By By Natasha Clark
It has been more than 310 days since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was scheduled to make a decision concerning the over-the-counter status of Emergency Contraceptives (EC), yet no permanent conclusion has been reached.
For now the FDA has issued a "Not Approvable letter" to the makers of the EC pill, Plan B. In order for Plan B to obtain approval, they must provide additional data to the FDA demonstrating that "Plan B can be used safely by women under 16 years of age without the professional supervision of a practitioner licensed by the law to administer the drug or provide additional support for the revised indication to allow the marketing of Plan B as prescription-only for women under the age of 16 and as a nonprescription for women 16 years and older," according to fda.gov.
Planned Parenthood, along with the director of the University's Health and Wellness Center, see the reasoning behind the FDA's delay of approval for over-the-counter selling of EC as a highly political issue rather than one that is based on scientific research.
"The FDA's decision was not a medical issue, rather a political issue," Maureen Houck, director of the wellness center, said.
Emergency Contraceptives, also called morning-after pills, are used to help prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse. EC is a stronger dose of birth control, and Planned Parenthood advises that it is not meant to be taken daily.
Samantha Lezine, spokeswoman at the New York City Planned Parenthood, said EC works by delaying or preventing ovulation, alternating the transport of sperm or egg, or prevents implantation of the egg. EC has been found to be 75-89 percent effective.
"EC is most effective if taken in the first 12 hours after unprotected intercourse," Diana Benavides, program assistant in the Educational Department at Planned Parenthood in Hempstead, said. "But EC can be taken up to five days or 120 hours."
Planned Parenthood believes that due to limited access to accurate information concerning EC and the rise of the pro-life movement against EC; people have developed a belief that EC is an abortion pill.
"Emergency Contraceptive is not an abortion pill," Lezine said. "The FDA has scientific evidence that shows that EC is not effective if women are already pregnant."
According to Planned Parenthood, over-the-counter access for EC could prevent 1.7 million unwanted pregnancies and 800,000 abortions each year. Planned Parenthood also said that denying women easy access to EC will result in inevitable risk to their health and well-being.
"The procedures of EC are seen as such a timely process," Lezine said. "This is one reason why Planned Parenthood feels that it is imperative that EC be sold over-the-counter."
According to the FDA's Web site, there is no evidence showing that teens would not behave differently with easy access to the pills.
"EC should not be sold over-the-counter because people would become careless and would think they could just use EC instead of condoms and/or birth control as a source of preventing pregnancy," Ryan Varjas, a sophomore business major, said. "And then 'BAM' we would have a huge epidemic of STDs."
Some University students fear the approval of over-the-counter selling of EC would provide an excuse for college students and young teens to engage in more promiscuous activities.
"EC is a good idea to use as a back-up in case your original contraceptive fails," Nicole Cooper, a junior and public relations major, said. "However, people could abuse EC and decide to not use protection at all."
Healthcare providers disagree; they believe that EC will not result in young people becoming less careful and engaging in more careless sexual activity.
"I don't think nor have studies shown that EC would affect how people would use other contraceptives," Houck said. "Mistakes happen."
Until the FDA approves the over-the-counter status for EC, women are able to obtain EC only with a prescription.
The pills can be purchased at Planned Parenthoods in Hempstead, Glen Clove and Massapequa, as well as at the emergency center at Nassau University Medical Center. In order for a woman to acquire EC at Planned Parenthood, it is necessary that they make an appointment. First a pregnancy test must be administered in order to ensure that they are not already pregnant, a brief medical history will be taken and then the doctor will dispense the EC to the patient.
The price of EC at Planned Parenthood is determined by a sliding-scale based on income; however, EC's prices range from $37 to $73.
The University's Health and Wellness center has decided not to make EC available because they believe students are able to obtain EC at several other places in the area; therefore, they feel it is not necessary for the University to provide the service.
"The University could always reevaluate their decision on providing EC in the future," Houck said. "However, if EC were to become over-the-counter, there would not be an issue for anyone."
Some students believe it is imperative that the University provide EC as a service, even though it is available in the surrounding area.
"I believe that it would be a good idea for the University to provide EC to its students," Rachel Zabinski, a sophomore and print journalism major, said. "Because most students are unable to pay the high cost of emergency fees and many students lack the means of transportation."
Planned Parenthood, along with the University's Health and Wellness Center, said it is essential for people to educate themselves on all methods of contraceptives and to make sure that they use at least two contraceptives every time they engage in sexual activity to prevent unwanted pregnancies and STDs.
"Use a condom every single time," Houck said. "At the Health and Wellness Center they are sold 10 for $1, and that is cheaper than bubblegum. Just be smart."
