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EC General Information
Everyone deserves a second chance to prevent an unintended pregnancy. This second chance comes in the form of emergency contraception. According to Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 50 percent of pregnancies are unintended. If used within 120 hours, emergency contraception (EC) is form of birth control that can safely prevent pregancy after contraceptive failure or unprotected sex. While the IUD can be used as emergency contraception (EC), the most commonly used form of EC are emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) -- often referred to as "the morning-after pill".
Since 2006, the emergency contraceptive Plan B has been available over-the-counter in pharmacies nationwide. Individuals (both men and women) ages 17 and older can purchase the medication by going to the pharmacy counter and asking for it and presenting ID to verify their age. Younger persos ages 16 and under need a prescription. Regardless of age, those seeking EC can go to family planning clinic to get the medication at a reduced cost.
For more information about EC, visit the website: http://ec.princeton.edu
Medical Groups Support Wider Access to Emergency Contraception
Medical organizations have been at the forefront of increasing access to emergency contraception. Many have issued policy statements, practice guidelines and published research about emergency contraception. All those materials have been collected by specialty.
Raising Awareness about the Critical Role of EC
Following Sexual Assault
A second chance to prevent pregnancy is particuarly important for women who have been sexually assaulted. An estimated 25,000 women in the U.S. become pregnant following an act of sexual violence each year. If survivors of sexual assault were given emergency contraception (EC), it is estimated that 22,000 of these pregnancies could be prevented. Emergency contraception can play an important role in the aftermath of sexual assault. While emergency contraception is FDA-approved, not all hospitals offer it to rape patients and many people don't know or are misinformed about EC.
The Duvall Project believes that rape patients should be provided with compassionate treatment in all hospital emergency rooms, which includes the decision to take emergency contraception.In collaboration with Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR), Duvall was influential in the creation of comprehensive regulations issued by the Pennsylvania Department Health. In accordance with the regulations, Pennsylvania hospitals must utilize a rape kit, notify the police, and provide oral and written information concerning possibility of sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy, along with accepted medical procedures, including but not limited to EC. Even those granted a religious or "moral" exemption status by the government must transport free of charge all sexual assault victims to appropriate hospitals that provide necessary services.
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