One weekend, I got an afternoon phone call on my cell from one of my adolescent male patients. I give all my patients my cell phone number so they can be in touch with me in case of an emergency. Darren called me to ask if he could get emergency contraception for his girlfriend because their condom had broken broke the night before.

He was being responsible, and playing a positive, proactive role in his relationship by calling me to get the medicine for his girlfriend.

He was being responsible, and playing a positive, proactive role in his relationship by calling me to get the medicine for his girlfriend. I have known Darren for a long time and was really proud to see him acting responsibly and being safe in his relationship. I met him later that day to give him the emergency contraception and he was able to give it to his girlfriend safely within the window of effectiveness. Darren is lucky that as a physician, I make myself available to my patients outside of my office hours. It is very important that adolescents have the opportunity to act responsibly in their relationships and have unrestricted access to emergency contraception. It keeps relationships healthy, and teaches adolescents—especially important for young men—responsibility in sexual relationships.