Nonprescription availability of emergency contraception in the United States: current status, controversies, and impact on emergency medicine practice

Ann Emerg Med. 2006 May;47(5):461-71. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2005.07.001. Epub 2005 Sep 13.

Abstract

In October 2004, the American College of Emergency Physicians Council joined more than 60 other health professional organizations in supporting the nonprescription availability of emergency contraception. This article reviews the history, efficacy, and safety of emergency contraception; the efforts toward making emergency contraception available without a prescription in the United States; the arguments for and against nonprescription availability of emergency contraception; and the potential impact nonprescription availability could have on the practice of emergency medicine in the United States.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Contraception Behavior
  • Contraceptives, Postcoital* / economics
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Dissent and Disputes
  • Emergency Medicine / economics
  • Emergency Medicine / trends*
  • Female
  • Forecasting
  • Global Health
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Health Services Accessibility* / economics
  • Health Services Accessibility* / ethics
  • Humans
  • Legislation, Drug* / ethics
  • Nonprescription Drugs* / economics
  • Politics
  • Pregnancy
  • Risk Assessment
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • United States

Substances

  • Contraceptives, Postcoital
  • Nonprescription Drugs