Contraception Not Easily Accessible for Teenagers

The city is not yet living up to its promise to make emergency contraception easily accessible, according to a study released yesterday by the city's public advocate. Only 15 of 38 teen health clinics operated by the New York City Health & Hospitals Corp. have emergency contraception available for same-day pickup, the public advocate, Betsy Gotbaum, said. "Here is the reality: Emergency contraception prevents unintended pregnancies," Ms. Gotbaum said in a statement containing figures collected by her office. "Women shouldn't be forced to scramble in the case of an emergency. We have the tools to stop unplanned pregnancies before they occur."

As part of the study, public advocate's office investigators called 38 teen health clinics and 11 Department of Health and Mental Hygiene sites to learn if they were providing patients with emergency contraception, birth control pills, and female condoms.