Health-related professional associations and organizations
around the world have expressed their support for emergency
contraception. Their endorsements of EC reflect confidence
in EC's safety and effectiveness, and a belief that
greater access to EC is desirable.
International
Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, FIGO
"Recommendations
1. Early access to hormonal emergency contraception
improves the success rate and therefore decreases health
risks. Therefore, at a public policy level, the medical
profession should advocate that emergency contraception
be easily available and accessible at all times to all
women.
2. Emergency contraception is not medically appropriate
as an ongoing contraceptive method. Physicians have
the obligation to assure accurate information is available
regarding emergency contraception, as well as discuss
future strategies for individuals to avoid the need
for emergency contraception.
3. Access to emergency contraception should be an essential
component of immediate care for women who suffer rape
and are exposed to pregnancy. Adolescents because of
their special vulnerability in society form another
group for whom emergency contraception should be made
easily available."
Published in Recommendations On Ethical Issues In
Obstetrics And Gynecology By The FIGO Committee For
The Ethical Aspects Of Human Reproduction And Women's
Health, November 2003
World
Health Organization, WHO
"Any woman of reproductive age may need emergency
contraception at some point to avoid an unwanted pregnancy."
Fact Sheet Nº 244, Revised October 2005.
The
United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA
"Women have the right to information and services
on emergency contraception just as with all other safe
and effective methods of family planning."
UNFPA Frequently Asked Questions.
American
Academy of Pediatrics, AAP
"An increase in awareness and availability of
emergency contraception to teens does not change reported
rates of sexual activity or increase the frequency of
unprotected intercourse among adolescents.
The American Academy of Pediatrics continues to support
improved availability of EC to teens and young adults,
including over-the-counter access and limiting the barriers
to access placed by some health care providers and venues."
Policy Statement, September 1, 2005.
American
College of Emergency Physicians, ACEP
"ACEP supports the availability of non-prescription
emergency contraception."
Policy #400343, Approved October 2004.
American
College of Nurse-Midwives, ACNM
"ACNM supports removing barriers to the immediate
availability of emergency contraception through: increased
education for consumers and professionals, advance prescription
of emergency contraceptive pills, direct pharmacy access,
FDA approval of over-the-counter distribution, and insurance
coverage for all prescriptive methods of contraception.
ACNM also opposes any laws or regulations that would
prohibit CNMs and CMs from prescribing ECP."
Position Statement, Approved by ACNM Board of Directors,
September 2001.
American
College of Obstetricians and Gynecology, ACOG
ACOG fully supports availability of EC. ACOG has a
Practice Bulletin, updated December 2005 and available in the December edition of “Obstetrics and Gynecology,” which contains clinical management guidelines on emergency oral contraception for clinicians.
All information contained in the guidelines is based
on scientific evidence and expert opinion.
"ACOG reiterates its support for making emergency
contraception (EC) available without a physician's prescription
to all women of reproductive age....ACOG urges obstetricians-gynecologists
to provide advance prescriptions for EC to all women
of reproductive age at every office visit, long before
they need it."
Statement, August 29, 2005.
Society
for Adolescent Health, SAM
"The Society for Adolescent Medicine (SAM) asserts
its support for increasing awareness of and improving
timely access to ECPs."
Provision of Emergency Contraception to Adolescents,
Position Paper of the Society for Adolescent Medicine,
2004. http://www.adolescenthealth.org/PositionPaper_Emergency_Contraception.pdf
American
Public Health Association, APHA
The American Public Health Association believes emergency
contraception should be available over-the-counter.
International
Planned Parenthood Federation, IPPF
"IPPF EN wants emergency contraception to be available,
affordable and easily accessible to all individuals
living in Europe for reasons of: health, as it provides
an efficient and low-risk method that involves a simple
procedure and a minimum of side effects, choice, as
it offers the possibility to avoid an unwanted pregnancy,
rights, as it gives access to an effective, affordable
and safe post-coital contraceptive."
Adopted at RC 2004.
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