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EC — Over the Counter, but Not for Teens
by Laura Lambert, 08.24.06
Updated August 2007
The best way young women can protect themselves is to get a prescription for EC before an accident happens, and keep EC on hand in case they need it. |
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One year ago, on August 24, 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made Plan B, a brand of emergency contraception (EC), available over the counter for women over 18. This long-awaited decision gave countless women quicker, easier access to a safe and effective way to prevent unintended pregnancy after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure.
Play it Safe
Teens under 18, as well as other women, can still access EC the old-fashioned way — with a prescription. The best way young women can protect themselves is to get a prescription for EC before an accident happens, and keep EC on hand in case they need it. That way, they won't waste time after unprotected intercourse waiting to get an appointment with a health care provider and trying to get a prescription filled. When it comes to EC and pregnancy prevention, time is of the essence!
What is EC?
Often called the "morning after pill," EC refers to the different types of pills women can take to prevent pregnancy after unprotected vaginal intercourse or contraceptive failure. Plan B is a brand of pill designed and approved by the FDA specifically for emergency contraception. But many brands of birth control pills have also been shown to be effective as emergency contraception if taken in certain doses at certain times. To learn more about using the pill for emergency contraception, consult this chart. (IUDs (intrauterine devices) can be instead of pills. Some women prefer to have an IUD inserted into their uterus for EC and then leave it in place for years of protection against unintended pregnancy. But usually, appointments need to be scheduled in advance for IUD insertion so EC in pill form can be a lot quicker.)
How EC Works
EC lowers the risk of pregnancy when started within 120 hours of unprotected intercourse or contraceptive failure. And the sooner EC is administered, the better it works. This is why birth control advocates worked so hard to secure over-the-counter sales of EC.
Specifically, EC needs to be started within five days — or 120 hours — after unprotected intercourse. When started within 72 hours, EC can reduce the risk of pregnancy by 75 to 89 percent.
EC works by either preventing ovulation, which is the releasing of an egg by the ovary, or by preventing fertilization, which is when the sperm joins the egg. EC is a form of contraception, which means it prevents pregnancy before it happens. EC cannot cause an abortion in women who are already pregnant, and it won't affect a developing embryo. This is important to keep in mind because those who oppose EC distort the facts, claiming that EC causes abortions rather than prevents pregnancy.
Remaining Barriers
While federal approval is a vital step in expanding access to EC, certain questions remain. EC may now be available over the counter, but which counters? And where?
Since approval of EC in the late 1990s, timely access has been compromised by pharmacists who refuse to fill valid prescriptions because of their own personal biases. For women concerned about a possible pregnancy, this means delayed care — if not an outright denial of care. Take Vivian, an Illinois woman, who was refused by so many pharmacists that she could not get EC until one o'clock in the morning, or Catherine from West Virginia, who was completely unable to find a pharmacist who would fill her prescription in time.
Individual stores have played a role in denying access, too, by refusing to keep EC in stock. In March 2006, Wal-Mart announced that its pharmacies nationwide would stock EC, but it wasn't until April 2007 that the company notified Planned Parenthood that its new EC policy would ensure that customers "receive their prescriptions or OTC products in store without discrimination (no harassment or lectures)," "without delay," and "without judgment." This was a huge victory for women's health, but not all drugstores or chains have made the same promises.
Getting EC
Women can also get EC from private doctors and in most hospital emergency rooms — unless they are affiliated with religious organizations that oppose the use of birth control. EC is also available at Planned Parenthood health centers, as well as college, public, and women's health centers. To make an appointment call 1-800-230-PLAN for a Planned Parenthood center nearest you. Many Planned Parenthood health centers have weekend and evening hours to help women get the services they need, when they need them — fast.
In general, minors don't need parental permission to get emergency contraception, but there may be certain locations where, for one reason or another, an individual health care provider will require parental permission. |
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