JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Direct access to emergency contraception through pharmacies and effect on unintended pregnancy and STIs: a randomized controlled trial.
It is estimated that half of unintended pregnancies could be averted if emergency contraception (EC) were easily accessible and used. ⋯ While removing the requirement to go through pharmacists or clinics to obtain EC increases use, the public health impact may be negligible because of high rates of unprotected intercourse and relative underutilization of the method. Given that there is clear evidence that neither pharmacy access nor advance provision compromises contraceptive or sexual behavior, it seems unreasonable to restrict access to EC to clinics.