Plan B is now OTC

Princeton Pro-Choice Vox is pleased that Plan B is now available over-the-counter to women 18 years of age or older as of Dec. 7, 2006. While access to this medication is still impeded by unfair obstacles, this is a great step in the right direction.

Plan B, also known as emergency contraception or the "morning after pill," is a form of birth control. Like all forms of birth control, it can reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions. Research shows that if Plan B is made more readily available, it could prevent over 1.7 million unintended pregnancies, and approximately 800,000 abortions, each year.

Plan B's new over-the-counter status is critically important because it is most effective when taken within three days of unprotected sex. Its effectiveness is dramatically reduced after five days. Since Plan B is safe and effective, there is no reason to force women to see a doctor, perhaps taking time from school or work, in order to have access to Plan B.

Despite misconceptions, Plan B is not a form of abortion. Plan B cannot terminate an existing pregnancy but instead suppresses ovulation and prevents fertilization. The "morning after pill" should not be confused with the "abortion pill," RU-486 (mifepristone), which ends early pregnancies.

Why would a woman need to access emergency contraception? Unfortunately, even with perfect use, condoms sometimes break. And sadly, sexual assault occurs everyday. At Princeton last year, several well-publicized sexual assaults occurred. While we hope that sexual assault survivors will seek medical care immediately, Plan B's over-the-counter status ensures that even those women who are unable to seek medical attention after an assault will still be able to significantly reduce their chances of becoming pregnant.

Despite Plan B's potential for reducing unintended pregnancies and abortions, anti-choice activists object, claiming that over-the-counter availability will lead many women to use Plan B as a primary method of birth control. But recent studies confirm previous findings that women use emergency contraception responsibly. Investigators found that over-the-counter status does not decrease use of regular methods of contraception. When women have access to Plan B they do not rely on it as a regular contraceptive method and do not put themselves at increased risk of unintended pregnancy. Anti-choice activists also claim that use of emergency contraception may prove hazardous to women's health. Again, this could not be further from the truth. Emergency contraception is safe, effective and meets the FDA requirements for over-the-counter availability.

Unfortunately, the FDA has failed to grant easy access to all women who may need Plan B. The age restriction (women under the age of 18 must still seek a prescription) is scientifically unfounded and serves only to impede access to safe health care for young women. The United States has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the developed world, and New Jersey ranks 16th in teen pregnancies ages 16-19 and first in teenage abortions among five other states. Making Plan B available over-the-counter to teens could significantly reduce teen pregnancies and abortions.

Another barrier to Plan B is pharmacy refusal. Across the country, there have been reports over the past few years of pharmacists refusing to fill women's prescriptions for birth control. Some states have even gone so far as to legally grant pharmacists the right to do this, a move that Princeton Pro-Choice Vox opposes. Women themselves, in consultation with their physicians, are the most qualified to determine when and what type of contraception is appropriate for them. Yet despite Plan B's new over-the-counter status, pharmacists in some states may refuse to provide it.

University Health Services provides Plan B free of charge to all students. James Trussel, director of the Office of Population Research at Princeton, has initiated two excellent services for those interested in emergency contraception: a detailed website, ec.princeton.edu, and a hotline, 1-888-NOT-2-LATE. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that sexually active women purchase and keep Plan B on hand in case of a future emergency. This is certainly a good idea for busy Princeton students!

The Daily Princetonian reported that in 1999 there were 55 pregnancies on campus, and that 14 women were referred to abortion providers. We hope that with increased availability and awareness about the effectiveness and safety of Plan B, there will be fewer unintended pregnancies and abortions in the University community and nationwide. Whatever your personal feelings about abortion, it is an uncomfortable medical procedure and not one most women would elect to undergo if pregnancy could have been avoided in the first place.

Emergency contraception — like all forms of birth control — gives women a chance to avoid unintended pregnancies. We welcome this recent expansion of reproductive freedom and will continue to work to gain and protect reproductive rights for women. Max Wertzberger '08 and Sara Viola '08 write on behalf of Princeton Pro-Choice Vox. They may be reached at pchoice@princeton.edu.