William Petroski

bpetrosk@dmreg.com

Iowa pharmacists could prescribe and dispense birth control pills to females of any age under a bill approved on a 26-22 vote Monday by the Iowa Senate.

Senate File 2222 was sent to the Republican-controlled Iowa House, where it likely faces an uphill battle to win approval.

Sen. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, said the measure would allow the pills to be dispensed without a doctor's prescription. The bill is supported by the Iowa Academy of Family Physicians and the Iowa Osteopathic Medical Association, and it is opposed by the Iowa Medical Society.

Sen. Amy Sinclair, R-Allerton, noted many potential side effects of oral contraceptives, including increased risk for breast cancer and liver cancer, abdominal pain and other problems.

“I have real reservations about turning over what is such a weighty health care decision over to a pharmacist and cutting the doctor out of this decision," she said.

Sen. Julian Garrett, R-Indianola, asked if the bill contained no requirements for parental involvement for underage girls.

Petersen replied, "Correct." However, there are no age limits to buy other types of contraceptives, including condoms, she said.

Garrett said he wasn't comfortable with either the idea of no age limits or a the lack of parental involvement for minors in the bill.

Petersen said the proposal would improve access to family planning for Iowa women. She said that increased distribution of contraceptive pills will result in fewer unintended pregnancies for Iowa women.