*****UPDATE*****

On March 23, 2009, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York ruled that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decision to restrict over-the-counter access to Plan B (the dedicated emergency contraceptive product) based on age was “arbitrary and capricious” and violated the agency’s “reasoned and good faith decision-making.” The court ordered the FDA to extend over-the-counter access to Plan B to 17 year olds within 30 days and to reconsider making it available without a prescription for those younger.

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Emergency contraception (EC) or “the morning after pill” has been determined by the FDA’s advisory board to be safe and effective for all women. Yet the FDA’s 2006 decision to limit over-the-counter access to EC to those 18 and older left younger women vulnerable. Further, EC is under constant attack from opponents of contraception. 

Pro-life extremists in many areas of society are working hard to deny access to EC. The FDA’s decision to make EC available without a prescription for those ages 18 and older was a victory, but clearly there is more work to be done.

Get involved in fighting back against conservative attacks on EC.

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Blog it!

What do you think about far right attacks on emergency contraception? Have you ever needed EC and been unable to get it? Would EC’s cost prevent you from being able to get it? If you’re under 18, would you feel comfortable and safe asking your doctor for a prescription for Plan B? Write a blog about emergency contraception.

Sign a Petition to Make Emergency Contraception Available to All Women

Ask the FDA to remove the age restriction on over-the-counter purchases of Plan B.

Interested in this issue? Keep Reading!

Read about related issues on Amplify

Choosing Not to Have Sex
Condoms
Contraceptive Access
Reproductive Health

Other Resources

Need current, reliable information on this topic? Check out the links below for the latest research.

Emergency Contraception: A Safe & Effective Contraceptive Option for Teens

HealthFacts: Emergency Contraception

Learn about using emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex.

Do you have a question about emergency contraception?

Ask one of Advocates’ MySistahs or YouthResource Peer Educators!