Emergency Contraception
Emergency contraception (EC), or the "morning-after pill" is a safe and effective method of preventing pregnancy after unprotected sex. EC does not cause abortion; rather, it inhibits ovulation, fertilization, or implantation before a pregnancy occurs. EC should not be confused with mifepristone (also known as RU 486), an early-abortion option.
· EC accounted for up to a 43% decrease in abortions between 1994 and 2000. In August 2006, the FDA approved Plan B®, an emergency contraceptive,for over-the-counter sales to women 18 and older.
EC is 75-89% effective in preventing pregnancy when taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, and will not harm a developing fetus.
In Washington state, pharmacists can provide EC to women directly without a preexisting prescription. Furthermore, hospitals are legally required to provide EC to sexual assault victims. To find a provider near you, click here.
Contrary to opponents’ claims, EC does not increase risky sexual behavior. In fact, a new study showed that women who had EC readily available did not engage in unprotected sex at higher rates than other women.
Ordinary birth control pills can be used as EC after unprotected sex. Click here to find out the exact combination of pills by brand.
The Bush administration’s horrible history on the morning-after pill:
- Women's Capital Corporation filed the original application to the FDA to change the status of EC to over-the-counter on April 21, 2003.
- In May 2004, President Bush’s FDA rejected the recommendations of its own experts and denied an application to make EC available to women over the counter.
- On December 31, 2004, the Department of Justice issued its first-ever medical guidelines for treating sexual assault survivors – and dropped any reference to the morning-after pill.
- January 20, 2005, the FDA’s new deadline for determining whether to make the morning-after pill available without a prescription, came and went with still no word from the FDA.
- In May 2005, arch-conservative W. David Hager claimed credit for urging the FDA to override its scientific and medical advisory panels and blocking over-the-counter sales of the Plan B morning-after pill. President Bush appointed Hager to the FDA advisory panel that reviewed the Plan B petition. He was one of only four of the panel’s 27 members to oppose over-the-counter sales of the emergency contraceptive.
- Lester Crawford has been the acting head of the FDA for over a year and has clearly allowed ideology to trump scientific evidence on the issue of changing the status of EC to over-the-counter.
- Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Patty Murray (D-Wash) moved in June 2005 to block a full Senate vote on the nomination of acting FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford to head the agency. Their hold will remain in effect until FDA makes a decision on nonprescription sales of Plan B.
- On August 26, 2005, the Bush Administration's FDA Breaks Promise to Make Decision on ‘Morning-After Pill’ by September 1. Read more about it!
- Senator Patty Murray is "outraged and disgusted." Click here to read her response.
- On September 24, Lester Crawford resigned from the FDA. He was replaced with Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach. Read more about it!
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