Emergency Contraception for Rape Victims
See our new fact sheet on EC in the ER.Each year 25,000 women become pregnant because of rape or incest. In NC, approximately 1 in 5 women have been sexually assaulted in her lifetime.
In a survey conducted by NC Women United, NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina, Planned Parenthood and the NC Coalition Against Sexual Assault in Fall, 2004, it found that 75% of NC hospitals dispense EC on site. Nine of those, admitted to having policies in place that allow doctors to deny rape victims pregnacy prevention care.
A woman must take EC within 120 hours of intercourse for it to work. And, the sooner the better. Knowing that victims often don't report for several days after a rape, time is of the essence. Hospitals that do not dispense or a provider that refuses to dispense, puts a rape victim at real risk of becoming pregnant by her rapist--further traumatizing the victim.
EC is a safe, effective form of birth control that could prevent pregnancy from rape and reduce the need for abortions.
Nine states – CA, MA, NJ, NM, NY, OH, SC and WA – require emergency room staff to provide information about Emergency Contraception (EC) or the pills themselves to women who have been sexually assaulted.
The full results of the survey are posted on tne NC Women United website. Follow this link to check it out! Emergency Contraception for Rape Victims
Download a copy of the EC in the ER petition to collect signatures here.
Emergency Contraception (EC): An Important and Underutilized Contraceptive Option
The Difference Between Emergency Contraception (EC) and Early Abortion Options (RU-486)
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