The Bunnies Know Their EC; Why Doesn't the FDA?

Have you seen the bunny video from the Center for Reproductive Rights yet? If not, you have to check it out; it's pretty funny--and pretty accurate:

This video is so funny on multiple accounts--the very animals that are used for testing so often (and usually so unnecessarily, but that's another post) know the facts better than the so-called "experts." They're also notoriously famous for breeding like, well, rabbits. While the issue at hand is a serious one, I applaud the Center for Reproductive Rights for their ingenuity in this campaign.

The worst thing about this campaign is that it shouldn't even have to exist in the first place. 

Last year, a judge did rule, after all, that the FDA must reconsider making EC (emergency contraception) an over-the-counter medication, rather than something requiring a prescription, to women of all ages. This is because scientists agree that the drug presents no need for age restrictions or physician input; it’s safe for women to take and can prevent pregnancy from occurring in an emergency.  

But the FDA continues to make the drug unavailable to all females under the age of 18 who don’t have a prescription for it without any sound medical rationale behind their actions. If you recall, the FDA tried the same shenanigans six years ago, but for all women. The Center for Reproductive Rights sued them over the matter in 2005 for not listening to their own panel of scientists and violating their own regulations; after this, the FDA made EC available to women over the age of 18 without a prescription.

But today, without any medical grounds whatsoever, the FDA continues to make EC unavailable to young women who are faced with emergency needs such as broken condoms, rape, and other situations. No matter the situation, the fact remains that every woman should have the chance to protect herself against an unwanted pregnancy—especially so early in life.

Not only does making EC available only behind the pharmacy counter an unnecessary embarrassment for many young women; it also puts them at risk of getting pregnant due to a time loss. Obtaining a prescription can take a lengthy amount of time, time during which women facing such a situation could have already taken the medicine to prevent a pregnancy from occurring. It also is more costly, as many doctors require an office visit to give out a prescription. Condoms are available over-the-counter for all to purchase; so should EC be.

In the past, the FDA has claimed that its actions were a result of following the Bush Administration’s desire to keep the medicine out of reach from young women; even if this is true, not only is there a new administration in town—rendering that argument outdated—the fact remains that politics should never dictate the health of people, period. The FDA has no right to decide whether or not a young woman should get pregnant.

To ensure that all women be granted safe, fast access to emergency contraception today, please contact the FDA and ask that the medicine be made available over-the-counter for ALL women.