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CNN Live At Daybreak
'Morning After Pill'
Aired December 16, 2003 - 06:51 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Later today, an FDA committee will discuss the status of the so-called morning after pill or Plan B. The panel will discuss whether or not it should be sold over the counter. If advocates have their way, it could soon be stocked on pharmacy store shelves just like aspirin and cold remedies. And, by the way, it's called Plan B because it's designed to be used when plans for contraception fail.
Here to talk more about this emergency contraception is Dr. Sandra Fryhofer.
We're going to keep this to medical factors, right, and ignore the controversy for now.
First of all, is this an abortion pill?
DR. SANDRA FRYHOFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, it is not the abortion pill. Carol, we're not talking about RU-486, which is the abortion pill. This is emergency contraception. Now, it's essentially two doses of -- ultra high doses of regular progestin only birth control pills given 12 hours apart. The first dose has to be taken within 72 hours of the event and if it's taken within 72 hours, it reduces the risk of pregnancy by 89 percent. If it's taken sooner, it's even more effective.
Now, let's talk about how it works. Again, it's not an abortion pill. It works by keeping the egg from becoming fertilized. It also may prevent implantation. And that's a little stickier part. Now, in general, the medical community considers pregnancy to begin when implantation begins. Some of the religious groups see it a little bit differently.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes they do. How popular is this medication?
FRYHOFER: Well, Carol, about six percent of all women in the United States have used it at one time or another. But a lot of times it's thought that a lot of women don't know it's out there. So getting it out there over the counter would increase access and maybe more women would have access to this medication.
The experts say that if it's out over the counter, it could cut in half the number of unintended pregnancies and the number of abortions.
COSTELLO: But what if you're already pregnant and you take these pills? Can it harm the fetus? FRYHOFER: No, and that's something that everyone needs to understand. It will not harm the baby, even if it is taken early in pregnancy.
COSTELLO: So...
FRYHOFER: Now, safety issues, that's a big question that a lot of people have. Safety is really not a concern. It's plenty safe. Side effects include nausea and vomiting. There are some experts that say it's even safer than aspirin. So safety is not really the problem. It's not addictive. So the safety part is pretty much locked in.
Now, what we -- already it's available in about 30 different countries without a prescription, including France and Great Britain. And in France, it's -- they started carrying this in the 1970s. It went over the counter in 1999 and France now has one of the lowest abortion rates in the world. A lot of physician groups are in favor of this going over the counter, family physician groups, the OB-GYNs, pediatrician groups. So it's going to be very interesting today. A lot of heated and emotional testimony.
COSTELLO: And do you have any guesses as to what this FDA committee will decide?
FRYHOFER: Well, the FDA has several members on this committee. It's going to be interesting to see what they decide. A lot of heated testimony. And then the FDA will have to take that information, digest it and then come out with a recommendation.
COSTELLO: And we'll keep you posted on what happens.
FRYHOFER: Oh, yes.
COSTELLO: Definitely so.
FRYHOFER: We certainly will.
COSTELLO: Dr. Sandy Fryhofer, many thanks to you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 16, 2003 - 06:51 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Later today, an FDA committee will discuss the status of the so-called morning after pill or Plan B. The panel will discuss whether or not it should be sold over the counter. If advocates have their way, it could soon be stocked on pharmacy store shelves just like aspirin and cold remedies. And, by the way, it's called Plan B because it's designed to be used when plans for contraception fail.
Here to talk more about this emergency contraception is Dr. Sandra Fryhofer.
We're going to keep this to medical factors, right, and ignore the controversy for now.
First of all, is this an abortion pill?
DR. SANDRA FRYHOFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, it is not the abortion pill. Carol, we're not talking about RU-486, which is the abortion pill. This is emergency contraception. Now, it's essentially two doses of -- ultra high doses of regular progestin only birth control pills given 12 hours apart. The first dose has to be taken within 72 hours of the event and if it's taken within 72 hours, it reduces the risk of pregnancy by 89 percent. If it's taken sooner, it's even more effective.
Now, let's talk about how it works. Again, it's not an abortion pill. It works by keeping the egg from becoming fertilized. It also may prevent implantation. And that's a little stickier part. Now, in general, the medical community considers pregnancy to begin when implantation begins. Some of the religious groups see it a little bit differently.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes they do. How popular is this medication?
FRYHOFER: Well, Carol, about six percent of all women in the United States have used it at one time or another. But a lot of times it's thought that a lot of women don't know it's out there. So getting it out there over the counter would increase access and maybe more women would have access to this medication.
The experts say that if it's out over the counter, it could cut in half the number of unintended pregnancies and the number of abortions.
COSTELLO: But what if you're already pregnant and you take these pills? Can it harm the fetus? FRYHOFER: No, and that's something that everyone needs to understand. It will not harm the baby, even if it is taken early in pregnancy.
COSTELLO: So...
FRYHOFER: Now, safety issues, that's a big question that a lot of people have. Safety is really not a concern. It's plenty safe. Side effects include nausea and vomiting. There are some experts that say it's even safer than aspirin. So safety is not really the problem. It's not addictive. So the safety part is pretty much locked in.
Now, what we -- already it's available in about 30 different countries without a prescription, including France and Great Britain. And in France, it's -- they started carrying this in the 1970s. It went over the counter in 1999 and France now has one of the lowest abortion rates in the world. A lot of physician groups are in favor of this going over the counter, family physician groups, the OB-GYNs, pediatrician groups. So it's going to be very interesting today. A lot of heated and emotional testimony.
COSTELLO: And do you have any guesses as to what this FDA committee will decide?
FRYHOFER: Well, the FDA has several members on this committee. It's going to be interesting to see what they decide. A lot of heated testimony. And then the FDA will have to take that information, digest it and then come out with a recommendation.
COSTELLO: And we'll keep you posted on what happens.
FRYHOFER: Oh, yes.
COSTELLO: Definitely so.
FRYHOFER: We certainly will.
COSTELLO: Dr. Sandy Fryhofer, many thanks to you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
