Approximately 2.7 million unplanned pregnancies occur each year. Fifty four percent result in abortion.
Plan B is emergency hormonal contraception. It is NOT an abortion pill. Plan B is used to prevent pregnancy by disrupting a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus.
Plan B has been available since 1999 as a prescription-only medication. It is most effective if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex.
In August, Susan Wood, the top women's health official at the FDA resigned over the agency's handling of Plan B. Former FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford and Dr. Frank Davidoff, a consultant to the committee overseeing Plan B, have also resigned.
Why?
In 2003 the FDA advisory panel voted to allow Plan B to be sold over-the counter (OTC). Political pressure ensued. In September of this year, the FDA announced that it was indefinitely postponing a decision to allow over-the-counter sales of the drug even though a) two years earlier the committee had overwhelmingly voted to allow Plan B be available OTC and b) scientists said the drug was safe.
Currently the FDA is soliciting feedback from the public on Plan B. I first attempted to do this by going to the FDA's website. Even though the FDA had put out a call out for opinions, it was not clear where/how to do this. I then called the national number for the FDA. Press 1....Press 3 .... Press 2....You get the picture. I finally got through to a nice woman and I told her I was looking to provide feedback on Plan B contraception. She gave me a specific email address: druginfo@cder.fda.gov
Please write the FDA and let them know you support Plan B being dispended without a prescription. Also, let them know that every hospital should offer Plan B to victims of rape and sexual assault.
Again the email is address is: druginfo@cder.fda.gov