Dr. Maria Sophocles, Founder & Medical Director, Women’s Healthcare of Princeton: Expanding Birth Control Access in New Jersey

The Big Idea:

●      Dr. Maria Sophocles, a practicing ob-gyn and founder of Women’s Healthcare of Princeton, was a critical advocate for a recently-passed NJ law that eliminates barriers by allowing pharmacists to provide birth control without a prescription.

●      The new law is a huge win at a time when many states are restricting and limiting, banning and even criminalizing contraception and reproductive choices.

Background:

●      Dr. Sophocles points out that expanded access to contraception will help more women avoid unwanted pregnancies. The financial harm of these pregnancies is greater for adolescent, lower income, minority, and single women – groups with poverty rates twice as high as others.

●      It’s not always easy for women to find a doctor and make an appointment to get a prescription for birth control – especially for women with low incomes.

●      In the United States, more than 19 million women live in contraceptive deserts – places where women in need can’t access birth control.

●      Under the new law, birth control will be available over the counter at pharmacies and maintain safety screening and training. To receive contraceptives, women will complete the Department of Health’s questionnaire used for health risk screening. Pharmacists will need to participate in training by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Fun Fact:

Dr. Sophocles’ work to advance women’s health doesn’t stop at her advocacy around better access to contraception. She has dedicated her nearly thirty-year career to teaching women in her clinic in Princeton New Jersey and her virtual practice, and pioneered and trained clinicians on five continents to use laser technology to support women who cannot or choose not to use estrogen.

As this goes to press, she is in Kenya caring for women of all ages in remote villages with no access to healthcare whatsoever.

Their Take:

Dr. Maria Sophocles

“Building collaboration across our community is exactly how we can solve problems and improve outcomes for everyone. Now that we have this program, we are finding solutions for individuals in crisis and ensuring people are getting the resources and services that they need.”

-  Women’s Healthcare of Princeton Founder and Medical Director Maria Sophocles