Deny Teens Access to Emergency Contraception

While the Food and Drug Administration considers making birth control pills over-the-counter (OTC), they should add emergency contraception, or Plan B, to the list of possible new OTC drugs too.

Why?

Well first, there is no medical reason for an age restriction on the drug and secondly a new study reveals that even if you are of age girls are being denied access to the pill.

According to a new study from the Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, one in five U.S. pharmacies told researchers posing as 17-year-old girls seeking emergency contraception that it was “impossible” for them to get it.

However, according to U.S. federal regulations 17-year-olds can buy emergency contraception without a prescription as long as they have an ID indicating their age.

Not only were teens being given misinformation, but pharmacists were also giving wrong information to physicians about emergency contraception and its availability over-the-counter.

Whether or not pharmacists were giving out misinformation intentionally or just don’t know the law is unclear, but either way this is a problem. In the U.S. 85% of teenage pregnancies are unintentional. Denying access to teens that can prevent an unintended pregnancy is terrible. Girls and physicians need to know what their options are when it comes to their sexual health.

Do you think pharmacists are giving out wrong information to teenagers and physicians knowingly or they just don’t know the law?

Related from Care2:

FDA Considers Over-The-Control Birth Control Pills

Early Access To The Pill Increases Women’s Wages

Dispatches From The War On Women: The Pill On Demand!

Photo Credit: Renaissance Chambara

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Christopher M.

10:23PM PST on Nov 17, 2012

Why doesn't a teacher simply pass along some pills as needed? If you believe in it so strongly, someone should.

November 17
send a green star

Samantha R.

10:18PM PST on Nov 17, 2012

It IS wrong to deny ANYONE who wants/needs emergency contraception. I have used it myself, when the condom tore during sex, and the first thing I did was get to pharmacy for the morning after pill. I would have been very upset if I was denied it, simply because of my age. I do not want to get pregnant, and having access to emergency contraception elevates what could be a lot of unnecessary pain and trauma if said woman then wants an abortion.

Kathy P.

4:35PM PDT on Jun 22, 2012

prevent the pregnancy via pills or condoms and lower the number of abortions/unwanted children! these pharmacies need new staff!