I am pleased to let you know that I am an original cosponsor of the Emergency Contraception Education Act of 2007, S.2108, legislation intended to increase awareness about the availability of emergency contraception.  The bill authorizes an education effort to inform women and healthcare providers about emergency contraception, also known as Plan B or the "morning-after" pill.

According to recent research, about one-third of women of child-bearing age are unaware of the availability of emergency contraception.  The same research showed that fewer than 18 percent of hospitals provide emergency contraception without restrictions when women request it, and only one in five ob/gyns routinely discuss emergency contraception with their patients.

This lack of information has consequences.  Each year 3 million pregnancies, or about half of all pregnancies, are unintended.  And half of these pregnancies end in abortion. With better education and better use of emergency contraception, the number of abortions could fall dramatically.  

Emergency contraception is a concentrated dose of ordinary birth control that can dramatically reduce a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant if taken soon after sex.  Emergency contraception prevents pregnancy by inhibiting ovulation, fertilization, or implantation before a pregnancy occurs. Emergency contraception is safe and effective.  Last year the FDA approved over-the-counter sales of the medication for individuals aged 18 and up.

S.2108, authored by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), directs the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to establish an Emergency Contraception Public Education Program through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the aim of increasing information about emergency contraception and an explanation of its use, safety, efficacy and availability.  You can count on me to work for the passage of this important bill.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator