the exam room (Chernick et al., 2014). Additionally, many adolescent women fear the negative side effects associated with oral contraceptive use (Chernick et al., 2014). Furthermore, many adolescent women mistrust contraceptives and believe they may “damage” the body. Some state that using birth control methods is futile, because one may still get pregnant while taking birth control (Chernick et al., 2014). Further, many adolescents have not been taught about contraceptive use in schools, which poses a barrier to effective contraceptive use. Many states provide sex education to public school