Students confused by emergency contraception

40 per cent would give incomplete advice

After searching the Internet in a hypothetical emergency, a surprising proportion of college students fail to discover that emergency contraception can be purchased without a prescription, according to a new study. Researchers from Northwestern University asked about 200 college students to search the Internet and then advise a friend who called them late at night asking how to avoid pregnancy from unprotected sex. Only two-thirds recommended emergency contraception like plan B and less than 40 per cent suggested the easiest option—purchasing it over-the-counter at a pharmacy. Some suggested “wash genitals,” or “pregnancy test.” In Canada, plan B is available in pharmacies without prescriptions in all provinces except Quebec. For more, see MyHealthNewsDaily.