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Feature Story Sierra Club supports comprehensive domestic family planning programs to slow population growth and ensure a better environment for future generations. Access to emergency contraception is a vital part of a comprehensive national family planning program. Still Our Nation’s "Best Kept Secret?" Information and story provided by the Reproductive Health and Technologies Project
EC is a safe, effective back-up birth control method that can prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse or contraceptive failure. The most common form of EC is emergency contraceptive pills, which contain high dosages of the same hormones found in daily birth control pills – estrogen and progestin. Although sometimes called the ‘morning-after pill’, women actually have up to 72 hours after sex to use EC. EC – or a prescription for the pills – is available from any physician and many other reproductive health care providers. It should not be confused with Mifeprex, also known as RU-486. EC helps to prevent pregnancy from occurring, while Mifeprex terminates an early pregnancy. Despite the widely acknowledged safety, efficacy, and acceptability of EC, usage rates in the United States are low. A lack of information contributes to a lack of use. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s November 2000 report, nearly one in four women aged 18 to 44 surveyed said they had never heard of EC, and nearly two-thirds said they didn't realize it was available in the United States. Additionally, less than one third of gynecologists reported having written prescriptions for EC on a regular basis. Physicians, reproductive rights advocates, and public health experts agree that expanding awareness of EC is a public health priority. The Reproductive Health Technologies Project in Washington, DC has sponsored a number of public education, public affairs, and activist campaigns around EC. As a part of their 2001 "Back-Up-Your-Birth-Control" campaign starring Rosie the Riveter, more than 130 national, state, and local organizations got involved, distributing educational materials and mobilizing their constituencies. In addition to creating positive coverage on EC through earned media, the campaign has educated policymakers on the importance of access to EC for women. More than twelve states introduced proactive EC legislation this year. This past March, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced the Emergency Contraception Education Act, which, if passed, would establish a federally funded public education campaign around EC. In order to ensure awareness and access, the bill calls upon the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to develop and disseminate information about EC both consumers and providers. If we are committed to slowing population growth, then we must offer a comprehensive range of family planning services that includes EC. To learn more about EC and the campaign, check out the "Back-Up-Your-Birth-Control" website at www.backupyourbirthcontrol.org. The hotline, 1-888-NOT-2-LATE, the Spanish mnemonic, 1-866-en-tres-dias, and the website, www.not-2-late.com, all provide guidance about where to get EC in a given area Back to Summer 2002 Population Report Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | © 2008 Sierra Club |
