CDC: 1 in 5 teen girls using morning-after pill

A new report found that one in five teens are using the morning-after pill. It’s a major spike from a decade ago — when only one in 12 teens were using it, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Although Department of Public Health officials say it’s a significant increase, it’s not necessarily alarming.

In this instance, Randy Gutierrez, a teen sex education specialist, says all that means is more teens are in the know.

“It might be because there is more knowledge and there is more communication with the family.”

The CDC’s latest report shows the majority of teen girls have used condoms at some point, but when it came to the morning-after pills like Plan B, one in five sexually active teen girls are using it. The pill is a stronger form of birth control. If taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex, it can prevent pregnancy. Rosalyn Negron, with the Department of Public Health, says it’s hard to say if more El Paso teens are using the pill.

“I have a few more ladies ask questions about that. They’re more concerned about the side effects that it has and how safe it is to use,” Negron said.

She says over the past couple of years, it has become easier for teens to get their hands on it.

“When the morning-after pill first came out, it was over the counter, you did have to take a prescription with you and you did have to ask for it from the pharmacy, there was age limits that said you had to be 18 or over to receive it and over time that’s actually changed,” Negron said.

The age limit has been lifted and teens don’t need to be 18 to purchase the nearly $50 pill.

“They can ask for it in the pharmacy area, usually without a prescription and they shouldn’t be asked their age, and they shouldn’t be given a hard time about it,” Negron said.

Whether they’re mature enough to make that decision? It depends.

“The biggest issue would be what information do they have and where are they getting it,” Negron said.