Women to get new birth-control option, though it’s not without controversy

Ella One, an emergency contraceptive that is currently being used by women in Europe, has been approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration. It is expected to hit American shelves by the end of this year, according to PlannedParenthood.org.

Ella One is used to prevent pregnancy after other methods of birth control such as condoms have failed. It differs slightly from the only emergency contraceptive available currently, Plan B, said D.O. Lee Ann Conard, a doctor of osteopathic medicine at Ohio University's Hudson Health Center.

"Plan B and Ella One are different types of medication. But they both work to stop the egg from coming out of the ovary," Conard said.

The FDA approved Ella One for usage up to 120 hours, or five days, after intercourse. Plan B's usage approval is up to 72 hours, or three days, after sex, Conard said.

Still, Conard said, there may not be an actual time difference between the effectiveness of the drugs.

"In the trials comparing Plan B to Ella One, Ella One prevented more pregnancies, especially in the 72- to 120-hour window," Conard said. "But the difference was not statistically significant. Both had the minor side effect of nausea at about the same rate."

At Hudson Health Center, a large number of students come to the pharmacy asking for Plan B, especially around the weekends. It is not recommended that women use emergency contraceptives as birth control because they are only 75 to 90 percent effective. When used correctly though, other methods such as condoms and birth control pills are up to 99 percent effective, Conard said.

Contents of the pills aside, there is a single glaring difference between Ella One and Plan B: Ella One is available only with a prescription, while Plan B can be obtained over the counter. Because of this, it's difficult to say if Ella One will actually give women more time and be a better option, according to Conard.

"This is a loaded question, because the data make it look like Ella One prevents pregnancy a little better than Plan B. However, Plan B is more accessible," Conard said.

In Athens, Plan B can be purchased at a variety of pharmacies to any person, male or female, age 17 or older, Conard said.

"If a patient is unable to get to a medical clinic and get a prescription quickly, the Plan B would be a better choice," she noted.

Still, for college students and those who are living in poverty in Athens, the process of getting to a doctor and getting an Ella One prescription could be too costly, said Planned Parenthood of Central Ohio CEO Lisa Perks.

"The way emergency contraceptives work is the sooner you take it, the better," Perks said. "To go see a doctor and a second trip to the pharmacy may take up most of the time. This is why Plan B is more attractive. The only barrier is what hours places where you can get it have."

Seeing a clinician and getting examined can be expensive for women without adequate health insurance. Getting to a doctor's office can be difficult if a woman does not have proper transportation and sometimes it can take a few days to get an appointment, Perks said.

In the instance of a condom break or sexual assault, taking Plan B is "the best thing to do," because it can be obtained quickly, she said. Ella One is not available this way because of FDA regulation and approval.

Despite this, though, Ella One is a welcome addition to the Planned Parenthood birth-control repertoire, Perks said.

"Any option to help a woman plan her pregnancy, I am an advocate for," Perks said. "Anything to reduce the need for an abortion, although I advocate a woman's right for one, I am in favor of as well."

But emergency contraceptives should not be used as a sole method of family planning, because pregnancy is not the only outcome of intercourse, said Tania Basta, an assistant professor with the OU School of Public Health Sciences and Professions.

"It shouldn't be used as birth control," Basta said. "It's my opinion that we don't want people not being safe initially. We want people to be responsible."

Part of being responsible is making sure to use protection, she said.

Still, emergency contraceptives are good for what Basta refers to as "oops moments."

"Accidents occur," she said. "Condoms break. In the heat of the passion you can forget to put it on, or put it on the wrong way."

Ella One is not without opposition, however. Abortion opponents have labeled it an "abortion drug," saying that it could potentially induce abortion by making the womb not accept an embryo. An article in the June 12 Washington Post explored this issue, quoting criticism from Wendy Wright of Concerned Women of America. "With ulipristal (Ella), women will be enticed to buy a poorly tested abortion drug, unaware of its medical risks, under the guise that it's a morning-after pill," she told the newspaper.

Similarly, Jeanne Monahan, director of the Family Research Council's Center for Human Dignity, stated in the article, "The difference between preventing life and destroying life is hugely significant to many women. Women deserve to know that difference."

Proponents have dismissed these concerns, according to the article, maintaining that no evidence exists that Ella works as anything other than a contraceptive within five days of unprotected sex.