March XX, 2007

Dear Journalist,

The Back Up Your Birth Control Campaign is committed to increasing access to emergency contraception (EC), a safe and effective method of back up birth control, through education and
outreach. Emergency contraception is also known as the morning-after pill.

One of the major goals of the 2007 Back Up Your Birth Control Day of Action is to focus education efforts on a teenage audience. On Tuesday, March 20, as part of the sixth annual Back Up Your Birth Control Day of Action, a coalition of more than 100 women’s health and medical organizations will undertake dozens of educational activities nationwide to send an important message to teens: back up your birth control with emergency contraception.

The United States has the highest rates of teen pregnancy and births in the western industrialized world. Teen pregnancy costs the United States at least $9 billion annually. [Include local teen pregnancy statistic here. Search www.teenpregnancy.org for state information, or your state department of health for county information.]

EC has an enormous potential to reduce the country’s high rate of unintended pregnancy, especially among teenagers. However, in order to truly expand EC access, improved public education is needed to ensure that all women, regardless of age, have the tools and information they need to prevent unintended pregnancies with EC.

In the fall of 2006, the FDA approved over-the-counter (OTC) sales of EC for adult women, but kept the prescription requirement for teens younger than 18. The FDA’s decision is an incomplete victory for all Americans who are interested in reducing our high rates of teen pregnancy. Many young women, due to the age restriction, are now excluded from timely OTC access as a result of the FDA’s decision.

If you would like to speak to a representative of the campaign, or for additional information, please contact Christina Tenuta at 646-520-3523, 917-539-0425 or info@buybc.org. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Christina Tenuta
Back Up Your Birth Control Campaign Director
Institute for Reproductive Health Access

Emergency contraception is highly safe and effective method of birth control that can prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex, but only if used within the first few days after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure. The sooner it’s taken, the better it works.