Up the Creek Without a Paddle? Look to Your Pharmacist to Bridge-It

Authors:
Ashley H. Meredith, PharmD, MPH, BCACP, BCPS, CDCES
Veronica P. Vernon, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, NCMP

Reviewers:
Nicole Slater, PharmD, BCACP
Stuart T Haines, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP

Citation: Cameron ST, Glasier A, McDaid L, et al. Use of effective contraception following provision of the progestogen-only pill for women presenting to community pharmacies for emergency contraception (Bridge-It): a pragmatic cluster-randomised crossover trial. Lancet. 2020;396:1585-1594. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31785-2.

The Problem

Nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended and a high percentage of unwanted pregnancies lead to an abortion.¹ Reducing the number of unintended pregnancies and increasing the use of effective birth control are two public health priorities.² Although emergency contraception (EC) is readily available over-the-counter (OTC), consistent access to more effective methods has been elusive due to the limited access many women have to reproductive services. Over 19 million women live in contraceptive deserts (an area with less than one health center for every 1,000 women needing publicly funded contraception).³ Community pharmacists can serve as a critical access point for contraception and reproductive health resources.  Could the implementation of pharmacist contraception prescribing combined with EC on the same day help “bridge the gap?”