After reading the numerous entries, blogs, opeds, you name it, about CVS locking up condoms--it just occurred to me that condoms are not the only thing they keep under the lock--these condoms are joined by pregnancy tests.  How do I know?  Thank you, pregnancy scare from a couple months ago.

I was visiting my parents in Chicago when I realized that my period is a couple days late. My boyfriend and I have been very careful with numerous forms of birth control, but like we all know--nothing is 100% effective.  Having absolutely no friends in Chicago and having no one to turn to, I decided that the easiest thing to do was to take everything one step at a time and start with a pregnancy test. 

Conveniently, there is a CVS directly across the street from where I lived.  I walked over there one evening.  Gathered all courage I had to walk up to the "family planning" isle and locate the pregnancy tests shelf.  And there they were--right next to the condoms. In a glass display case.  Lined up perfectly and locked. 

It took me a few more minutes to locate a sales representative and explain to her that I needed a pregnancy test and that they were locked.  She walked over to the glass display with me, unlocked the door, and proceeded to just stand there as I tried to figure out which box of pregnancy tests to grab.  This was my first pregnancy scare, and my first purchase of pregnancy tests, and let me tell you--it is hard enough to grab a box of pregnancy tests when they are right there in front of you.  It is even more difficult when you have a sales representative standing two feet away from you.  Waiting for you to make a decision.

I hastily grabbed the first box I saw.  Paid for them. And walked right out--all while hoping that the tests turn out negative and making a mental note to never return to CVS for any condom or pregnancy test purchases.

I don't know why I didn't think about blogging on this topic earlier.  Maybe because the excitement of seeing three negative pregnancy tests erased all memories of their purchase, or maybe because I, just like many other young women in this society are so used having limited or denied access to almost everything having to do with sexual and reproductive rights and justice.  Maybe we are so used to feeling guilty and ashamed and embarrassed when it comes to anything that has to do with sexuality that we do not even notice how ridiculous,  it is to lock such basic resources as condoms and pregnancy tests.

Don't you undestand, CVS--that by putting a lock on condoms and pregnancy tests--you're inhibiting our ability to make healthy and informed decisions when it comes to our health. Don't you undestand that this is our right to have unconditional access to condoms and pregnancy tests?

And lastly, don't you undestand that if we, your customers, wanted to tell your sales representatives ALL about our pregnancy scares or pregnancy excitements or our sex lives--we would just simply approach them and start a conversation.  So, really, what I'm trying to say here is that locking your condoms and pregnancy tests-- is just simply not ok.