FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: |
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Marcela Howell (202) 419-3420
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July 31, 2006 |
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Politics Still at Play at the FDA
Statement by James Wagoner, President, Advocates for Youth
"While we applaud the FDA for finally moving forward on the over-the-counter application for Plan B®, the emergency contraceptive pill, we are gravely concerned that, once again, politics, rather than science, is at play and the most vulnerable women – teens – will be penalized.
It is no coincidence that one day before Dr. von Eschenbach’s confirmation hearing, the FDA announces its willingness to re-examine the Barr application. We have all come to expect this sort of political manipulation before Congress. However, it is troubling that Dr. von Eschenbach has placed an arbitrary “appropriate” age restriction of 18 for access to Plan B® OTC.
Numerous studies indicate that access to Plan B® by adolescents as young as 15 did not lead to increased irresponsible sexual behavior or less consistent contraceptive use. The American Academy of Pediatrics supports improved availability of emergency contraception to teens and young adults, including over the counter access.
The United States has the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the Western industrialized world - - nearly twice that of Canada and Great Britain. Each year, approximately 800,000 teenage women in the U.S. experience pregnancy. In 2003 alone, there were more than 200,000 pregnancies among 16 and 17 year olds. Under the current proposal, these young women would not have over-the-counter access to emergency contraception - - technology that could avert up to half of these pregnancies.
About 70 percent of all young people have had sex by age 18. Most do not intend to become pregnant or to be a parent at such an early age. Teenage women are also at higher risk of sexual assault or forced sex than are older women. Further, pregnancy and childbirth pose series health risks to young teens. Young women who are at risk of pregnancy—whether due to rape, contraceptive failure, or lack of protection—need unrestricted access to EC. No young woman should have to face an unintended pregnancy when a remedy exists to prevent pregnancy.
I call on the FDA and Dr. von Eschenbach to embrace public health science and make emergency contraception available over the counter for all women, including teens.”
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Advocates for Youth is a national, nonprofit organization that creates programs and supports policies that help young people make safe, responsible decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.
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