Politics Triumph in FDA Battle Over 'Morning-After Pill'

May 6, 2004

NOW Condemns Decision by FDA to Deny Women Access to Safe and Effective Over-the-Counter Emergency Contraception

"The FDA is playing politics with women's lives and contributing to the deterioration of public health in this country," said National Organization for Women (NOW) President Kim Gandy, criticizing the Food and Drug Administration's refusal to permit over-the-counter sale of contraceptives that prevent pregnancy if used within 72 hours. "Plan B is safe, effective, and could prevent thousands of unwanted pregnancies. The FDA has set aside its mission and caved to political pressure from the Bush administration and its allies who oppose birth control."

In December 2003, a joint panel of FDA advisors voted 23-4 to support the nonprescription availability of Plan B, a proposal which was strongly supported by FDA professional staff. One of the few negative votes came from a controversial Bush appointee, Dr. W. David Hager, who reportedly refused to prescribe birth control to unwed women in his private practice, and has spoken out against the use of condoms and birth control outside of marriage.

Both the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists approve of the change to over-the-counter status. It is estimated that over three million American women have unplanned pregnancies every year, and more than half of these end in abortion. Emergency contraception (EC) prevents pregnancy but does not terminate a pre-existing pregnancy.

"Emergency contraception is designed to respond to emergency situations -- emergencies that are a result of unwanted sex or contraceptive failure," said Gandy. "Once a woman is raped, or a condom breaks, the clock begins ticking -- emergency contraception is most effective for only 72 hours after sex. So over-the-counter availability is the only way for some women to obtain EC in time to prevent a pregnancy."

"Women who will benefit most from over-the-counter availability of emergency contraception are women who can't afford a doctor visit or can't reach a doctor in time - women without health insurance, young women, low-income women and rural, isolated women -- any woman who is unable to quickly reach a sympathetic physician and pay for his/her services to obtain a prescription," noted Gandy. Rape victims are particularly vulnerable to the difficulties in obtaining EC, since more than half of the country's hospitals do not make it available even in cases of rape.

"This is an outrageous politicization of an important public health issue. The medical experts are clear that EC is safe to sell over-the-counter, and we know it enhances women's ability to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Women know that our health and rights are being traded away for political gain, and we will fight back," said Gandy.

###

Sign up to receive press releases by email.