'Morning-after pill' still available from doctors, health officials say

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Health Writer

Hawai'i surveys indicate that a little more than half of the pregnancies in the state are unintended, prompting state health officials to get the word out that people can seek emergency contraception — also known as the "morning-after pill" — through a doctor.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last week withheld approval of over-the-counter sale of the emergency contraceptive Plan B, saying the distributor had not proven young teens can take the drug safely without consulting a doctor.

The FDA decision went against the recommendation of the agency's own expert advisory panel.

Kit Uyeda, of the Hawai'i Department of Health's family planning program, said 56 percent of Hawai'i pregnancies are unplanned, according to a 2001 survey. That was up slightly from the previous year's total of 54 percent.

An unintended pregnancy isn't necessarily an unwelcome one, but Uyeda says the high numbers indicate there is some demand for the morning-after pill.

"Women are sometimes forced to have sex when they're not prepared, when they're raped," she said. And sometimes men call the department to ask what can be done if birth control that they were using breaks or fails, she said.

The pills are most effective when taken within the first 24 hours after unprotected sex, but can be taken up to five days after (with effectiveness declining each day), she said.

Uyeda said national statistics indicate about half of the nearly 3 million unplanned pregnancies each year occur to women who are using a regular form of birth control.

Zavi Brees-Saunders, women's health coordinator at Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services, believes that emergency contraception is an important option for many families.

Brees-Saunders said clients who want the prescriptions range from teenagers to mothers who have children but want to postponing other pregnancies for some reason. "It really gives people a second chance," she said.

She said such contraception proves valuable for patients who oppose abortion but are open to pregnancy prevention. "It gives people a chance to control their own health," Brees-Saunders said.

Dr. Chiyome Fukino, state health director, believes that women can seek the emergency contraception through their doctors. She is more concerned that the FDA's unusual decision to go against its own experts will hurt the agency's credibility.

Fukino said strong relationships between patients and their doctors set the stage for conversations about all health issues, even those involving sex and reproduction.

Uyeda said the pills have been widely available since 1998, but sometimes patients need to be proactive and ask for them.

For more information, visit www.backupyourbirthcontrol.org or www.not-2-late.com.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.