Advance prescriptions for emergency contraception?

ACOG says this step will reduce unplanned pregnancies, but some physicians continue to be uncomfortable with such action.

By Victoria Stagg Elliott, AMNews staff. May 21, 2001.

Ob-gyns should offer advance prescriptions for emergency contraception to women of reproductive age during routine office visits, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

The prescriptions could be held for a year to be filled as needed or filled immediately so the patient would have the meds on hand. The goal is to make emergency contraception more readily accessible so more women will be able to take it within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse -- when it is most effective.

"If enough of us are talking about this fallback method, we may find emergency contraception to be as common in most homes as a first aid kit," said Thomas F. Purdon, MD, a Tucson, Ariz., ob-gyn and ACOG president, at a news briefing during the organization's annual clinical meeting last month.

The move comes as many health advocacy organizations are trying to increase access to the pregnancy prevention method by pushing to make it available over the counter. In February, ACOG endorsed such efforts, but last month's recommendation came because many doubt that this status change will occur any time soon.

"We simply cannot afford to delay," said ACOG's Dr. Purdon. "We need to pursue all avenues to increase women's awareness of emergency contraception and their ability to get it within 72 hours."

The medication is currently available over the counter in several European countries as well as in Washington state and in some counties in California, by special arrangement.

Emergency contraception's limited, 72-hour time window makes the access issue crucial, and a few studies have shown that an even shorter interval is more desirable. There are, however, significant barriers to quick access. [...]