2,200 feel the time is right for Plan B

Contraception giveaway success at Planned Parenthood

Lisa Ryckman, Rocky Mountain News

Published December 8, 2006 at midnight

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Just in case.

That's why Tara happened to have emergency contraception in her medicine cabinet. That's why 2,200 people in Colorado went to their nearest Planned Parenthood on Wednesday for a free packet of morning-after pills, also known as Plan B.

The giveaway was part of Planned Parenthood's nationwide "Free EC Day," designed to raise awareness of emergency contraception, now available without a prescription for people 18 and older.

"In our Fort Collins health center, we had lines out the door," said Kate Horle, a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, which has 28 clinics in Colorado.

Emergency contraception, or EC, which is a higher dose of the synthetic hormone found in birth-control pills, has been available for years with a prescription. In August, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Plan B for sale without a prescription for people 18 and older. Those younger than 17 still need a prescription.

The new convenience might be a relief to any woman who has ever had birth control fail on a weekend, when a doctor's prescription could be tough to get.

"About a month ago, a condom broke, so it's a good thing I had it," said Tara, 29, who asked that her last name not be used to protect her privacy.

The same thing happened to Sara, 23, who also asked that her last name not be used. "Broken condom, middle of a snowstorm," she said. "It was inconvenient. But it was a relief to know it was there."

Dr. Vanessa Cullins, Planned Parenthood's national vice president for medical affairs, suggested that women keep EC on hand. It lowers the risk of pregnancy by nearly 90 percent if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, but it works up to 120 hours afterward.

Barr Pharmaceuticals, Plan B's maker, began shipping the newly packaged pills early last month. Denver-area drugstores haven't seen a spike in demand, although Kris Swinney, a pharmacist at Rite Aid in Cherry Creek, said he'd sold about four in the past two weeks.

Demand may increase, as people become aware of how easy EC is to obtain now. Tara took a friend to get EC a month ago. Her friend bought two packets, so she'd have one on hand, and Tara bought some for herself. But she said it would never replace regular birth control.

"I would rather just be on the pill than have a panic over the weekend," Tara said. "It's your Plan B. It's not Plan A."

Facts on the morning-after pill

• What it's for: Emergency contraception, also known as the morning-after pill or backup birth control, can prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex, a contraceptive failure or sexual assault.

• What it is: EC contains levonorgestrel, a higher dose of the same synthetic hormones found in birth control pills.

• What it's not: EC is not the same as RU486, the so-called abortion pill. Once pregnancy has occurred, EC has no effect.

• How it works: EC prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation or fertilization; in rare cases it may also inhibit implantation. EC reduces the risk of pregnancy by nearly 90 percent when the first dose is taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse, and it may be taken up to five days after.

• How to use it: EC is taken in two doses; the second dose is taken 12 hours after the first. It is not intended to be used as a regular method of birth control, and it provides no protection against HIV or other sexually transmitted infections.

• Possible side effects: The most common include nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue and headache.

• Where to get it: EC can be obtained from a pharmacist without a prescription by anyone over 18. People under the age of 18 can get EC with a prescription. It is also available to people of all ages at Planned Parenthood clinics.

• What it costs: An emergency contraceptive kit costs about $30 at Planned Parenthood and about $40 at drugstores.

• Information: www.go2planb.com; www.plannedparenthood.com.

Sources: U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Barr Pharmaceuticals

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