2008 Woodie Awards
Emergency contraceptive pill safe, helpful to women
Carrie Detty
Issue date: 10/19/05 Section: Opinions
I would like to respond to and elaborate on Danielle Wilson's article, "Morning after pill may join OTC birth control" that was featured in the October 12, 2005 edition of The Guardian. Thank you, Danielle, for bringing attention to a very important subject.
On August 26, 2005, for the third time in two years, the FDA delayed its decision on whether or not to make the Emergency Contraceptive pill, Plan B, available over the counter. Although Emergency Contraception (EC) meets all the FDA requirements for over-the -counter distribution and has been proven by the FDA's own research to be extremely safe and effective, the decision to give EC over the counter status has been postponed time and again.
It seems that politics is trumping science and women's health, and that this decision will be made purely on political grounds-in accordance with the current anti-reproductive rights administration. That is, if ever the decision is actually made.
The WSU Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (FMLA) is campaigning for the FDA to make emergency contraception available over-the-counter. And we are not alone in this endeavor.
Over-the-counter status of emergency contraception is supported by a wide-range of medical and women's health organizations, including the American Medical Association, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Women's Health Network and Black Women's Health Imperative. Already in Maine, California, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, and New Mexico, (with New Hampshire and Oregon pending legislation) women are able to obtain EC directly from a pharmacist. Thirty other countries, including Canada, the UK and France, have also made EC available over the counter.
Unencumbered access to EC has the potential to cut in half the number of unintended pregnancies in the US every year, thereby reducing the number of abortions by 800,000.
Although the EC, often referred to as "the morning after pill", can be used up to 5 days, after unprotected intercourse, contraceptive failure, or rape to prevent pregnancy. However, it is most effective if taken as soon as possible. For this reason it is important that women have immediate access to
Emergency Contraception.
Although Student Health Services does offer Plan B to students their offices are open for only 42.5 hours a week and are closed in the evenings and on weekends-the times when unprotected intercourse or sexual assault are most likely to occur. Therefore it is important for women to have alternative ways to receive EC.
One option is to visit a Planned Parenthood Clinic.
You can find the Planned Parenthood clinic nearest you by calling 1-800-230-PLAN. Many clinics are open on Saturdays.
An additional benefit of visiting a Planned Parenthood clinic is that patients are charged on a sliding fee scale, meaning that your income determines the fees you're charged. This is one advantage of being a poor college student!
Another option is to ask your health care provider to write an Advance Prescription for EC so that you will have a back-up dose of EC when and if you need it.
Another option is to visit www.getthepill.com. This is a medical internet site that provides prescriptions for emergency contraceptive pills. After taking a medical history to determine eligibility, they will phone in a prescription to your local pharmacy.
The cost of an online assessment is $24.95 and does not include the price of the pills. (There is no fee if you are denied a prescription.) This website is available 24 hours.
If you would like to learn more about or become more active with issues affecting women, such as Emergency Contraception, please visit an FMLA meeting any Monday at 6:00pm in the Women's Center in 148 Millett.
On August 26, 2005, for the third time in two years, the FDA delayed its decision on whether or not to make the Emergency Contraceptive pill, Plan B, available over the counter. Although Emergency Contraception (EC) meets all the FDA requirements for over-the -counter distribution and has been proven by the FDA's own research to be extremely safe and effective, the decision to give EC over the counter status has been postponed time and again.
It seems that politics is trumping science and women's health, and that this decision will be made purely on political grounds-in accordance with the current anti-reproductive rights administration. That is, if ever the decision is actually made.
The WSU Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (FMLA) is campaigning for the FDA to make emergency contraception available over-the-counter. And we are not alone in this endeavor.
Over-the-counter status of emergency contraception is supported by a wide-range of medical and women's health organizations, including the American Medical Association, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Women's Health Network and Black Women's Health Imperative. Already in Maine, California, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, and New Mexico, (with New Hampshire and Oregon pending legislation) women are able to obtain EC directly from a pharmacist. Thirty other countries, including Canada, the UK and France, have also made EC available over the counter.
Unencumbered access to EC has the potential to cut in half the number of unintended pregnancies in the US every year, thereby reducing the number of abortions by 800,000.
Although the EC, often referred to as "the morning after pill", can be used up to 5 days, after unprotected intercourse, contraceptive failure, or rape to prevent pregnancy. However, it is most effective if taken as soon as possible. For this reason it is important that women have immediate access to
Emergency Contraception.
Although Student Health Services does offer Plan B to students their offices are open for only 42.5 hours a week and are closed in the evenings and on weekends-the times when unprotected intercourse or sexual assault are most likely to occur. Therefore it is important for women to have alternative ways to receive EC.
One option is to visit a Planned Parenthood Clinic.
You can find the Planned Parenthood clinic nearest you by calling 1-800-230-PLAN. Many clinics are open on Saturdays.
An additional benefit of visiting a Planned Parenthood clinic is that patients are charged on a sliding fee scale, meaning that your income determines the fees you're charged. This is one advantage of being a poor college student!
Another option is to ask your health care provider to write an Advance Prescription for EC so that you will have a back-up dose of EC when and if you need it.
Another option is to visit www.getthepill.com. This is a medical internet site that provides prescriptions for emergency contraceptive pills. After taking a medical history to determine eligibility, they will phone in a prescription to your local pharmacy.
The cost of an online assessment is $24.95 and does not include the price of the pills. (There is no fee if you are denied a prescription.) This website is available 24 hours.
If you would like to learn more about or become more active with issues affecting women, such as Emergency Contraception, please visit an FMLA meeting any Monday at 6:00pm in the Women's Center in 148 Millett.
