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Birth control now over-the-counter in California

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<p>A change from the Food and Drug Administration means more abortion options for women across the country.&nbsp;</p><p>The FDA approved a label change for&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm492705.htm" target="_blank">Mifeprex</a>, a drug that can end pregnancy in the early stages.&nbsp;</p><p>The new label lowers the recommended dose and increases the number of days into the pregnancy it can be used. Previously, the drug could only be used up to 49 days into a pregnancy. Now that window is&nbsp;<a href="http://www.earlyoptionpill.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Mifeprex-Label-Update_Press-Release_March302016-1.pdf" target="_blank">extended to 70 days</a>.</p><p>While the change increases options for women seeking an abortion, it doesn&#39;t increase access. Doctors must&nbsp;<a href="http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/rems/Mifeprex_2016-03-29_Prescriber_Agreement_Form.pdf" target="_blank">sign an agreement</a>&nbsp;with the drug&#39;s manufacturer, certifying they have the expertise to properly assess a woman&#39;s pregnancy and the ability to intervene surgically if necessary.&nbsp;</p><p>This change puts an Arizona state bill in the crosshairs.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/52leg/2r/summary/h.sb1324_03-06-16_jud.docx.htm" target="_blank">Senate Bill 1324</a>&nbsp;would require doctors to administer Mifeprex with the FDA label effective December 31, 2015, essentially forcing doctors to abide by outdated medical guidelines.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>That bill was sent to Gov. Doug Ducey&#39;s desk March 28. He has five days to sign it, veto it or do nothing, and it becomes law without his signature.&nbsp;</p><p><i>This video includes clips from the&nbsp;</i><i><a href="http://azleg.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=26" target="_blank">Arizona State Legislature</a></i><i>&nbsp;and&nbsp;</i><a href="http://www.koamtv.com/" target="_blank"><i>KOAM</i></a><i>&nbsp;and images from Getty Images.&nbsp;</i></p>
Posted at 6:23 PM, Apr 15, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-15 23:47:41-04

It's official. Now that Senate Bill 493 is a law, birth control is now available over-the-counter in California.

It's now the third state to implement the law, while Oregon and Washington also offer over-the-counter options.

Under the law, pharmacists can now furnish oral, transdermal, vaginal and depo injection prescription methods. 

This worries some Kern County residents and local healthcare professionals, and that it will further discourage women from annual exams.

"The importance of annual screenings is if they're under a birth control method, that they are using it effectively and that if there's any side effects that aren't good for the patient, that maybe we need to change their form of control method," said Amy Anderson, R.N. with Kern County Department of Public Health. 

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