Ipas urges approval of over-the-counter emergency contraception

Approval of over-the-counter sales of Plan B could help millions of American women avoid unwanted pregnancy.

Photo courtesy of David Alexander, CCP / Photoshare.

Ipas commends two Food and Drug Administration advisory committees' recommendation Tuesday to make the emergency contraceptive Plan B available without a prescription. By accepting the committees' recommendation, the F.D.A. would help American women prevent unwanted pregnancies and the need for abortion, giving them more control over their own fertility.

"We are delighted that the committee based its decision on the weight of the evidence of Plan B's safety and effectiveness," said Ipas President Elizabeth Maguire. "This product has helped thousands of women avoid mistimed or unwanted pregnancy, and it has the potential to help millions more."

Two expert committees voted 23-to-4 Tuesday to make the so-called morning-after pill - actually a combination of two high-dose oral contraceptives -- available in pharmacies and perhaps other outlets without a prescription. Their decision relied in part on studies involving hundreds of women in the United States which confirmed that women use Plan B correctly and safely without direct instruction from doctors.

Contrary to the claims of its opponents, Plan B is not an abortifacient. Depending on when in the woman's menstrual cycle it is taken, it acts by preventing ovulation or implantation of a fertilized egg. Medical consensus holds that pregnancy does not begin until a fertilized egg is implanted into the lining of the uterus.

"Ipas is dedicated to enhancing women's reproductive health and their ability to exercise their reproductive rights," said Maguire. "Increased availability of emergency contraception clearly supports those objectives."

For more information, contact:
Kirsten Sherk
Senior Associate, Media Relations
e-mail: sherkk@ipas.org
phone: 919.960.5612
fax: 919.929.0258