Emergency Contraception Is A Well Kept Secret

For decades doctors have known that it is possible to prevent pregnancy even after unprotected sex. The ingredients in birth control pills, when used in the right dose and at the right time, can provide emergency contraceptive protection.
These hormones, sometimes called “morning-after” pills, are quite effective at preventing an unplanned pregnancy, provided they are taken soon enough. The problem is that too many women don’t know about this option.
A recent survey of black and Latina women in the U.S. found only 8 percent had some knowledge of post-coital contraception. The majority of the women responded to Dr. Danny Shaban’s survey by asking, “What is emergency contraception?”
But even women who know about emergency contraception may not always be able to get it when they need it. The first dose must be taken within 72 hours of the event, though sooner is better. (It is followed by a second dose 12 hours later.) If a barrier contraceptive failed on a Friday night, a woman would have to get to the doctor, get a prescription for Plan B or Preven, pick it up from the pharmacy and take the pill before Monday night. (Regular birth control pills can also be used for emergency contraception, but women need instruction on the proper dose.)
That’s why some experts suggest that women who may need emergency contraception (those relying on barrier contraceptives such as condoms, for example) should keep the pills on hand. Women should ask their doctors for a prescription ahead of time. Spending $25 to $30 for medicine to keep on hand “just in case” isn’t practical for everyone, but for many women it could offer peace of mind.
The authorities in some other countries have decided that emergency contraception should be available without a prescription. Critics complain that easy access to such medication might encourage more teenagers to become sexually active. That does not appear to be the case in England, where the main users of emergency contraception within the first six months of over-the-counter sale were working women between 25 and 35.
The maker of Plan B (levonorgestrel) recently applied to the FDA to switch its product to over-the-counter status. The manufacturer is supported largely by grants and donations and doesn’t expect to see a large increase in sales as a result of the switch. But it argues that off-the-shelf pharmacy sale would make Plan B more accessible to women who need it within the limited time frame of effectiveness. The price, $27, would not change.
Many other sorts of drugs have been changed from prescription to OTC status in the past decade or so. The most recent example is the non-sedating allergy medicine Claritin. The FDA is also contemplating a switch of other antihistamines, such as Allegra and Zyrtec. Past switches have involved pain relievers such as Motrin IB and heartburn medicines such as Zantac 75.
Plan B’s maker conducted some 40 studies to determine that the product can be safely and appropriately used with just the information on the label. Even women with limited education understood how to use Plan B properly.
Better access to back-up contraception could offer women needed protection against unwanted pregnancy.