Study finds medical exams unnecessary before prescribing 'the Pill'
Wilson School professor James Trussell co-authored a research paper published on May 2 about the necessity of examinations on women who seek hormonal contraception.Trussell worked with professors from the University of California and scientists from The Population Council and Family Health International to produce this research paper, which asserts that pelvic and breast examinations are superfluous requirements for women to receive "birth control" medication.The paper, which summarizes and evaluates pertinent medical literature, according to the JAMA website, maintains that while these examinations are important to women's health, they "do not provide information necessary" for doctors to determine their patients' ability to safely use hormonal contraceptives.Though this research paper was published quite recently, Trussell said he has been investigating this issue for almost 20 years.




