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FDA Considering Making Morning-After Pill Over the Counter
Aired December 16, 2003 - 13:26 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: An FDA advisory panel is expected to make a recommendation today on whether the morning-after pill should be sold over the counter. That pill can significantly reduce the chance of getting pregnant up to three days after sex. But its use is not without controversy, of course.
Here to discuss it, CNN medical correspondent Holly Firfer. Definitely has been a little controversial, hasn't it?
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. We kind of like that in the medical unit.
An FDA advisory board is listening to both sides of the debate over emergency contraception today. The issue is over how the drug is sold. Right now Plan B is available with a doctor's prescription in five states. But many in the medical community want to make this pill available any time.
First let's talk a little bit at what Plan B is. It's essentially two high-dose birth control pills that disrupt a woman's normal menstrual cycle. Taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex it can affect the transport of sperm or eggs in the fallopian tube preventing fertilization. It can block the surge of hormones that cause of ovulation and it can also thicken the mucous and change the uterine lining which makes it inhospitable for a fertilized egg to implant.
But it cannot prevent a pregnancy that has already happened. Once that fertilized egg is implanted in the uterine wall, Plan B is ineffective.
Now today's debate focuses on whether this should be available to everyone. This morning the company presented its reasons why it feels Plan B should be available over the counter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAROLE BEN-MAIMON, BARR LABORATORIES: Over three million unintended pregnancies occur each year. The typical use, women using condoms, 15 percent of them will become pregnant each year and 8 percent of women using oral contraceptives will become pregnant.
There are approximately 800,000 unintended pregnancies in teenagers.
(END VIDEO CLIP) FIRFER: In the public comment period, one group opposed the idea.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WENDY WRIGHT, CONCERNED WOMEN FOR AMERICA: We're very disturbed by Plan B's promoters' emphasis on access but not on women's safety. There have been no studies done on the long-term effects of women...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FIRFER: Actually, I'll finish that later. But basically the FDA will take it under advisement and they will make a decision but not a definite decision today.
PHILLIPS: Thank you, Holly.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
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Aired December 16, 2003 - 13:26 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: An FDA advisory panel is expected to make a recommendation today on whether the morning-after pill should be sold over the counter. That pill can significantly reduce the chance of getting pregnant up to three days after sex. But its use is not without controversy, of course.
Here to discuss it, CNN medical correspondent Holly Firfer. Definitely has been a little controversial, hasn't it?
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. We kind of like that in the medical unit.
An FDA advisory board is listening to both sides of the debate over emergency contraception today. The issue is over how the drug is sold. Right now Plan B is available with a doctor's prescription in five states. But many in the medical community want to make this pill available any time.
First let's talk a little bit at what Plan B is. It's essentially two high-dose birth control pills that disrupt a woman's normal menstrual cycle. Taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex it can affect the transport of sperm or eggs in the fallopian tube preventing fertilization. It can block the surge of hormones that cause of ovulation and it can also thicken the mucous and change the uterine lining which makes it inhospitable for a fertilized egg to implant.
But it cannot prevent a pregnancy that has already happened. Once that fertilized egg is implanted in the uterine wall, Plan B is ineffective.
Now today's debate focuses on whether this should be available to everyone. This morning the company presented its reasons why it feels Plan B should be available over the counter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAROLE BEN-MAIMON, BARR LABORATORIES: Over three million unintended pregnancies occur each year. The typical use, women using condoms, 15 percent of them will become pregnant each year and 8 percent of women using oral contraceptives will become pregnant.
There are approximately 800,000 unintended pregnancies in teenagers.
(END VIDEO CLIP) FIRFER: In the public comment period, one group opposed the idea.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WENDY WRIGHT, CONCERNED WOMEN FOR AMERICA: We're very disturbed by Plan B's promoters' emphasis on access but not on women's safety. There have been no studies done on the long-term effects of women...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FIRFER: Actually, I'll finish that later. But basically the FDA will take it under advisement and they will make a decision but not a definite decision today.
PHILLIPS: Thank you, Holly.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
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