NOW President to Testify Before FDA Committees - Urges Approval of Emergency Contraception for Over-the-Counter Use

December 15, 2003

"NOW strongly urges the FDA to make emergency contraception available without prescription," said NOW President Kim Gandy. "Plan B is safe, effective, easy to use, and could prevent thousands of unwanted pregnancies. The women who will benefit most from the availability of emergency contraception are rape victims, young women, low-income women and rural, isolated women—and any woman who is unable to quickly reach a sympathetic physician to obtain a prescription. We urge the FDA to remember these often overlooked women as it makes its decision." The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently considering making Plan B emergency contraception (levonorgestrel) available to women over-the-counter. Two key FDA advisory committees are holding a hearing tomorrow to discuss the safety and effectiveness of Plan B, two pills that prevent pregnancy if taken shortly after sexual intercourse.

What:   Testimony Before the Joint Meeting of the Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee and the Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs

Who:   Kim Gandy, President, National Organization for Women

When:   Tuesday, December 16 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Where:   Hilton Hotel, The Ballrooms, 620 Perry Pkwy., Gaithersburg, MD

NOW was disappointed by another FDA committee's recent recommendation to allow silicone breast implants back on to the market, and Gandy hopes that the agency will take women's best interests into account this time around. "As its name suggests, this drug is about responding to emergencies—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 will work for only 72 hours after sex. However, many hospitals do not provide emergency contraception, even to rape victims. And making an appointment with a doctor to obtain a timely prescription can be next to impossible for many women."

"NOW calls for the FDA to do the right thing. As George W. Bush acts to restrict women's reproductive rights, women are counting on medical professionals to expand our reproductive options and access."

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