Young people and the ‘morning after pill’

Under the government’s teenage pregnancy strategy the ‘morning-after pill’ ( MAP ) has become more readily available to teenage girls than ever before. In many parts of the UK the MAP can be obtained from pharmacies and sexual health clinics without a doctor’s prescription, and it also is being supplied in a growing number of schools through confidential advice services operated by health authorities. The consent of parents is rarely sought. This eight-page factsheet takes a look at the social, legal and ethical issues and considers the consequences of this new experiment. It concludes by suggesting a more positive way forward.