Urge the United States House of Representatives, the United States Senate, and President Obama to pass the Emergency Contraception Education Act in the 112th session of congress.

What is the Emergency Contraception Education Act?

The Emergency Contraception Education Act (H.R.5561/ S.3504), is a bill, sponsored by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representative Louise Slaughter (D-NY), that was introduced in the 112th session of congress. The bill would establish a public education and awareness program relating to emergency contraception.  The Emergency Contraception Education Act would provide $10 million to implement important public education initiatives that educate women and health care providers about the benefits and uses of emergency contraception (EC). Public awareness campaigns targeting women and health care providers will help remove many of the barriers to EC and will help to increase access to this important means of pregnancy prevention.

What is Emergency contraception?

Emergency contraception, also known as postcoital contraception, is a responsible means of preventing pregnancy that works like other hormonal contraception by preventing or delaying ovulation, preventing fertilization and may prevent implantation.  It does not terminate an established pregnancy.

Emergency contraception consists of the same hormones found in ordinary birth control pills. Research indicates that emergency contraception can reduce the risk of pregnancy from 59 to 94 percent. Although more effective the sooner it is taken, medical evidence indicates that emergency contraception can be effective up to 5 days after unprotected intercourse or contraceptive failure.

The Problem

In the United States, each year 3,000,000 pregnancies, or one-half of all pregnancies, in are unintended, and 4 in 10 of these unintended pregnancies end in abortion.

The percentage of women who have ever used emergency contraception, increased from 4 percent in 2002 to 10 percent in 2006-2008.  However, their remains  significant disparities for young urban, minority women who lack general knowledge about emergency contraception. 

Both the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have endorsed more widespread availability of emergency contraceptive.  The Food and Drug Administration has declared emergency contraception to be safe and effective in preventing unintended pregnancy for women of reproductive potential and has approved over-the-counter access to the emergency contraceptive Plan B for adults.

However,  even though the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that doctors routinely discuss emergency contraception with women of reproductive age during their annual visit, only 1 in 4 obstetricians/gynecologists routinely discuss emergency contraception with their patients, suggesting the need for greater provider and patient education.

In addition, it is estimated that 25,000 to 32,000 women become pregnant each year as a result of rape or incest, half of whom choose to terminate their pregnancy. If used correctly, emergency contraception could help many of these rape survivors avoid the additional trauma of facing an unintended pregnancy.

However, a recent study conducted by Ibis Reproductive Health found that less than 16 percent of hospitals provide emergency contraception at a woman's request without restrictions. At nearly 44 percent of hospitals, emergency contraception is unavailable even in cases of sexual assault.

The bottom line is , emergency contraceptive use in the United States remains low, and 1 in 3 women of reproductive age remain unaware of the method.

The Solution

Public awareness campaigns targeting women and health care providers will help remove many of the barriers to emergency contraception and will help bring this important means of pregnancy prevention to women in the United States.

By passing the Emergency Contraception Education Act it will;

-directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to develop and disseminate to the public information on emergency contraception, including, at a minimum, a description of emergency contraception and an explanation of the use, safety, efficacy, and availability of such contraception.

-require that the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), to develop and disseminate to health care providers, including pharmacists, information on emergency contraception that includes, at a minimum: (1) information describing the use, safety, efficacy, and availability of emergency contraception; (2) a recommendation regarding its use in appropriate cases; and (3) information explaining how to obtain copies of information from the CDC.

What can you do to get the Emergency Contraception Education Act passed?

Please write to and/or call your U.S. Representatives and Senators and President Obama tell them to pass the Emergency Contraception Education Act in the 112th session of congress. Also ask your U.S. Representatives and Senators to co-sponsor the Emergency Contraception Education Act.