Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #114610

Cynthia A. Pearson, National Women's Health Network, 514 Tenth Street, NW, Fourth Floor, Washington, DC 20004, 202-347-1140, cpearson@womenshealthnetwork.org

Proponents of changing the status of emergency contraception from prescription to over-the-counter argue that emergency contraceptive pills meet the requirements for over-the-counter status. What about regular oral contraceptives, or contraceptives that deliver the same hormones via a different approach such as the patch or the vaginal ring? Do they meet the test for over-the-counter status? Should advocates for the sexual and reproductive autonomy of women view non-prescription access as a simple matter of women's rights? Is the persistence of the prescription requirement an example of sexism – allowing “authorities” to intervene in women's sexuality? Or is the prescription requirement a vehicle to advance another element of women's autonomy – access to useful information? The presenter will identify and discuss a variety of positions on these questions.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the presentation, the participant will be able to (
• describe regulatory requirements for non-prescription status; (
• assess the potential likelihood of non-prescription status for various hormonal contraceptives; and (
• describe various perspectives on the appropriateness of over-the-counter access to hormonal contraceptives.

Keywords: Women's Health, Family Planning

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.