In the U.S., 3 million unintended pregnancies occur each year in this country, followed by about a million medical abortions, but if the women knew about and used emergency contraception, at least half of these could be prevented. Only 2% of U.S. women have ever used it and only about 11% know of its existence, even though the method - taking multiple doses of oral contraceptives within a few days of unprotected intercourse - has been known for more than a quarter century.
Emergency Contraception Prevents Abortions
Lon Newman - Wisconsin
Across the globe, 133 million births occur annually, as well as an estimated 46 million induced abortions, meaning that about 25% of all pregnancies end in abortion. The U.S. follows this pattern. Research by the Population Council makes a convincing case that an increase in contraception decreases the number of abortions. Abortion has been legal in the U.S. for 30 years, thus if we are going to achieve a decline in the rate of U.S. population growth it is not going to be by abortion, but by either tackling immigration and/or increasing contraception. A number of Americans use no contraception, use contraception irregularly or improperly, or use contraceptive systems that have high failure rates. What if one-tenth of the energy put into the abortion debate (on both sides) had gone into educating people about the methods of contraception available and improving the level of access? We've all seen pro-choice and anti-choice ads at one time or another. Anyone seen an ad that tells the failure rate of condoms or diaphragms? An ad for over-the-counter emergency contraception or an ad touting a reversible form of birth control that lasts 10 years at a crack? The good news is that a change may be in the works. Emergency contraception will eventually lead to over-the-counter birth control pills. It can't happen soon enough.
My thirty-one year old son was the result of not taking the pill on the last day of the pill cycle. It never occured to me to take two pills to make up for having missed the one - but I would have, had I known. My marriage was beginnig to fail around that time. Twenty-three years ago my last child was an IUD baby - but there would have no way of knowing that it fell out. Around the same time my sister spontaneously aborted a three month IUD fetus. If it were not for abortion, I would have had another child about 28 years ago because of pill failure. Abortion is not an experience I would care to repeat and the father of my last child would not have agreed to. Had I know it was an option, emergency contraception would have saved me from three births or two births and one abortion. I did have one birth due to a planned pregnancy and probably would have continued with one of the other (unplanned) pregnancies even if emergency contraception had been an option.
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www.mikhaela.net Every sperm is sacred - click to enlarge |
Emergency Contraception - Behind the Confusion and How it is Available in the Bathroom of 27% of All Women Using Contraception.
Confusion among pharmacists and the lay public is widespread, and those in the family planning movement are at least partly to blame. Some incredibility is due to the fact that: in the early 1980s and 1990s, RU-486 (now called the abortion pill) was refered to as 'emergency contraception' and not abortion, leading to confusion as to what we now call 'Emergency Contraception' really is, which is OTC abortion. At the very same time that this was going on, there was little effort to educate women about the use of regular birth control pills as emergency contraception. RU-486 is new to the U.S., but taking massive doses of birth control pills is NOT new. The Yutzpe method (developed 20-25 years ago by Dr. Al Yutzpe), when using the most commonly available birth control pills in the U.S., are that two doses should be taken, 12 hours apart, and within 72 hours of having sex. Like the Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, most women already have access to emergency contraception. Just as the shoes on her feet got Dorothy home, so too can the birth control pills already in her cabinet (or in her friend's cabinet) get her out of the trouble she is in if a condom breaks or she has a serious lapse of judgment. For more information, see: http://ec.princeton.edu/questions/ecpuse.html rw
The Yutzpe Method
| General instructions: Take one dose every 12 hours for 24 hours, discard the last 7 pills in a 28-pill pack as they do not contain any hormones. If you are using Triphasil, Tri-Levlen, or Trivora, use only the correct color of pills that are noted below. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Trussell J, Koenig J, Ellertson C, Stewart F. Preventing unintended pregnancy: the cost-effectiveness of three methods of emergency contraception. American Journal of Public Health 1997;87(6):932-937.
Please note that the FDA has explicitly declared that the brands of birth control pills listed above are safe and effective for use as emergency contraceptives. These protocols work! |
India;: Cipla Introduces I-pill Helpline on Emergency Contraception. Emergency contraception (EC), is not well known in India. To dispel the myths associated with it and provide information Cipla launched the "i-pill helpline" service. The i-pill is the first single-pill emergency contraception available over the counter in the Indian market today. Emergency contraceptive pills contain common female hormones, prevent pregnancy in the first place and so do not cause an abortion. Cipla's i-pill prevents pregnancy by stopping or delaying release release of an egg), blocking fertilisation or preventing implantation by making the lining of the uterus inhospitable for pregnancy. It has to be taken within 72 hours or three days of contraception. The i-pill contains the hormone levonorgestrel, and when taken immediately offers maximum protection against pregnancy. It can prevent pregnancy by up to 89% if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sexual intercourse and is available without a prescription at all chemist outlets. September 25, 2007 Domain-B.com
Abortion Rate at Highest Ever. A total of 5,992 abortions were carried out last month at the Marie Stopes nine UK clinics, a rise of 13% on the 5,304 figure for January 2005. The charity believes this increase could have been caused by Christmas drinking, leading to unprotected sex. In total, 61,983 abortions were performed at Marie Stopes clinics in the UK in 2006. We may be seeing the consequences of the festive season. The charity offered emergency contraception in an attempt to encourage women to keep emergency contraception at home. Some family planning groups called it irresponsible. MSI has called for a Government-funded education campaign to alert women and men to the importance of preventing unwanted pregnancies and STIs. The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), has seen a higher than usual number of women for abortion treatment this January. Closure of family planning facilities, GPs and pharmacists during the holiday period means contraceptive access is reduced. Making emergency contraception available over the counter has caused controversy. A professor argued that making it easier for women to get emergency contraception had no effect on abortion rates and education was the key to cutting the figures. February 08, 2007 Telegraph
Emergency Pill for Chilean Girls. Chile's president has signed a decree so that the morning-after contraceptive pill can be given to girls of 14 without their parents' consent. The government says teenagers have 40,000 unwanted pregnancies a year. The Catholic Church and opposition parties are against the move; they say it is a method of abortion, which is illegal. President Bachelet's government announced that it would allow public health centres to give the morning-after pill to girls of 14 and older, even if they did not have the consent of their parents. However, two weeks ago, the Court ruled that the health minister did not have the power to do so. The decree signed on Monday includes an amendment which requires teenagers to receive counselling when they are given the pill. Despite having some of the most restrictive anti-abortion laws in the world, it is estimated that in Chile 35% of all pregnancies are terminated illegally. The morning-after pill may prevent pregnancy if a woman takes it within 72 hours of having sexual intercourse. February 05, 2007 BBC News
EC for Chilean Girls. Chile's President has signed a decree so that EC can be given to girls 14 and up without their parents' consent. The Catholic Church and opposition parties are against the move as they say EC is a method of abortion. The new decree includes an amendment which requires teenagers to receive counselling when they are given the pill. It is estimated that in Chile 35% of all pregnancies are terminated illegally. January 30, 2007 BBC News
Argentina;: Morning-after Pill Gaining in Latam Despite Church. In Buenos Aires, public hospitals offer the emergency contraception free and Argentine lawmakers are pushing to extend this service nationwide. Despite resistance from the Roman Catholic Church, governments are making emergency contraception available in much of Latin America. The Catholic Church considers the pill a chemically induced abortion. But the morning-after pill is gaining acceptance in Latin America as people ignore traditional church teachings on sexuality. January 08, 2007 Reuters
EC Pill Use Doesn't Lower Abortion Rates. Sexually active women are more likely to use EC pills but there is no evidence that use of the pills lowers pregnancy or abortion rates. To date, no study has shown that increased access reduces unintended pregnancy or abortion rates and the consistency of the findings is hard to ignore. Advocates claimed that with EC, the number of unwanted pregnancies could be cut in half and 70% of abortions could be prevented. The Guttmacher Institute issued a report suggesting that EC alone prevented 51,000 abortions in 2000. But opponents said the new article is the latest example of overblown claims about EC's benefits. The FDA approved Plan B, the nation's only EC product, for adults-only purchase in retail stores with pharmacists. Some pro-life activists oppose EC because they say life begins at conception. Women who used EC were more likely to become serious about using reliable birth control. Ultimately, emergency contraception may contribute its greatest public health benefit by prodding women to adopt a more effective contraceptive method. January 08, 2007 Washington Times
U.S.;: Emergency Pill Doesn't Drop Pregnancy Rate. A review of 23 studies on the emergency pills demonstrate that greater access increases use. No study has shown that access reduced unwanted pregnancies or abortions. The USFDA has approved Plan B, which must be purchased from a pharmacist. Plan B is a set of birth-control pills to be taken by women within 72 hours of sexual intercourse. Women who have to use emergency contraception are more likely to become serious about reliable birth control. January 08, 2007 United Press International
Step A for Plan B: Giving the Pills Away. At least 775 people received free Plan B emergency contraceptive pills covered by the Planned Parenthood Hudson Teconic chapter. That is about as many as would have been prescribed in three-weeks before the FDA ruled that the pills can be sold without a prescription to over 18s. After years of study and debate, the FDA approved offering Plan B, without a prescription. When used within three days of unprotected sex, the pills greatly reduce the odds of pregnancy. Pharmacies are not legally bound to carry Plan B, but none have refused. Chris Slattery, founder of Expectant Mother Care, said he doubted they would have the abortion-reducing effect predicted by Planned Parenthood, and is concerned that the message is that sex can be had at all occasions, without consequences. A bill to make them available passed both houses of the State Legislature but was vetoed by Gov. Pataki. Assemblywoman Amy Paulin said she would introduce legislation aimed at lifting the age restrictions, setting up financing for a public awareness campaign and requiring insurance companies to cover Plan B. One New York insurance company, has dropped coverage of the pills, which cost about $35 a dose. December 10, 2006 New York Times*
Morning After Pill Free on 'Free EC Day'; Backup Birth Control Now Available Over the Counter -- and Free Today at Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood Clinics will give away the so-called "morning after pill," or Plan B, to both men and women at no cost, while supplies last. Because Planned Parenthood clinics are staffed by doctors, women younger than 17 will have free access to the medical examinations and prescriptions. About 50% of unplanned pregnancies in this country are from failed contraception and anything that increases the availability of emergency contraception is welcome. Emergency contraception is a safe, effective option that every woman should have in her medicine cabinet. Planned Parenthood is committed to educating women about their birth control options. Planned Parenthood's new focus is woman's health, and trying to get away from being seen as an abortion provider. EC lowers the risk of pregnancy when started within five days of intercourse. Timely access to the pill is critical. Instead of prescribing Plan B as a 'life preserver', women will be able to walk into the pharmacy and request what they need. Arguments still rage over whether the regulations go far enough in giving women access to the pill and whether the pill is contraception or a very early abortion. Proponents argued that over-the-counter availability would reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies. Scientific studies have suggested that EC does not increase teenage promiscuity, or the prevalence of STDs. December 06, 2006 Reuters
U.S.;: Plan B Pill Now Readily Available. The over-the-counter morning-after pill is now available at pharmacies nationwide. The FDA declared that customers 18 and older should be able to buy it in pharmacies without a prescription. Girls 17 and younger need a prescription to buy Plan B, though an older person could buy it over the counter on a teenage girl's behalf. Supporters claimed that wider availability would reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies and abortions. Critics argued that Plan B will promote promiscuity and unsafe sex. Some critics consider the pill tantamount to abortion. Plan B distribution went smoothly, and the manufacturer does not expect sales information until February. Prices range from $30 at some clinics to $61 at some supermarket-based pharmacies. Some independent pharmacies are not stocking Plan B because of moral objections, but the pill is widely available. Major pharmacy chains pledge to ensure that customers can buy Plan B onsite even if a given employee declines to provide service for reasons of conscience. Planned Parenthood urged women to back up their regular birth control by keeping emergency contraception in their medicine cabinet. Planned Parenthood centers sell the pill; as a clinic operator, the organization gets a discount that helps it undercut pharmacy prices. Some worry that sexually active women using Plan B will feel less need to see a physician, reducing the odds of early detection of sexually transmitted diseases. Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi and South Dakota allow pharmacists to opt out of providing emergency contraceptives. December 06, 2006 Associated Press
US Idaho;: Planned Parenthoods Begin Selling Emergency Contraception. Plan B is not the abortion pill, it is used to prevent pregnancy, and will not work on a woman who is already pregnant. When taken within 72 hours after intercourse, the pill can lower the risk of pregnancy by up to 89%. Planned Parenthood of Idaho plans to sell a pack of pills for $35 to those over 18 without a prescription. Opponents contend this could lead to an increase in risky sexual behavior. But in a state where 10% of live births each day are to teenagers 15 to 19 years old, better access to pregnancy prevention could help reduce teen pregnancy and abortion rates. Studies have shown that emergency contraception does not lead to more promiscuity. Plan B is available at Walgreens and Rite Aid for $40. Planned Parenthood will adjust its rate according to income. December 02, 2006 Associated Press
Family Planning Group Welcomes Decline in Abortions. The Family Planning Association of Western Australia (FPWA) reports a decline in abortions of 8.5% over the six years to 2005. This can be partly attributed to better sex education in schools,better knowledge and use of the morning after pill which has been available over the counter since 2004. Women are better informed about the different types of contraception available. November 18, 2006 ABC Premium News (Australia)
Ireland;: Clear Majority Would Tolerate Some Abortions. The majority of Irish people believe abortion is acceptable in some circumstances, and there is support for having the morning-after pill available over the counter. At the publication of the report yesterday the Minister for Health, Mary Harney, said she did not see another abortion referendum being held. Research found that 64% of the population believe abortion is acceptable in some circumstances, but 36% said abortion was wrong. Of the 64%, 17% said it was mostly wrong, 38% sometimes wrong and 9% it is never wrong. Proportions stating that abortion is always wrong fell from between 70% and 90% in 1981 to between 30% and 39% in 2005. Younger age groups and people with more education are less likely to see abortion as always wrong and the religious were more likely to respond that abortion was always wrong. Only 21% of men and 42% of women know the time limit for use of the morning-after pill (within 72 hours of intercourse). Just 9% believed emergency contraception is always wrong. The morning after pill is available over the counter in more than 25 countries. Here it is a prescription-only medicine. It would be a matter for the Irish Medicines Board to decide whether or not the morning-after pill should be made available over the counter. The option would be given consideration, he said. October 17, 2006 The Irish Times
New EC Pill Expected to Increase Access Worldwide. The International Planned Parenthood Federation launched Optinor, its Emergency Contraceptive (EC) product. The introduction of Optinor resulted from the continued lack of access to affordable EC products. Member Associations face difficulties in obtaining product from existing suppliers, with the cost of one dose around $10. The response from IPPF providers had been positive, with 66 Associations expressing interest in providing Optinor. Women in the Caribbean would now have access to EC which would be widely available in Barbados. Optinor will be made available for public, social marketing and commercial programmes in collaboration with IPPF Member Associations and other national partners. October 11, 2006 ICON
Chile Defends Free Morning - After Pills. Chile's President Bachelet said her decision to distribute free morning-after contraception pills to girls as young as 14 was a matter of "equality". The Chilean government's decision to begin offering the morning-after pill free of charge in public health clinics triggered sharp criticism from the Catholic Church. But Bachelet -- an agnostic, 54-year-old single mother has weathered heated debates. In 2001, when Bachelet was health minister, she fiercely defended its use in the face of legal and political firefights. Now, Bachelet is trying to package emergency contraception as part of a sweeping women's health policy. Chile is one of the few nations where every form of abortion is outlawed, Bachelet simply said abortion was "not part of our program." But an advocacy group that supports abortion rights, said Bachelet's policy should open the discourse on legalized abortion in Chile which is one of the few societies that has not faced the issue of decriminalizing abortion. Such sentiments provoke a strong reaction from Chile's Catholic Church that calls the pill a deceptive form of abortion. For Bachelet, the question of teenage pregnancy is a problem that drains the country's resources, almost 14% of Chilean women are teenage mothers. Distributing the morning-after pill is an essential role for the state, though the final decision must be made by the individual. The person decides by their own values, by their own beliefs. September 21, 2006 Associated Press
U.S.;: War Over Abortion May Be Won with Plan B. The FDA approved the over-the-counter sale of Plan B, that stops the release of an egg from the ovary or, prevents the union of sperm and egg up to 72 hours after unprotected sex. Plan B could eliminate the abortion question for many of the 3 million women annually who find themselves unintentionally pregnant. Pro-choicers say that by limiting access to the drug without a prescription to women 18 and older, teenage girls are being penalized. And, by mandating that the drug be kept behind the counter the FDA has negated the concept of over-the-counter availability. Anti-choicers fear that the drug will promote promiscuity. But a study by the University of California found no correlation between emergency contraception and an increase in risky sex. In 2005, nearly 57% of Michigan high school seniors had already had sexual intercourse. We don't want our girls to be sexually active. But the best prevention for that is for parents to be talking to their kids. We as a nation can focus on Plan A -- talking to our kids about safe, healthy sexuality. September 07, 2006 Detroit Free Press
Chile;: Morning After Pill for Everyone - for Free. The Chilean government decreed that all public health centres must provide birth control, including emergency contraception, to adolescents and women over the age of 14 -- a measure that immediately drew the ire of the Catholic Church and the right-wing opposition parties. President Michelle Bachelet, a pediatrician, asked the Health Ministry to expand the distribution of emergency contraception. Any teenage girl over the age of 14 will now be able to directly ask her doctor for a prescription for birth control, without authorisation from her parents, and the contraceptives must be provided free of charge by the public health system. The most controversial aspect is that it not only covers traditional birth control methods, but also emergency contraception. The WHO clarifies that emergency contraception will not cause abortion. But archbishop of Santiago said it was a blow to marriage, the birth rate, and the Chilean family. Several mayors from right-wing opposition parties rejected the decree, and threatened not to respect it. In response, Barra warned that the new decree was "compulsory." Marta Ehlers, of National Renovation party (RN), said she she would not permit the distribution of emergency contraception pills, even if it is mandatory. The government says the measure is aimed at curbing the rise in unwanted and teen pregnancies and illegal abortions, the Catholic Church argues that (limited) sex education is needed rather than free birth control. Conservatives fear this could further reduce the birth rate which dropped from 2.5 children per woman in 1983 to 1.9 in 2003. Rojas said "The measure is health-related, and should be approached from that angle. International experience shows that this does not lead to an increase in promiscuity." Sales of the morning after pill are legal today, but only those who can afford the pill have access to it and it is fair to give all Chileans access to the entire range of birth control methods. In Chile, 14 of every 100 young people are sexually active by the age of 14. According to the Health Ministry, the number of adolescent girls and women obtaining birth control from the public health system climbed from 600,374 in 1990 to 1,087,743 in 2004 -- an 81% rise in 14 years. Emergency contraception is now legally available in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, Uruguay and Venezuela. September 03, 2006 InterPress Service
Teens Opt for Abortion Over Emergency Pill. Despite the introduction of the Emergency Contraceptive Pill (ECP) in Jamaica three years ago, demand for the drug is low, as some women prefer abortions. A study suggested that abortions among adolescents range from a conservative 1,350 to a possible maximum of 4,912 per year. Young women 15 to 19 have a relatively high incidence of abortions compared to older teens and adults. Although the ECP was readily available, adolescents refused to take the drug. They opted to undergo induced abortions, which is illegal in Jamaica. They still see ECP as an 'abortion agent' and stigmatises those who use it. The current use of the ECP is under 20%. The statistics indicated the need for the drug especially among adolescents 15 to 19 years old who are most likely to be involved in casual sex or unwanted pregnancies. Some adolescents who feared going to medical facilities, opted for risky, self-induced abortions using methods such as Pepsi and Excedrin, coat hangers and jumping from high places. ECP is available at no cost at health centres. June 26, 2006 Jamaica Observer
Canada: OTC Plan B Lowers Health Costs. Evidence is mounting in Canada that a switch that leads to "plan B" can lower healthcare costs due to fewer abortions and physician visits Sales of the contraceptive have nearly doubled since April 2005, when it was made available OTC to Canadians who can avoid pregnancy, not require an abortion and do not require doctor office visits. Similar healthcare savings would be seen in US if Plan B was allowed to be sold without a prescription. US patients were having their Plan B prescriptions filled in Canada because it costs "a lot less money." In 2003, one of FDA's advisory committees recommended that OTC sales of the drug be permitted. However, the FDA said it was again delaying the decision. Former FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford said in sworn testimony the agency had intended to allow OTC sales of Plan B last year but that the decision was delayed so it could figure out how to limit sales to women 17 and older. Sens. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., have said they will block the confirmation of Andrew von Eschenbach, Bush's nomination for FDA commissioner, until the agency announces its decision on Plan B. If Plan B is allowed to be sold without a prescription, it could increase sales by another $10 to $20 million on top of its current sales of around $20 million. June 20, 2006 United Press International
U.S.: Doctors Tell Women to Take Emergency Contraception Sooner Rather Than Later. The morning after pill is normally taken after a woman has unprotected sex. It can reduce a woman's chances of getting pregnant by up to 89% if taken within 72 hours of intercourse. A new campaign by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises women to get a prescription well in advance of when it might be needed as it is more effective when taken before sex. There is another pill, RU-486, that terminates pregnancy. Political conservatives oppose both. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists wants the morning after pill to be available over the counter. Nine states allow the pill to be sold without a prescription. An advisory committee told the FDA the morning-after pill is safe enough to be sold over the counter, yet the agency refused to make it available without a prescription. Easier access to this pill could help prevent half the three million unplanned pregnancies in the U.S. each year. May 18, 2006 Voice of America News
U.S.: In Case of Emergency: Physicians Group Wants to Make Sure Contraception is Widely Available. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, in its Ask Me campaign, is getting patients to inquire about emergency contraception, not to increase its use but to help make sure women can get the medication when they need it. The drug is most effective if taken within 24 hours of unprotected sex, but roadblocks can keep women from getting it in time. So, the physicians group is telling women they can ask their doctors for an advance prescription. It's not a perfect solution, but it's better than having to track down a doctor who will prescribe and a pharmacy that will dispense. Scientists declared the drug to be safe for over-the-counter sales. The FDA said it is concerned about the use of emergency contraception by teenagers. But it could develop a plan for handling age restrictions. The availability of emergency contraception would result in a decrease in unwanted pregnancies. Planned Parenthood says 1.7 million unintended pregnancies and 800,000 abortions could be prevented each year and throwing up roadblocks to emergency contraception only ensures that unwanted pregnancies will continue. May 14, 2006 Columbus Dispatch
Peru: Debate on Day After Pill. The UN representative to Peru urged presidential hopefuls to include Emergency Oral Contraception as a campaign issue. He said it is necessary for government to guarantee the distribution of the pill so there is no difference between poor and rich. However, the Catholic Church and other sectors oppose. The WHO considers the contraceptive pill as a non abortion-inducing method, with no life-threatening effects. The UN diplomat said also urged candidates to include the Millennium Targets in their government plans, as they call for achieving quality reproductive health services by 2015. February 22, 2006 Prensa Latina (Cuba)
Mexican Pharmacies Able to Give EC to US Minors. US residents find it easier to access Mexican pharmacies. A law approved last year, allows them to sell emergency contraception (EC) without a prescription. Mexican law does not require parental consent for minors to purchase contraceptives, including EC. A Mexican pharmacist, said many of his customers have been young, and some of them have been from the US. January 27, 2006 Kaiser Network
U.S.: Dr. Pill to the Rescue. On Aug. 26, the FDA postponed indefinitely a decision that would allow over-the-counter sale of Plan B. One doctor in New Mexico has spent the last five years making sure emergency contraception gets into the hands of women who need it. In 2000, Dr. Matt Wise launched the Web site Getthepill.com as a run around the obstacles women face who are trying to get the drug. He assumed that demand for the services would be short-lived but now, five years later, Dr. Wise may not be quitting his night job anytime soon. The only thing keeping him there is realizing that EC has helped thousands of women. The pills need to be taken in sequence starting within 72 hours of unprotected sex but will not terminate an existing pregnancy. A prescription for emergency contraception does not require a face-to-face doctor's visit and a majority of doctors take the position that the drug should require no prescription at all. Political opposition to emergency contraception remains powerful. According to congressional staffers the decision was made months before it was announced and involved an unusual number of top-level officials. The implication is that the process was guided more by internal machinations than by medical realities. Wise was inspired to try to help meet the need by one of his mentors, contraceptive expert Dr. David Grimes. Wise launched Getthepill.com with the help of his brother who created the site. Three other family or close friends help answer phones and do clerical work. The $24.95 prescription fee covers their salaries and operating costs; Wise derives his income from his gynecology practice. Getthepill.com logs 30 to 50 prescription requests or inquiries per day. Women seeking a prescription are asked to fill out a questionnaire designed to confirm they are at risk of pregnancy but not pregnant. When a patient's need is confirmed, a prescription is called or sent in to the pharmacy of her choice. If a pharmacy or pharmacist turns out to be hostile to dispensing emergency contraception his staff finds a friendlier one. Wise is licensed to practice medicine in about 20 states but 26 remain in which he cannot write prescriptions. Getthepill.com will provide prescriptions only to patients 18 and older. I have no problem in prescribing to younger patients, but what we're doing already places us under scrutiny. For minors and those in the 26 off-the-list states, Wise will try to guide them to an available resource. There are doctors who still confuse emergency contraception with mifepristone, and refuse to dispense it and those who give their patients an enormous guilt trip. Dr. Joe DeCook does not prescribe emergency contraception, and who hopes Wise is careful when he does. DeCook is vice president of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists and cites studies that appear to call the effectiveness of E.C. into question, and a dearth of information on side effects on pregnancies undetected before E.C. is taken. Emergency contraception has been deemed safe and effective and studies that question the drug's effectiveness find fault not with its medical properties but with the way the drug is presented and described to women and the stigmas that prevent them from asking for it when they need it. A spokesperson for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists implied that if the drug should be available with no prescription at all, then a prescription from an online doctor would be more than sufficient. November 07, 2005 Salon.com
U.K.: Women Switch to Paying for Emergency Contraception. Over-the-counter sales of Emergency Contraception (EC) doubled as women switched to paying for them instead of relying on a prescription from their doctor. The easier availability of EC did not increase its use. About 7% of women between 16 and 49 obtained it at least once in 2004-5, unchanged on the year before. The proportion provided by local pharmacies went up from 27% to 50%, due to the convenience of using high street outlets, or not discussing the need with Doctors or nurses. The proportion supplied through family planning clinics remained at 21%, but use of National Health Service walk-in centres or clinics fell from 11% to 3%. EC became available without prescription in 2001 an essential step to reduce unintended pregnancies. More women and men were using the male condom as a contraceptive and barrier against sexually transmitted infections. It was used by 22% of women last year, compared with 1% in 2002 and 13% in 1986. The pill remained the most popular contraceptive, used by 25% of women under 50. October 31, 2005 Push Journal
U.S.;: Sell Morning-after Pill as If it Were a Condom; It's Birth Control. It's Not the Abortion Pill.. The FDA will decide whether women can buy the morning-after pill without a prescription. The pill should be as easy to purchase as condoms, which are pregnancy-prevention tools and readily available. The FDA can put age restrictions on the pill, which would force stores to card buyers or keep the drug behind the counter. Such restrictions might discourage stores from carrying the pill. That makes no sense when the goal should be to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Yet people continue to confuse the morning-after pill with the abortion pill, RU-486. The morning-after pill is essentially a birth-control pill with a higher dose of estrogen and progestin or just progestin. The surge in hormone levels delays an egg's release and may block a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus. If an egg is already implanted, the pill will not terminate a pregnancy. RU-486 terminates a pregnancy. The morning-after pill prevents pregnancy, it's safe, and should be freely available. August 15, 2005 Des Moines Register
U.S.: A Prescription for Contention. Unlike RU-486, designed to induce early miscarriage, pills like Plan B are supposed to prevent pregnancy. Made from a synthetic form of progesterone, the pills are 89% effective in preventing pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex. The Alan Guttmacher Institute says Plan B pills prevent ovulation, which is important because sperm can live in a woman's body up to six days. It can also prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg. For those who believe that life begins when the sperm fertilizes the egg, preventing implantation means abortion. They also question the safety of morning-after pills by exposing women to this dose of hormones. But birth control pills are taken daily and often for years, rather than a concentrated dose taken in one day. June 24, 2005 Daily News (New York)
Morning-After Pill Well Tolerated by Teen Girls. Levonorgestrel, used for emergency contraception after unprotected sex, is well tolerated by females 13 to 16 years and side effects are minor. The drug is well tolerated by adult women. 52 adolescent females were given one tablet and instructed to take another 12 hours later. Nearly all the subjects were able to take the medication correctly and no serious side effects were noted. Nausea, fatigue, and vomiting were relatively common, but short-lived and the drug did not affect menstrual periods, the average duration was about 5 days and the periods began within the expected time frame. 90% of subjects said they would recommend this emergency contraception to a friend. December 05, 2004 Reuters
EC: Military Formulary Bill to be Introduced. Rep. Michaud plans to introduce a bill to assure the military includes emergency contraception (EC), and this comes in part as a response to the reports of sexual assault in the military. July 22, 2004 unknown
Some Irish Hospitals Refuse to Prescribe Emergency Contraception. The BBC discovered only Antrim and Craigavon area hospitals prescribed emergency contraception (EC) on request. Downpatrick said will prescribe it to under-18s; Mid-Ulster said some doctors would prescribe it but others objected. The Mater in Belfast is the only hospital exempt from supplying EC, all other hospitals refused. The Department of Health says EC should be easily available. It is available at pharmacies, but its cost of £24 could deter some. Hospitals could be in breach of their duty of care by refusing the treatment to patients. July 20, 2004 BBC News
Chilean Mayors Oppose Distribution of 'Morning After Pill' to Rape Victims. The policy to provide emergency contraception (EC) in Santiago to rape victims free of charge, provoked an outcry from Catholic officials, who pressured rightwing parties to defy the policy. Two Santiago mayors and the mayor of Concepcion said they will block distribution. One mayor claimed the pill is abortive and intercepted 80 doses to be dispersed to clinics, while an official of the Health Ministry held up distribution. The Mayor of Concepcion will allow the pill, but only one at a time, to the hospital closest to the woman. Despite this the delivery of EC continues smoothly, with an estimated 17,000 doses by the end of May 2004. The Ministry of Health has warned that those who interfere with the pill's delivery may face sanctions and possible budget cuts. May 21, 2004 Santiago Times
Chile: Morning-After-Pill Faces Resistence. Three mayors refuse to distribute the morning after pill in their clinics, in defiance of a policy to provide the pill to victims of rape. The mayors of two Santiago boroughs, Puente Alto and Lo Barnachea, together with the mayor of Concepcion said they will block distribution in their communities. The Puento Alto mayor maintains the pill is abortive and intercepted 80 doses which were for clinics in his jurisdiction. In Lo Barnachea an official within the Health Ministry held up the pill's distribution. Concepcion mayor Jacqueline van Rysselberghe has taken a different approach, saying she will allow the pill, but only one at a time, dose by dose, and only to the hospital closest to the woman requesting it. Despite these dissents, the delivery of the pill continues smoothly in other regions and 17,000 doses have been delivered. The Ministry of Health warned that those mayors who interfere with the pill's delivery may face sanctions and possible budget cuts as punishment. May 20, 2004 Santiago Times
Wisconsin Promotes Morning-After Pill Hotline. Wisconsin has made the morning-after pill available to women through a new hotline. The FDA decided against allowing the pill to be sold over the counter. The Wisconsin Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association has set up a toll-free phone number that makes obtaining the pill easy. The association plans to promote the hotline with a public education campaign and has drawn the ire of abortion opponents, who say it increases the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. Taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse, the contraceptive can reduce the chance of pregnancy by up to 89%. The hotline connects with nurses at a Wausau clinic and the nurses direct callers to a clinic nearest them, or arrange for a prescription by phone. If a caller lives far from a clinic or pharmacy, the pill will be mailed overnight. May 11, 2004 Associated Press
Chilean Leader Defends 'Morning After' Pill Distribution. Chilean President Ricardo Lagos defended his programme to hand out free Emergency Contraceptive pills. Doctors' offices and emergency rooms can distribute the pill to women who have been sexually abused. Cardinal Errazuriz has called on the country's Catholic mayors to refuse to comply with the order. In March the government ignored the Churches disapproval and became the last country in Latin America to legalize divorce. Lagos told Agence France-Presse that every married couple must be free to resolve its issues according to its beliefs, religion and values. May 09, 2004 Agence France Presse
U.S.: After-Sex Pill Scarce in Stores. Not enough pharmacies are stocking the "morning after" pill despite a law requiring them either to carry the contraceptive or post a sign saying they do not. 58% of the pharmacies surveyed in Queens had the pills, compared with 87% in Manhattan. The Council overrode Mayor Bloomberg's veto to pass the law requiring pharmacies to carry the pill last April on the grounds the law was burdensome and difficult to enforce. February 09, 2004 Push newsfeed
'Morning-After' Pill Stirs Emotions; Some Pharmacies Will Refuse to Stock Over-the-Counter. Wal-Mart has never carried the prescription-only version of the Plan B pill and doesn't plan to change that policy because it is not frequently asked for. CVS and Eckerd said their stores fill prescriptions for emergency contraceptives, but declined to say whether they would provide the drug over the counter in the event of FDA approval. Many independent pharmacies do not plan to carry it, a pharmacist said, because it works after conception, which the pharmacist claimed amounts to an abortion. Several pharmacists who plan to sell the drug refused to be quoted for fear of reprisals. The drug is a backup when contraception fails or isn't used. Plan B requires a woman to take one pill within 72 hours of sexual intercourse, with a second tablet 12 hours after that. It blocks ovulation and implantation of a fertilized egg. There are side effects, but they are less than those of older contraceptives. Safety is an issue for pharmacists who oppose the sale of Plan B but study after study has shown the drug is safe and does not cause birth defects. Plan B presents a safer alternative to surgical abortion or full-term pregnancy. Despite abstinence-only programs and sex education, 80% of 850,000 teen pregnancies are unplanned. Many opponents of abortion believe that conception begins with fertilization. Some pharmacists will not carry Plan B because in their minds it constitutes abortion and will encourage more sexual activity among young people. January 21, 2004 Push newsfeed
New Zealand: Abortion Rates Prompt Action. The campaign to improve awareness of the emergency contraceptive pill comes after figures revealed 498 Hawke's Bay New Zealand women had their pregnancy terminated last year and 180 teen pregnancies. Three in every 1000 teenagers were getting pregnant compared to the national average of 2.1. The emergency contraceptive pill would be distributed as a more user-friendly form of contraception than the traditional "morning after" pill. New Zealand had the second-highest teen pregnancy rate with six out of 10 unintended. The emergency pill was available to any woman could be used up to 72 hours after sex. It was available from doctors, pharmacists but the Christian Heritage party would prefer to see money spent on promoting abstinence and affirming the institution of marriage. Ninety per cent of abortions involved unmarried women. September 17, 2003 Dominion
New Contraceptive Ready September 2003 Economic Times
India: Unprotected Sex? Just Pop An E-Pill. Chandigarh has made the provision of emergency contraceptives known as E-pills free of cost. The ministry of health and family welfare has forwarded packets of the pill for distribution. The emergency contraceptives are being distributed to broaden the choice of contraceptives. This is not a substitute for regular contraceptives and is effective only for those who have a single act of unprotected coitus. For women who have missed their periods, the pill would not be effective. The Levonorgestrel tablets or the E-pills are available in packs of two. The efficacy of another method, the Yuzpe technique, which contains a larger dose of estrogen and progestegine is quite high, the side effects are many. The E-pill has similar effects but these are less frequent as compared to Yuzpe. The efficacy of the E-pill is 90% and is highest if taken within 24 hours. The other methods of emergency contraception include post-coital IUCD (intra uterine contraceptive device) and intake of mifepristone commonly known as RU-486. Few women come for post-coital IUCD and RU-486. .. RU-486 is a new drug is yet to be tried. July 29, 2003 Times of India
Emergency Contraception News. The Australian Therapeutic Goods Association Committee on National Drugs and Poisons made a preliminary decision to allow selling emergency contraception (EC) over the counter. The committee will confirm the decision in October with guidelines on pharmacists talking to the customer about their sexual health and the side effects of the pill. In Canada, The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada have submitted an application to have emergency contraception become an over-the-counter drug available from any pharmacist. For more information, see http://www.journalpioneer.com/article.cfm?showid=3859 .. In the U.K., about half of Birmingham women have taken the so-called morning-after pill, according to new research. For more information, click here July 2003 Daily Telegraph
EC Works Up to 120 Hours and in Different Combinations. The 72-hour cutoff for taking Emergency oral contraception (EC) after intercourse might be restrictive. Differences in success rates for women taking EC within 72 hours or 120 hours were not significant. A randomized trial found that EC containing norethindrone-ethinyl estradiol combinations worked approximately as well for EC as the standard levonorgestrel-ethinyl combination. Wider variation in the regimens and timing could benefit women who are unable to obtain EC within 72 hours or where it is difficult to obtain the standard combination of hormones. June 26, 2003 Women's Health Weekly
New York Times Examines Increasing Awareness, Use of Emergency Contraception. More women are aware of and using the EC pills, that can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of sex. Since 1999, Women's Capital Corp. has sold three million doses and Gynetics' sale increased 50% last year. .. 6% of women reported using EC, compared with 1% in 1997. 68% of women surveyed said they knew about EC, compared with 51% in 2000 and 41% in 1997. WCC last month applied to sell it's pill without a prescription, and Gynetics said that it expects to be sold over the counter by the end of next year. May 22, 2003 New York Times*
Location of Pharmacies with Emergency Contraception. Over the counter emergency contraception is legal in Alaska, Washington, California, and Quebec. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) declared support for making emergency contraceptive pills available over the counter. Click the link for locations of pharmacies where OTC EC is available. April 28, 2003 Patrick Burns
Nonprescription Sale Sought for Contraceptive; Petition to FDA to Offer 'Morning After' Pill Over the Counter Could Become Entangled in Abortion Debate. The makers of the emergency contraceptive "Plan B" are petitioning the F.D.A. to sell it without a prescription. If approved, it would be the first "morning after" contraceptive to be sold over the counter. This could become entangled in the abortion debate although the makers say their product prevents conception, rather than aborting. An easily avalable emergency contraceptive could reduce unintended pregnancies and abortions by half. Plan B uses progestin to interfere with fertilization and is usually effective within 72 hours after intercourse, but its ability to prevent pregnancy diminishes by 50% over the first 12 hours. Some antiabortion groups are opposed to their use and some silent. FDA officials have said it will take about 10 months to review their application. The treatment was restricted to rape-crisis centers until the late 1990s, when two morning-after pills were approved by the FDA for use with a doctor's prescription. Plan B's cost would remain about $27 a dose. April 21, 2003 Washington Post
U.K.: 100 Percent Increase in Teenage Girls Using Morning-After Pill. The use of the morning-after pill has more than doubled since it became available over the counter. One in five 16 year olds takes them each year, some use it repeatedly. The figures suggest the reduction in pregnancy is due to availability of the pill rather than a drop in teenage sex. Teenagers on the pill are not protected against sexually transmitted infections which affect one in 20 girls under 16. Teenage girls are more likely to use the pill than older women. The rise in teenage use supports campaigners who tried to stop chemists selling the pill as its easy availability would increase pressure to have sex while increasing the risk of infection. Girls under 16 need a prescription, which can be obtained without parents' consent from a doctor or a school nurse. But many buy it from a chemist because there are few checks to ensure it is not sold to under-age girls. Fear of sexually-transmitted diseases seems to have little impact on behaviour. March 27, 2003 Daily Mail
'Emergency' Birth Control: Access Issues. Only 4% or 5% of women ages 18 to 44 have used emergency contraception because of limited access to the pills, but policy makers are increasing access to the morning-after pills. 35% of drugstores stock emergency contraception products. A few states have done away with prescriptions for emergency contraception. New York is considering a bill requiring pharmacies not stocking emergency contraception to post signs so women do not wait in line. Opponents argue that morning-after pills cause abortions and should not be available. Doctors know that birth control pills can work after intercourse but the packages do not include instructions on how to avoid pregnancy after intercourse. Half of New York City pharmacies carry emergency contraception. Washington State and Alaska have regulations on the books that allow doctors or nurse practitioners to delegate their authority to prescribe specific medications. The California version was achieved with a new statute and a year after it took effect, 13% of the state's pharmacies were offering emergency contraception. Pharmacist assessment, counseling and referrals are crucial. The debate involves whether emergency rooms provide access to contraception to women after being raped. March 11, 2003 New York Times*
Emergency Contraception: Knowledge of Pregnancy Prevention Alternatives Lacking Among Danish Women. A recent study of 1514 Danish women showed that 44.7% women knew both the correct time limit and where to acquire the EC. These were typically younger, better educated and more often singles, nulliparae (no pregnancies), and users of contraception. 24.1% had used it previously. The general knowledge has not improved during the last few years and there is still need for information about the correct use of EC. March 06, 2003 Women's Health Weekly
Oregon Planned Parenthood Affiliate to Begin Online Emergency Contraception Service. Planned Parenthood of Columbia/Willamette, Oregon, began offering emergency contraception over the Internet. Women seeking emergency contraception can receive a prescription without visiting a practitioner. The service is available in several regions including Greater Indiana, Atlanta and St. Louis. Planned Parenthood Chicago, has had more than 3,000 EC prescriptions filled over the Internet. Although some people have been concerned that EC would become a routine form of contraception, those claims are "unfounded. The cost of $20 to $40 for a one-time supply may prohibit its use as a preventive measure. December 12, 2002 AP/Eugene Register-Guard
Most Catholic Hospitals Do Not Offer Emergency Contraception. A survey found that only 5% of U.S. Catholic hospitals offer Emergency Contraception upon request, and another 23% provide EC only in rape cases. A majority surveyed (55%) do not offer EC under any circumstances. Hospitals are straying from compassionate care when they deny reproductive health services and do little to refer women to a place they can receive it. More than half of the referrals offered were dead ends. December 12, 2002 Catholics for a Free Choice
U.S. Women Begin Using Newly Approved Contraceptives Nuvaring, Ortho Evra . NuvaRing and Ortho Evra, two new contraceptives that do not require daily attention, have been appoved by the FDA and have recently come to the market. NuvaRing is a flexible, two-inch ring that when inserted into the vagina delivers pregnancy-preventing hormones. Its insertion is as inserting a tampon. The ring is hardly noticable during sex, but it can be removed for up to three hours for sex, bathing, and douching. It is worn for 21 days, then removed during menstruation. Ortho Evra is a patch that is worn for one week at a time, for three weeks, delivering hormones to the bloodstream in the same way as the birth control pill. The patch is not worn for a week during menustration. The patch can be worn on the buttocks, upper arm, upper torso or abdomen, and the location can be changed from week to week to avoid skin irritation. Although intrauterine devices and the injectable contraceptive Depo Provera also do not require daily attention, both require a doctor's visit for insertion or injection. Many health plans have decided to cover the costs of the contraceptive patch, but haven't decided on the NuvaRing. A U.S. Committee will soon be considering the proposed Equity in Prescription Insurance and Contraceptive Coverage Act (EPICC), which would require insurance companies that cover prescription drugs to also cover the five most popular prescription contraceptives: birth control pills, Depo-Provera injections, IUDs, Norplant and diaphragms, but not the new contraceptive patch or vaginal ring. July 19, 2002 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Emergency Contraception Commonly Misused and Overused in Thailand . Many Thai women may use Emergency Contraception (EC) as many as 3 times a week, although the recommended maximum is only two doses per month. EC in Thailand contains 50 times the amount of progesterone contained in an ordinary oral contraceptive. Headaches, fatigue, dizziness, nausea and vomiting are side effects, plus not using a condom can lead to HIV or other STD. In Thailand EC is called "a post-coital pill, a spermicide or a 'temporary contraceptive,'" while "emergency pill" might be a better name, signalling that the pill should be used only in an emergency. June 13, 2002 Bangkok Post
Emergency Contraception Usage - Important Points . Plan B, the better of the two EC pills available in this country, contains no estrogen. Starting EC pills as soon as possible after unprotected sex increases their effectiveness. June 02, 2002 Richard Grossman, MD
Washington Post Examines Barriers to Emergency Contraception Use in United States . Emergency contraception (EC) is legal and has been proven safe and 89% effective when used within 72 hours, but only about 2% of U.S. adult women have used it and only 11% of American women have even heard of it. Ever since birth control pills have been available, a small number of women have realized that taking several of them at one time will stop the implantation of a fertilized egg. But the number of pills to take varies with the product and this use of the pills is not advertised. In addition, side effects such as nausea were often experienced. The new EC products tend to make the process simpler, cheaper, and with fewer side effects. The medical community agrees that EC is not an abortifacient (a drug that induces abortion), but many antiabortion health care providers believe that life begins at conception. Consequently, some pharmacies don't carry or dispense EC. "There are a million and a half unwanted pregnancies in this country every year, half of which end up in an abortion. Why don't we prevent that?" says Thomas Purdon, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). ACOG has urged its members to hand out prophylactic EC prescriptions and call their local pharmacies to make sure the drugs stay stocked. A Kaiser Foundation study found that 58% of ob/gyns discussed EC "sometimes" with their patients, and 16% never discuss it. Which is unfortunate, since nearly 50% of all women experience at least one unwanted pregnancy and 40% of those happen after a contraceptive failure, according to Kirsten Moore, president and CEO of the Washington-based advocacy group Reproductive Health Technologies Project (RHTP). The "Back Up Your Birth Control" campaign (www.backupyourbirthcontrol.org) is trying to convince doctors and the public that EC does not cause abortions and that it is not the same as RU-486, otherwise known as the 'abortion pill.' EC has no effect on a fertilized egg that has implanted in the uterus, an event that usually occurs within five days of intercourse. But the fear of class action lawsuits from antiabortion groups has prevented birth control pills manufacturers from putting out a version of their product to be used as EC, and from noting on the pills' literature that they could be used as EC, even though the FDA invited them to. With low awareness of EC, it sits on pharmacy shelves, plus a woman only needs 2 pills and only in a contraceptive emergency, so it is not very profitable for pharmacies to carry it. Consequently, 75% of the country's pharmacies don't stock Plan B or Preven, two types of EC. EC advocates are encouraging doctors to write advance prescriptions for their sexually active patients and are trying to make it available legally without prescription. EC seems to meet all of the FDA's criteria for nonprescription drugs -- it's not dangerous, addictive or complex, but the FDA wants to study the matter further. May 20, 2002 The Washington Post
UK: Mobile Pharmacy to Sell Morning After Pill at Pop Concerts . Young women at UK pop festivals will be sold the morning after pill (emergency contraception - EC) from mobile pharmacies. The project was designed to help young women who may 'fall victim to a moment of festival passion'. For £19.99 the emergency contraceptive, Levonelle will be available at festivals in Bristol, London, Essex, Staffordshire, Leeds and Kinross in Scotland. April 26, 2002 Daily Mail
California USA: Gov. Davis Orders HMOs to Cover Morning After Pill . By order of the governor, California's health maintenance organizations must cover "morning-after" contraceptives for women. "A woman's right to choose must never be held up by red tape," said Governor Davis, who has been promoting abortion rights and increased access to contraceptives in his fight to re-election. March 27, 2002 Associated Press
U.K.: Tesco Branches to Give Morning-after Pill Free to Teens . In a pilot program, two English supermarkets North Somerset, western England, will give away emergency contraception pills free to teen-age girls who are worried they might be pregnant. Tesco PLC (U.TSC), in collaboration with the local branch of the National Health Service and the North Somerset Teenage Pregnancy Clinic, is sponsoring the project. Trained pharmacists would interview each teen before dispensing the medication. Counseling would be offered along with the pills. "All our work is in the context of encouraging young people to say 'no' if they do not want to have sex and only to engage in sexual activity if they feel ready for it." March 19, 2002 Dow Jones Online News
Emergency Contraception Available Without Prescription in Israel . A "morning after" pill called Postinor 2 is being changed by the Israeli Health Ministry from a prescription-only to an over-the-counter (OTC) drug since many young girls become pregnant on weekends, when access to a physician is limited. England, France, Norway, Portugal and Belgium, already offer it as an OTC drug. A study involving 95,000 women in Britain showed that only a small percentage of them took Postinor 2 a second time after unprotected sex. 90% of the participants at a recent conference of the Israel Society for Contraception and Sexual Health said they supported the new policy. March 14, 2002 The Jerusalem Post online
Teen Voices Provides Information on Emergency Contraception. The current issue of Teen Voices, "an interactive, educational forum that challenges media images of women," features a comprehensive article on emergency contraception, including where and how to obtain it. Teen Voices states that "[EC]s do not cause abortions. They usually prevent your body from ovulating ... so the egg cannot be fertilized by the sperm, or alter the lining of the uterus to make it impossible for a fertilized egg to attach itself to the wall. ... There are no long-term side effects; you do not need to have an exam to receive [EC]; you do not have to be a certain age to receive [EC]" (Teen Voices, 6/01). Teen Voices editor and founder Alison Amoroso said, "Teen Voices is one of the few magazines that dares to inform teenagers that they don't have to get pregnant from unprotected sex, rape or incest" June 01, 2001 Teen Voices release
Pregnancy Prevention, the Morning After. In the U.S., 3 million unintended pregnancies occur each year in this country, followed by about a million medical abortions, but if the women knew about and used emergency contraception, at least half of these could be prevented. Only 2% of U.S. women have ever used it and only about 11% know of its existence, even though the method - taking multiple doses of oral contraceptives within a few days of unprotected intercourse - has been known for more than a quarter century. The producers of 'morning after' products have no advertising budgets to make the products widely known, and less than 20% of gynecologists provide advance prescriptions for their patients. A doctor's prescription is required, but most experts consider this unnecessary since they are very safe. Not having the product available over the counter is a problem if exposure occurs on a Friday night and the woman cannot get to a doctor until Monday. At $30, Preven contains the estrogen ethinyl estradiol and a synthetic progesterone (progestin) called levonorgestrel, the same hormones that are in oral contraceptives at higher doses, and is 57% effective, and may involve nausea and vomiting. At only $20, Plan B contains only levonorgestrel, is more effective (85% effective) than Preven and, because it lacks estrogen, has fewer unpleasant side effects. Both products involve taking two pills within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse, followed 12 hours later by another two pills. The products can be obtained directly from a pharmacist only in British Columbia, England, France, Portugal, and the U.S. state of Washington. A copper IUD inserted within five days of unprotected intercourse can also be used as emergency contraception, and has the advantage of preventing virtually 100% of pregnancies, and if it is not removed, it can prevent pregnancy for up to 10 years. Half of all women have had at least one unintended pregnancy, the most common reason is failure to anticipate sexual activity and, thus, failure to use contraception. Many women think that "if you plan ahead, it's not right; you should be swept away," as Dr. Vivien Hanson, a family planning specialist in Seattle, put it. Also there is condom failure, the misplaced diaphragm, and a missed pill when taking oral contraceptives. The products do not cause abortions - they suppress ovulation and cause changes in the cervical mucus that can make it impenetrable by sperm. If an egg is fertilized, emergency contraception may interfere with its transport down the fallopian tube, causing it to die before it can become implanted in the uterus. If a fertilized egg is implanted in the uterus - the definition of pregnancy - using emergency contraception will not dislodge or destroy it and there is no risk to a developing fetus if the woman should happen to be already pregnant. April 10, 2001 New York Times*
Emergency Contraception Education Campaign Kicks Off. Over 100 national and local women's health advocacy groups and medical organizations, coordinated by the Reproductive Health Technologies Project, are promoting public awareness about emergency contraception in a campaign called "Back Up Your Birth Control." The goal is to "put emergency contraception in women's hands before they need it" to help reduce the three million unintended pregnancies that occur in the United States each year. If taken within 72 hours after sexual intercourse, EC is 89% effective in reducing pregnancy. The campaign encourages physicians to discuss EC with their patients, pharmacists to discuss it with their customers and citizens to discuss it with their elected officials. Among the co-sponsors are the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project, Center for Reproductive Law and Policy, Feminist Majority Foundation, National Abortion Federation, National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. U.S. legislation introduced in March would provide $10 million over five years to the CDC for a government-sponsored awareness campaign to make women and doctors more aware of the availability of EC. In other news, Planned Parenthood of Omaha-Council Bluffs in Omaha, Neb. encourages women to obtain a prescription from the clinic before the need arises. They do not need an exam but must undergo a screening to receive the pills. March 7, 2002 Kaiser Weekly Reproductive Health Report
Chile's Policy of Free Emergency Contraception Under Threat. Conservative officials in Chile are threatening the emergency contraception (EC) policies with a lawsuit that would ban EC. Under the President Michelle Bachelet's administration, all forms of birth control have been free for women over 14 at public clinics since 2006. Conservatives argue that the policy violates the Chilean ban on abortion based on the misconception that EC is a form of abortion. Despite the Catholic influence on Chile, 49% of Chileans believe that women should have the right to access EC. President Bachelet's administration is battling pharmaceutical companies to force them to keep emergency contraception in stock. President Bachelet has enforced legislation to ensure birth control's availability. February 12, 2008 Ms. Magazine
Morning-after Pill Not Linked to Drop in Unplanned Pregnancy. Women who receive an advance supply of the "morning after pill" have an equal chance of becoming pregnant as women who do not. This is based on studies of more than 6,000 women in the US, India and China. EC use was higher among women given an advance supply of the birth control pills, but that did not translate to a drop in pregnancy. We don't know if women were using EC at the times when they were at risk for pregnancy. Marie Stopes International disputed the findings. If someone has an accident and is prepared, the quicker they take emergency contraception, the more effective it is. The British Pregnancy Advisory Service urges women to keep the pill ready at home in case they risk pregnancy. The findings should not prevent easier access to emergency contraception. Women deserve the chance to protect themselves from unintended pregnancy. The presence of EC does not lead to an increase in promiscuity. There was no difference in sexually transmitted infection rates between the two groups, unprotected sex, condom use or changes in use of other contraception. Advance provision of EC has no harmful effects in terms of risky sexual behaviours. April 18, 2007 Press Association (UK)
Chile;: President Stands Her Ground on Emergency Contraception. When Chilean President Michelle Bachelet announced that the country would provide emergency contraception to “everyone who requires it†she was aware of the storm that would ensue. Six years ago, as health minister, Bachelet proposed giving sex abuse victims access to the emergency contraceptive pill, at drugstores by doctor's prescription. A flurry of lawsuits, counter suits, injunctions, and constitutional challenges have pitted pro-life forces led by the Catholic Church against Bachelet's government, backed by women's rights organizations and health professionals. Before the Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling and banned the sale of Postinal, considering it abortifacent, the governmental drug licensing agency had already approved a second product, Postinor-2. Even though Postinor-2 has the same components as Postinal, the Santiago Court of Appeals ruled that the plaintiffs could not represent unborn babies and that scientific or ethical determinations about when life begins are out of the court's realm of competency. Bachelet signed into law the Regulations on Fertility that permit women over 14 to obtain Postinor-2 without parental consent. Chilean law enacted in recent years lowered the statutory age at which minors may be tried as adults and the age of informed sexual consent to 14 years of age from 16. Mayors of the Independent Democratic Union party, influenced by traditional Catholic doctrine, vowed to block the distribution of emergency contraception in public clinics in their municipalities, while congressional advocates have filed protective orders against these mayors. A final ruling from the Constitutional Tribunal is expected later this year. Midwives or doctors at public health clinics administer Postinor-2, prefaced by counseling on birth control methods. Family planning programs in Chile began in the mid-1960s, when an average 550 women died annually due to complications related to childbirth. During the same period, and with therapeutic abortion still legal in Chile, an estimated 300 women died each year as a consequence of illegal abortions. Then-President Eduardo Frei Montalva a devout Catholic, put aside his personal beliefs to initiate free distribution of birth control methods to save women's lives. The 1973-1990 dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet maintained this family planning practice, but a lack of consensus within the Junta on penalties delayed the banning of therapeutic abortion until Bishop Jorge Medina interceded to urge the regime to enact the prohibition in September 1989, six months before the inauguration of the first democratically elected government in 17 years. April 17, 2007 Latin America Press
Plan B Compromise Might Be Closer: Church is Studying Draft Contraception Bill Proposed by Lawmakers. Women's advocates and the Catholic Church are trying to agree on a compromise that would allow rape victims treated at Catholic hospitals to get emergency birth control pills in a way that does not violate the church's abortion ban. Under the proposal by legislators who favor universal access to Plan B emergency contraception, Catholic hospitals could contract with an independent health care provider to perform rape examinations and offer the pills. The private provider would be paid by the state. If an ethicist determines that the proposal does not violate Catholic doctrines, a law requiring all Connecticut hospitals to provide emergency contraception to rape victims could be voted on soon. The 2-year-old debate has become a public relations nightmare for a church battered by priest sexual abuse scandals. Archbishop Mansell ssaid "We are not opposed to emergency contraception for women who are victims of rape, we are opposed to abortion. Church leaders brought a proposal that was immediately rejected. It would have allowed a rape victim who was denied emergency contraception to call an independent counselor or sexual assault nurse. That independent care provider could bring the pills to the hospital, but would have to give them to the victim off the hospital grounds. A group of lawmakers suggested that Catholic hospitals be allowed to contract with an independent rape examiner who would be called as soon as a rape victim arrived and would perform the examination and offer emergency contraception. A rape victim at any hospital would be offered emergency contraception after a negative pregnancy test. Catholic hospitals offer Plan B only after an ovulation test shows there is no possibility of future pregnancy. A similar bill died in the final days of the legislative session amid strong pressure from the Catholic Church. This year votes appear to be in favor of Plan B supporters. In several other states, including New York and New Jersey, Catholic hospitals have agreed to administer Plan B to sexual assault victims as long as they are not pregnant. Advocates have said that forcing a rape victim to find a pharmacy and pay for the pills adds to the trauma of rape. Connecticut Catholic leaders counter that forcing them to offer the pill in their hospitals violates their religious freedom because Plan B can interfere with implantation of an embryo in the uterus, which in Catholic eyes, amounts to abortion. March 31, 2007 Hartford Courant (US)
Kroger: No Refusing Morning - After Pill. Kroger Co. reiteraterd its drug policies to all of its pharmacists after a Georgia woman claimed she was denied the morning after pill. The chain said if its pharmacists object to fulfilling a request, the store must have that prescription filled for the customer. Koger's role is to furnish medication in accordance with the doctor's prescription. Carrie Baker, said a Kroger pharmacist in Rome, Ga., refused to supply her with the contraceptive. Girls 17 and younger still need a prescription to buy the drug, which the FDA made available over-the-counter to adults in August. Supporters say widespread availability will cut down on unwanted pregnancies and abortions. Critics argue it encourages promiscuity and unprotected sex. Major pharmacy chains have pledged to ensure that customers can buy Plan B, even if one employee declines to provide service for reasons of conscience. March 11, 2007 Associated Press
Over-the-counter Pill Plan Debate The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the drug regulating agency in the United Kingdom, is meeting to consider making the pill available over-the-counter without a doctor's prescription. Doctors warn that the MHRA should proceed with caution because of potential side effects of the pill. February 12, 2007 BBC News
U.K.;: Morning-after Pill Not Cutting Abortion Rate. Making it easier to get emergency contraception has not reduced abortion rates in the UK. The focus should be on getting people to take precautions before or during sex. Despite the availability of emergency contraception in the country, abortion rates rose to 17.8 per 1,000 women aged 15-44 in 2004 from 11 per 1,000 in 1984. One percent of women requesting an abortion in 1984 said they had used emergency contraception to try and prevent the pregnancy, 6% had done so in 1996 and 12% in 2002. The morning-after pill is available over the counter, from doctors, and some hospitals and sexual health clinics. Over-the-counter purchases of the emergency pill rose from 27% of all its sales in 2003/04 to 50% in 2004/05. September 15, 2006 Reuters
U.S.: Catholic Barriers to Plan B. The majority of Catholic hospitals refuse to provide emergency conception, even to women who have been raped. Even among those that do, many place barriers in the way; if there is evidence that the woman is already ovulating, even if fertilization has not occurred, it cannot be used. A study of 597 Catholic emergency rooms in 2002 found that only 5% provide EC to women on request. A further 23% will provide it only to women who have been raped if they can prove they are not ovulating or already pregnant, 55% do not provide it at all. In 2005, more than 35% of Catholic hospitals in the states that mandate the provision of emergency contraception to rape victims are still not providing EC. April 11, 2006 Washington Post
Morning-after Contraception Rules Considered by Maryland Lawmakers. A proposal would allow women needing emergency contraception to visit a pharmacist and receive the pills without a prescription. If approved, Maryland would join seven states that allow pharmacists to dispense the morning-after pill without a doctor's prescription. Sen. Grosfeld sponsored the no-prescription bill and said the bill's fortunes are better because of increased public attention to whether morning-after pills should be available over the counter. Grosfeld told reporters that women deserve access to emergency contraception. The bill is being supported by Doug Duncan, a Democrat who is running for governor. Duncan called on lawmakers to approve the bill this year. Opponents counter that increased access to the morning-after pill may not reduce unwanted pregnancies. Republican Sen. Harris challenged a pharmacist who argued for over-the-counter access. Another opponent, questioned whether the morning-after pill was safe without first being examined by a doctor and felt that easy access could lead to sexually dangerous behavior. Women who received the pills without a prescription would have to be given instructions on how to take the pills and a fact sheet on the risks of sexually transmitted disease. Emergency Contraception is nothing more than regular birth control pills with increased dosage. Those who oppose EC are probably opposing contraception ın general. February 16, 2006 Associated Press
Suspended From Work Over Emergency Contraception. Walgreens suspended four pharmacists in the St. Louis area, without pay, for refusing to fill prescriptions for emergency contraception. The pharmacists cited religious or moral beliefs as reasons for declining to dispense EC. Walgreens policy states that pharmacists can decline to fill prescriptions on moral grounds in states where the law allows it, but they must refer patients to another pharmacist or store that will fill the prescription. Walgreens is enforcing Illinois law, but its corporate policy on E.C. is no better than Target's. Walgreens still won't guarantee that if a pharmacist at one of its stores refuses to dispense the pills, another one at that same Walgreens will do it. Here's Planned Parenthood's list http://www.saveroe.com/fillmypillsnow/scored.php of the pharmacies that do and don't have good emergency-contraception policies. December 06, 2005 PPFA
Plan B Contraceptive Thriving on Controversy: Sales Were Already Picking Up After Health Canada Okayed 'morning After' Pill for Over-the-counter Sales. Controversy over access to the so-called "morning-after" contraceptive isn't hurting sales in Canada. Paladin launched Plan B as a prescription drug in Canada nearly five years ago, but Health Canada approved it as an over-the-counter emergency contraceptive in April. Under Canadian law, only non-prescription medications can be promoted commercially. The pill, which if taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse can reduce the risk of pregnancy by up to 90% has made headlines because of personal information gathered by pharmacists of the women seeking to buy it. Plan B can only be sold after consultation with an accredited druggist and the Canadian Pharmacists Association is advising its members to collect the sensitive information before dispensing the drug. The secretary-general of the Quebec Order of Pharmacists said the questions are mandatory for a variety of reasons, including the fact that some women are reimbursed medicare and they have a file for proof if ever there are problems down the road. Pharmacists are also required to counsel women on other methods of birth control. In cases where a pharmacist refuses to dispense the pill on religious or moral grounds, women are to be referred to other druggists. December 22, 2005 The Gazette
Planned Parenthood Takes Aim at Target; Birth Control:the Store Allows Its Pharmacists with Religious Objections to Refuse to Fill Prescriptions for the Morning-After Pill. Target's 1,150 stores allow pharmacists to refuse to dispense emergency contraception, if it is against their religious beliefs. Planned Parenthood takes issue with Target for allowing its pharmacists to send customers someplace else to get the pills. Target officials said their policy is reasonable as it applies only to emergency contraception and not to other forms of birth control. Pharmacists throughout the country have made headlines by refusing to provide women with birth control for religious reasons. Wal-Mart refuses to stock emergency contraception, but claims that's because there is not enough demand. Target's pharmacy in northeast Minneapolis has an arrangement with the University of Minnesota Health Service. Any woman or student can walk in 24 hours a day and ask for the pills without having to see a doctor first. Target's pharmacists are expected to ask another pharmacist in the same store to fill the prescription and if none is available, they are required to call another pharmacy to make sure that the drug is in stock and that the customer can get it. But that's particularly burdensome for women who need emergency contraception, because the sooner the pills are taken after unprotected intercourse, the more effective they are. Some groups say they object to emergency contraception because it could result in an abortion, but medical experts say that's not so. November 12, 2005 Star Tribune (US)
University of Texas at Austin to Study Latinas' Use of the Pill. University of Texas researchers have received a grant to study oral contraceptive use by Latinas on the border, many of whom travel to Mexico to purchase birth control pills from pharmacies that do not require a prescription. The study will look at whether women use them correctly and know the risks involved. This could be a model for how contraceptives could be sold over the counter in the U.S. Last year, the FDA rejected the morning-after pill for over-the-counter use. The study will track two groups of low-income Hispanic women who live in El Paso and Ciudad Jurez: those who get birth control pills from low-income clinics in the United States and those who get them from Mexican pharmacies, which are cheaper and do not require a prescription. Researchers will track 1,500 women for nine months. In another part of the study, participants will read a list of factors that could put a pill user at risk, then decide whether they would be a good fit. A nurse will take blood pressure and medical history and make their own judgment. Getting contraceptives without a prescription could discourage women from seeing a doctor for regular exams. Would pills obtained in Mexico be as safe and effective as those manufactured in the US. Researchers believe contraceptives from Mexico are as good as those in the US. The study would also track how often women who bought pills without a prescription had pap smears and other exams. The director of the anti-abortion Coalition for Life said making the pill readily available would be unwise and unsafe as: how would we prevent teens form getting their hands on it. But one scientist said he believes there is a movement to separate women's wellness exams from prescribing the pill because they are not related. It's important to get this evidence so when the time is right to push for getting oral contraception over the counter we will have a solid body of evidence that can't be disputed. November 19, 2005 San Antonio Express-News (US)
U.S.: For Those Who Believe in the Sanctity of Life; Why Morning-after Pill is Pro-life and Not Abortion in Disguise. Most Americans are more comfortable with birth control than they are with abortion. The pro-life movement has opposed the morning-after pill as abortion in disguise. Anti-abortion groups argue that by preventing implantation of a fertilized egg, it destroys a fetus. That reputation has been enough to deter the FDA from approving over-the-counter sales of the medication known as Plan B. But the reputation is groundless. The best scientific evidence indicates that the morning-after pill serves to block fertilization, while having no effect on implantation and that makes it contraception. A drug once believed to produce abortion prevents abortion. Many groups that oppose abortion have no use for Plan B. But they're aiming at the wrong target. A consensus among experts that "there is no scientific evidence the pills prevent implantation--and considerable evidence they work mainly by blocking the release of an egg from the woman's ovary, so no embryo is formed." The GAO report agrees. The drug can prevent pregnancy by impeding sperm and delaying ovulation, but it has "not been shown to cause a change in the uterus that could interfere with implantation of a fertilized egg." Breast-feeding is known to cause uterine changes that can prevent a fertilized egg from being implanted. Just as nursing is morally and ethically permissible because it advances worthy purposes, so is the morning-after pill. If emergency contraception were widely and easily available, it could prevent a lot of pregnancies that would end in abortion. November 17, 2005 Chicago Tribune (US)
Australia: Morning-after Insurance; Many Reasons for Emergency Pill Use. The stigma placed on users of the emergency contraceptive pill as having casual sex and not being in relationships could change since a recent study done by the University of Melbourne. The study found that 26 of the 32 women in the study were in fact in a relationship and that the majority of the women were in fact very responsible with their normal method of cotraceptives. In addition it was found that half of the women also used condoms as a contraceptive method. The majority of the women were in fact using the emergency contraceptive pill because of problems with the use of their normal oral contraceptive pill, like missing a pill, or the implications of combining medications with the pill and lessening it's affect. Dr Keogh [from the University of Melbourne] said, "Two of the main categories of women in this study show a high level of responsibility in managing their contraception, while a small number of risk takers occasionally use emergency contraception and see it as a legitimate way to prevent pregnancy." So, unlike the assumptions that most emergency contraceptive users are also casually having sex ... this study supports the correlations between responsible contraceptive users, those in committed relationships and using the emergency contraceptive pill is higher than presumed. November 09, 2005 Herald Sun (Australia)
Planned Parenthood Mar Monte Emergency Contraception Availabity. Planned Parenthood sent more than 124 volunteers to California pharmacies and they made visits at 149 pharmacies in 29 California counties where they presented prescriptions for an emergency contraceptive (Plan B). There were four cases where volunteers had their prescriptions refused. Senate Bill 644 would create a duty to dispense lawfully prescribed medications and require pharmacists to notify their employer if they object to filling prescriptions so the pharmacy can guarantee its customers timely access. It also requires that if a pharmacy does not stock a medication, a referral must be made to another pharmacy within a reasonable distance that is known to stock. One volunteer had her prescription refused although she had called the pharmacy to verify that it had Plan B in stock. On presenting her prescription, she was told "We don't do that here." Later, another project volunteer visited the same pharmacy and had her prescription filled by another pharmacist. Swanson's prescription was also refused at a second pharmacy which had verified the availability of Plan B by phone. Four pharmacists refused to fill prescriptions for Plan B though they had the drug in stock. 59% (143) of the pharmacies carried emergency contraception. 71% of pharmacies who didn't stock EC provided a referral to another pharmacy. 13% of pharmacies that did not have EC in stock refused to provide a referral to another pharmacy. In 5 instances women who received referrals had to visit multiple pharmacies and still couldn't get their prescriptions filled because the referral pharmacies did not stock. 86% of the women reported that their experiences with phar