A U.S. judge recently ordered the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to make the emergency contraceptive called the morning-after pill available to girls younger than age 17 without a doctor's prescription. This was reported by Voice of America.
U.S. District Judge Edward Korman ruled that levonorgestrel-based contraceptives such as Plan B One-Step and Next Choice One Dose should be available over the counter to all customers within 30 days, LA Times wrote.
The morning-after pill is currently only available without a prescription to those 17 and older who can prove their age, said CBS News. Younger teens need a prescription.
The pill needs to be taken within three days of unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy, said Boston Globe, but it is most effective if taken within the first 24 hours.
The drug, a synthetic hormone, prevents pregnancy by blocking ovulation and impeding the sperm’s mobility, stated LA Times. It does not cause an abortion in women who are already pregnant, nor does it harm a developing fetus.
Plan B was first approved for use by prescription only in 1999. In 2006, the FDA granted over-the-counter access to the pill for women 18 and older while maintaining the prescription requirement for younger females, reported MedPage Today.
In late 2011, the FDA was ready to allow the nonprescription sale of the drug to all ages. But Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius overruled the agency and continued to require prescriptions for those 16 and younger wrote LA Times.
Sebelius cited concern that the drug had not been tested in girls as young as 11 years of age, even though 10 percent of them are "physically capable of bearing children."
President Barack Obama said at the time that he supported Sebelius' decision, wrote CBS News.
Judge Korman said the federal government's requirement that young girls get a prescription first was "politically motivated" and "scientifically unjustified," said Voice of America.
According to the Boston Globe, "if the federal government chooses not to appeal the decision the FDA must, within 30 days, allow pharmacies to stock the morning-after pill on their shelves, rather than behind the counter." And they must sell it without verifying the buyer’s age.
Justice Department spokeswoman Allison Price said the government was "reviewing the appellate options and expects to act promptly," said LA Times.
CBS News reported that White House press secretary Jay Carney has said that the president’s position on the issue has not changed.
Women’s health organizations applauded the decision, wrote Boston Globe. But critics of it said young teens might indiscriminately and incorrectly use the morning-after pill as a method of birth control, and that it might encourage sexual promiscuity.
Sources:
"Judge Strikes Down Age Restrictions for 'Morning After' Pill." VOA - Voice of America English News - VOA News. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.
http://www.voanews.com/content/us-judge-strikes-down-age-restrictions-fir-morning-after-pill/1635913.html
Howell Jr., Tom. "Judge strikes down age restrictions on 'morning-after' pill - Washington Times." Washington Times - Politics, Breaking News, US and World News. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/apr/5/judge-kills-age-restrictions-morning-after-pill/?page=all
"Judge strikes age restrictions for "morning after" pill - CBS News."Breaking News Headlines: Business, Entertainment & World News - CBS News. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57578105/judge-strikes-age-restrictions-for-morning-after-pill
Kotz, Deborah. "Judge lifts age limits on sale of Plan B morning after pill without a prescription - Health & wellness - The Boston Globe." The Boston Globe. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2013/04/05/judge-lifts-age-limits-sale-plan-morning-after-pill-without-prescription/4OlRhnEd2udYqX5fRA8vPM/story.html
Morin, Monte, and Geoffrey Mohan. "Court ruling lifts age limit on morning-after pill - Los Angeles Times." Featured Articles From The Los Angeles Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/apr/05/science/la-sci-plan-b-20130406
Neale, Todd. "Age Restriction Removed on OTC Morning-After Pill." Medical News and Free CME from MedPage Today. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/OBGYN/GeneralOBGYN/38269?isalert=1
Reviewed April 11, 2013
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith