On the average Tufts weekend, I like taking the edge off after a busy school week. My drug of choice-public debate. Among my group of friends, a drink and a fiery argument go hand-in-hand. Public health, national security, terrorism and ethnocentrism are all popular subjects for discussion. We all enjoy the challenge of a good debate, and we pride ourselves on being knowledgeable about the world and our passions.
When we are not debating social or political issues, conversation among female friends often turns inward. Vaginas, bra size and body hair are frequent subjects of discussion. We like to joke about our bodies, but personal health is something we do not take lightly. As such, I was surprised to learn that many of my supposedly "informed" friends knew very little about emergency contraception (EC). Further investigation indicated that this lack of knowledge was not limited to my friends. Emergency contraception has been around for more than 25 years, but many people are still uninformed about EC and its availability.
Despite the fact that many women use oral contraceptives, EC remains something of an enigma. Even among supposedly "well-informed" college students, understanding about this important method of back-up birth control remains murky at best. What is it? How does it work? When can I take it? These are just a few common questions question about EC that people seem to be asking. Simply put, EC is a special dose of birth control pills that be can taken up to 120 hours after unprotected sex to reduce a woman's chance of pregnancy.
Aside from the confusion about its use and effectiveness, Tufts students seemed most surprised to learn that EC is available at Health Services for $10. As members of the Tufts community, we are lucky to have easy access to quality reproductive health care. Students can request EC any time that Health Services is open or call them for more information. On Sundays during the academic year, students may contact Tufts Police to request EC from the physician on call.
Not only is EC readily available at Tufts, it is also incredibly affordable. Health Service also offers a wide range of birth control options, including EC, at discounted prices. For example, Plan B (the most common brand of EC) costs only $10 at Health Service, but most pharmacies charge $28 to $35. Providers with internet services such as getthepill.com and Planned Parenthood charge an additional $25 to $40 service or assessment fee for online EC prescriptions.
So EC is available and affordable; that much is clear. However, there are many misconceptions about this form of birth control. First off, there seems to be a great deal of confusion about what to call it. Plan B, the morning after pill, and the abortion pill are just a few names that get tossed around to label EC. Let's investigate.
Plan B is the most commonly prescribed brand of emergency contraception pills. This newer brand of EC rarely causes nausea or vomiting because it contains only one kind of hormone, progestin. In July 1999, the Federal Drug Administration approved Plan B for prescription use. Since then, the Center for Reproductive Rights and the drug's manufacturer, Barr Pharmaceuticals, have both applied for over-the-counter (OTC) status for Plan B. In December 2003, however, the FDA denied OTC status for Plan B despite the support of two of its own advisory panels and a majority of voting Americans, pharmacists, as well as medical and public health organizations. Sadly, politics seem to be obstructing women's access to reproductive health care.
EC is also mistakenly called "the morning after pill." This label is misleading because EC can prevent pregnancy even five days after unprotected sex. However, it is more effective the sooner it is taken. According to www.backupyourbirthcontrol.org, if Plan B is used within 24 hours of unprotected sex it can prevent up to 95 percent of expected pregnancies.
Sometimes EC is also misunderstood to be an abortion. Emergency contraception pills are not the same as Mifiprex, also known as RU-486 or the "abortion pill." EC it will not work if a woman is already pregnant and studies among women who have mistakenly taken hormonal contraceptives early during pregnancy show that these drugs do not harm the fetus. EC actually works by preventing pregnancy from occurring. Anti-choice and pro-life groups should support EC because it prevents unplanned pregnancies and helps to reduce the need for abortion. In 2000 alone, EC prevented more than 50,000 abortions.
The most appropriate name for this medication then is emergency contraception or EC. Using the correct name helps to reduce confusion and misinformation. Getting informed about EC and working to increase its availability helps to provide better reproductive health care to all women. This week, Tufts VOX: Voices for Choice and Health Service are sponsoring Back Up Your Birth Control Week. Take this opportunity to get learn more about EC. You never know when the information may be valuable to yourself or a friend.
Chelsey Leruth is a junior majoring in child development and is a member of Tufts VOX.
