New NHS Guidance: Give Free Morning-after Pills to Teenagers

In order to check unwanted pregnancies in teenagers across England, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has come up with a new guideline according to which schools will have to give free morning-after pills and condoms to teenage girls, including those under the age of consent. The new guideline says free condoms, including female condoms, should be readily available to young men and women at places like schools, colleges and youth clubs.

The plan was first proposed four years ago but its implementation was delayed due mixed response from different quarters.

Parents and social campaigners say that the move will promote promiscuity and increase the number of girls and young women going for unprotected sex which will also increase the chance of sexually transmitted diseases among teenagers.

Professor Mike Kelly, director of the centre for public health at Nice, said, “It is really important that sexual health services offering information and advice can be found in places where young people have access to them. Evidence clearly shows that availability of contraception reduces the rate of unwanted pregnancies.”

The guideline also says that emergency contraception can be provided to those under-16 even ‘without parental knowledge or consent’.

There are two types of emergency contraceptive pill. Levonelle can be taken within 72 hours, or three days, of sex, and ellaOne should be consumed within 120 hours, or five days. And an IUD can be inserted up to five days after unprotected sex.

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Source-Medindia