Reproductive Rights

Update on Plan B
The good news about Plan B is that the president endorses its limited use.  Reuters Health, August 22, 2006

The bad news about Plan B is that its use will be limited. Read Ellen Goodman's comments.
Boston.com: Date: August 11, 2006 Headline: A victory, sort of, for Plan B

Emergency Contraception
Attacks on abortion rights have gone on for decades. However, now the attack is on access to BIRTH CONTROL as well. Chris Winter, California’s Reproductive Choice Committee chair, outlined the attack in her workshop at the AAUW-CA convention in April 2005. The target is Emergency Contraception, aka “Plan B.”

Emergency Contraception (EC) is a SAFE method to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. It does NOT cause abortion and is NOT the same as RU-486 (“abortion pill”). California is one of the few states where it is legal for women to get EC directly from a pharmacist without a prescription. However, only CERTIFIED pharmacists can distribute EC without a prescription.

That is the law, but what’s the reality?

Recommended action:
Visit www.EC-Help.org to read more detailed information on Emergency Contraception and to find out if pharmacies in your area provide EC without a doctor’s prescription. If they don’t, call and/or write them to inquire why they are not providing this service, and let them know you consider it an essential part of access to birth control for all women and girls.