Morning-after pill: Experts recommend no prescription
All content is checked by medical journalists.MunichIn most European countries, women don't need a prescription for the morning-after pill. It prevents pregnancy in the event of a contraception failure. In Germany you still need a prescription. "From a medical point of view, there is absolutely no reason against it," say scientists from the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArm).
Federal Ministry of Health decides
The experts are in favor of abolishing the prescription requirement for the morning-after pill. At the same time, they emphasize that pharmacists would then have to provide advice on dispensing the drug. Now the Federal Ministry of Health has to decide whether to issue a corresponding ordinance and submit it to the Federal Council. Federal Health Minister Hermann Gröhe (CDU) and colleagues could also deviate from the assessment of the expert committee. The CDU health expert Jens Spahn, for example, is critical of the prescription-free pill. The gynecologists also oppose the abolition of the prescription requirement.
A similar expert recommendation was made in 2003, but a corresponding ordinance never came into existence. At that time, the Union in particular spoke out against the free availability of the morning-after pill.
Best effect on the first day
The most important argument for the over-the-counter morning-after pill is the time it saves. Because when it comes to effectiveness, every hour counts. In the first 24 hours after sex, the drug works with 95 percent certainty. Unwanted pregnancy is only 85 percent prevented between 24 and 48 hours. After that, the effectiveness drops to 58 percent. The morning-after pill does not terminate a pregnancy, it only delays ovulation, so it is an emergency contraceptive. (away)
Source: Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices
