Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Medindia
Advertisement

No Age Limits for Birth Control Pills

by Enozia Vakil on April 6, 2013 at 4:22 PM
 No Age Limits for Birth Control Pills

A decade-long battle over the access to birth control pills has finally ended, and the contraceptives are now available without limits on age.

US District Court Judge Edward Korman ruled that a decision in 2011 by the chief of US Health and Human Services to require teens under 17 to obtain a prescription was "politically motivated" and "scientifically unjustified."

Advertisement

The ruling orders the Food and Drug Administration to make levonorgestrel-based emergency contraception available over the counter to people under 17 without a doctor's prescription.

Emergency contraceptives contain the same active ingredients as birth control pills but at higher doses, and can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse.
Advertisement

Experts say it is most effective during the first 24 hours.

However, US pharmacies have required a prescription for those less than 17 years old. Those 17 and over must present government-issued identification in order to purchase it, and it has only been available at pharmacies.

The Center for Reproductive Rights, which brought the lawsuit, hailed the ruling as a "landmark decision" and a "victory" for women.

"Today science has finally prevailed over politics," said the group's president, Nancy Northup. "Women all over the country will no longer face arbitrary delays and barriers just to get emergency contraception."

"It's a true victory for all women, especially young women, women without government-issued identification, and those who live in areas with limited pharmacy hours."

An FDA spokeswoman told AFP the agency would have no comment on the ruling.

"This is an ongoing legal matter for the agency, so we won't have any additional comment at this time," she said.

The fight over access to the morning-after pill, which was approved for prescription use in 1999, has been raging since 2001, with advocates saying there should be wider access and critics warning of health and social dangers.

In December 2011, the FDA was poised to allow over-the-counter access to a morning-after pill called Plan B One-Step, made by Pennsylvania-based Teva Pharmaceuticals.

But this was swiftly blocked by another government agency, Health and Human Services.

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said there was not enough data on its use by under-17s and cited "significant cognitive and behavioral differences between older adolescent girls and the youngest girls of reproductive age."

President Barack Obama supported Sebelius, saying at the time she was not confident it should be as available to 10- or 11-year-olds as bubble gum or batteries, since it could have adverse effects if not used properly.

However, Judge Korman described US regulators' moves to restrict access as "arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable."

Since fewer than three percent of girls under 13 are sexually active in the Untied States, "the potential population about whom the Secretary is concerned is infinitesimal," he wrote.

His ruling orders the FDA to make Plan B and its generic equivalents available without a prescription and without age restrictions within thirty days.

Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest Women Health News

AI Tool Precisely Detects Postpartum Hemorrhage
An AI tool called Flan-T5 identified postpartum hemorrhage with 95% precision and detected 47% patients with the condition.
Active Scrutiny of Cervical Lesions Fuels Long-Term Cervical Cancer Risk
Active surveillance of cervical lesions was associated with higher cervical cancer risk in the long term compared to its removal.
Contraceptive Pills To Go Over-the-Counter Sale in Japan
Japan initiated the trial of selling morning-after contraceptive tablets over-the-counter in an effort to lower abortion rates and solace for rape victims.
Urinary Tract Infections Surge in Indian Women Due to Ignorance
The rising number of urinary tract infections (UTIs) among Indian women can be attributed primarily to social stigma and a lack of awareness.
Auto-Immune Disease of Pregnancy Linked to Fetal Heart Disorders
Pregnant women with Sjogren's or lupus syndrome have elevated anti-Ro/SSA antibodies which are linked to fetal atrioventricular block in the heart.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

No Age Limits for Birth Control Pills Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests