With the introduction of emergency contraception (EC), the likelihood of an unintended pregnancy can be reduced by up to 80%[1]; however, limited access to EC, poor EC knowledge, and nonuse of EC because of the failure to recognize the risk of a pregnancy are one of many roadblocks that have weakened the potential benefits of emergency contraception. Numerous studies have been conducted to compare and analyze the impact that prescription-only EC and over-the-counter (OTC) or advanced provision of EC (AEC) have on unintended pregnancies, abortion rates and contraceptive behavior. The literature has shown evidence that improved access to EC increases its usage and has not been correlated with an increase in risky sexual behavior or incidence of sexually transmitted diseases. Studies have not been able to show a significant decrease in abortion rates with increased access to EC. The literature has also shown that even with increased availability of EC, EC use is much lower than expected and therefore did not result in a significant decrease in unintended pregnancies.

Paper presented to the 3rd Annual Symposium on Graduate Research and Scholarly Projects (GRASP) held at the Hughes Metropolitan Complex, Wichita State University, April 27, 2007.Research completed at the Department of Physician Assistant, College of Health Professions