As Brooklynn Jacobs, senior in communication studies, witnessed the election and inauguration of President Donald Trump, she realized her birth control could be at risk of being taken away.

“I just think it’s crazy that this administration of men, white men, are trying to decide if women get access to adequate reproductive [health care], just because they don’t understand it,” Jacobs said. “They don’t have to deal with it.”

One of Trump’s missions has been to repeal the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, which allows people to stay on their parents’ insurance until they are 26 years old.

“It became a reality that I might be kicked off my mom’s insurance now,” Jacobs said. “Or it might be optional for my insurance to cover women’s reproductive rights now.”

Some women have turned to long-term birth control due to Trump targeting the Affordable Care Act and trying to defund Planned Parenthood. When Jacobs’ birth control prescription needed refilling, she decided to switch to an intrauterine device (IUD) that won’t need to be changed for seven years.

“[Short-term birth control] has to be taken at the same time every day with oral pills,” said Laura Knowles, nursing and patient services supervisor at the student health center. “With IUDs and Nexplanon, once it’s there, it’s there.”

IUDs are inserted into the vaginal area, while Nexplanon is a small bar inserted into the arm. Because they are inserted, they are long term, which means they can work for years without having to be taken out and replaced.

Relying on her mother’s insurance, Jacobs discussed her concerns with her mom.

“Being on her insurance saves me at least $2,000 a year,” Jacobs said. “I could be putting forth [this money] to my living expenses or loans. On my own, I can’t afford that. [My mom wants to pay for it] and I want to be on [birth control], so it works out.”

Jacobs has two sisters who are 15 years old, and she is encouraging them to get on long-term birth control, not necessarily for sex if they are not ready, but for other health reasons.

“I just encourage everybody to know about reproductive health care and fertility management,” Jacobs said.

The Thielen Student Health Center has seen a 400 percent increase in long-term birth control since February 2016, and IUDs have doubled since July 2016.

“With the IUDs, it’s a one-time cost, one-time procedure that covers you for five years,” Knowles said. “With pills, you have to pay every three months, if not every month.”

Knowles explained that cost may fluctuate, but some students are finding it appealing that IUDs and Nexplanon require a one-time cost for a long-term birth control. The pill is an expense that is more constant over time and could see a more dramatic change in price.

“Health policy impacts all of us,” Erin Baldwin, director of the health center, said. “We must take that all into consideration and see how it impacts Iowa State.”

Knowles said there are multiple small clauses and sentences that can dramatically affect a bill that legislators are trying to pass. As far as defunding Planned Parenthood, if the Ames center were to close, Knowles and Baldwin don’t believe the health center is prepared to take in the fluctuation of patients.

“We have other community providers that do women’s health care, but [we] just want to make sure people have access to that health care,” Baldwin said.