Planned Parenthood of the Heartland sees influx of birth control calls

In the days since the presidential election, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland has seen a significant uptick in inquiries from women looking for information about birth control.

That's because throughout President-elect Donald Trump's campaign, he promised to repeal the Affordable Care Act - commonly referred to as Obamacare - which lists birth control as preventive care, requiring insurance companies to cover it with no co-pays.

Trump also has pledged to appoint a conservative-leaning justice to the U.S. Supreme Court in the hopes of overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision.

Rachel Lopez, public relations manager for the women's health organization that covers Iowa and Nebraska, said much remains uncertain about what would happen under Trump's administration, but Planned Parenthood is keeping an eye on all potential ramifications.

One thing is for certain, though, she said - clinics across Iowa are fielding more calls, making more appointments and answering more questions regarding birth control options, though she didn't have specifics.

'We don't have the data on that yet - just because it is so fresh,” Lopez said. 'But it would make sense that they are seeking (long-acting reversible contraception).”

LARC - as with intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants - are the most effective forms of reversible birth control, lasting anywhere from three to 10 years. IUDs are small T-shaped devices inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy, while implants are thin, matchstick-sized plastics rods that go under the skin of the upper arm.

What's happening in Iowa isn't an isolated incident. News organizations across the country, from the L.A. Times to NPR, have reported on the rush to obtain birth control. And according to Google Trends, searches for the term IUD spiked after the Nov. 8 election, while searches for information on specifics brands of IUDs, the cost of IUDs and the side effects of IUDs were up more than 60 percent.

Lopez said Planned Parenthood clinics are stressing that women remain calm and are making sure they understand their options while helping them make decisions for their own personal situations.

Something it will continue to do regardless of what 2017 brings, she added.

'We've proven time and time again that we are resilient,” she said. 'We're not giving up the fight to protect these fundamental rights. We will stand strong to protect access.”