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TAG Talks EC
by TAG and Ellen Friedrichs, 06.23.06
According to a report by Advocates for Youth, less than one-third of teen girls know that ECPs exist. |
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Emergency contraception (EC) gives women a second chance to prevent unplanned pregnancy after unprotected sex or birth control failure. But according to a report by Advocates for Youth, less than one-third of teen girls know that EC exists!
With that in mind, the TAG team wanted to find out how much their peers knew about EC. They asked teens, "What have you heard about emergency contraception?" Here's what their peers had to say:
Anna, age 18, said
"It's a pill that you take the morning after you had unprotected sex to stop pregnancy from happening."
TAG says
Anna is on the right track. EC can reduce the risk of pregnancy after unprotected sex. Although it is most effective when taken as soon as possible — that's where the name "morning-after pill" comes from — it can be effective when started within 120 hours (five days) of unprotected sex. (It is often taken in two doses.)
AJ, age 18, said
"It's something that stops the sperm from meeting with the egg so pregnancy won't happen."
TAG says
Yes, this is one of the ways EC works — by preventing fertilization, which is when sperm and egg join. EC can also prevent ovulation — the release of an egg from an ovary. (In theory, it might work by preventing implantation of an egg that's been fertilized, but that has not been proven.)
Daisy, age 15, said
"If you need it, you can go to the doctor, gynecologist, or local clinic. You don't need a parent's permission."
TAG says
Those are all good places to get EC. Planned Parenthood health centers are also an option, just call 1-800-230-PLAN for the health center nearest you. Many emergency rooms also provide EC. In most places, teens don't need permission to get EC, but some places require it. Teens can ask their health care providers about their policies.
Ariana, age 14, said
"Isn't that the abortion pill?"
TAG Team says
No, they are two different things. Some people confuse EC with mifepristone ("the abortion pill"). Mifepristone is a drug that is used in medication abortion, which ends a pregnancy. EC doesn't end a pregnancy — it prevents a pregnancy before it happens.
Skye, age 15, said
"I heard that some groups wanted it to be banned. I don't think they won. I think you can still get this if you need it."
TAG says
EC is legal and available in all 50 states. In some places, it's available without a prescription. Some people oppose EC because they think it causes an abortion, but it doesn't. In fact, research shows that EC actually prevents hundreds of thousands of abortions in the U.S. each year!
If you need a prescription to obtain EC, you can call 1-800-230-PLAN to find a Planned Parenthood health center near you. |
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