THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 14, 1996 TAG: 9602140387
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: DEBRA GORDON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
A national coalition for women's health specialists and reproductive rights has opened a toll-free hot line to educate women about ``emergency contraception,'' which they call ``one of the best-kept secrets in women's health.''
Beginning today, women can call the hot line (1-800-584-9911) and receive the latest information on preventing a pregnancy after unprotected sex, including a list of local providers.
Popularly known as the ``morning-after pill,'' emergency contraception drugs are ordinary birth-control pills containing the hormones estrogen and progestin.
They are not to be confused with ``mifepristone,'' or RU-486, the French-made drug that induces abortions up to three months after conception, but which has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Emergency contraception, which has been used for nearly 20 years, works by preventing the fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus or by preventing the release of a woman's egg. Some researchers believe wider use of the pills could halve the number of abortions in this country.
Some anti-abortion advocates say, however, that the process itself is a form of abortion, because it may prevent implantation of a fertilized egg.
Still, the Academy of Gynecologists and Obstetricians recommends its members discuss emergency contraception with their patients so that women are aware of their options in the event of unprotected sex, a rape or even when using contraception, like a condom, that fails.
Locally, most private physicians will provide emergency contraception if asked, although the hot line directs callers to local Planned Parenthood centers.
Lisa Persikoff, executive director of Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Virginia, with offices in Hampton, Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, is thrilled with the publicity and education the hot line provides.
Planned Parenthood prescribes emergency contraception a couple dozen times a year, Persikoff said, an ``unfortunately low number.''
One reason is that pharmaceutical manufacturers have not asked the Food and Drug Administration to approve birth-control pills for use as emergency contraception, so the pills cannot be marketed as such, she said.
``Even though it's legal for doctors to prescribe it, it's not the usual way it's prescribed,'' Persikoff said.
Locally, several obstetrician/gynecologists said they rarely educate their patients about it when discussing birth control.
``I guess we probably don't counsel patients about it as much as we should,'' said Dr. Willette LeHew of The Group for Women.
``You can only effectively teach or talk to patients about so many things during a visit,'' Virginia Beach OB-GYN Craig Ruetzel said.
Still, he said, ``with the high number of unintended pregnancies, it's something I wish more people were aware of.''
He also worries that with the push towards managed-care insurance, more women may not have the kind of access to their OB-GYNs that they need to receive emergency contraception, and that other specialists aren't as aware of the treatment.
The hot line is sponsored in part by the Washington-based, nonprofit Reproductive Health Technologies Project, which provides information and access to women on methods of controlling fertility and protecting her health, and by the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, an interdisciplinary professional organization of physicians and other professionals in reproductive health. by CNB