Hearing on Status Change Scheduled for December 16

New York, NY – Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) today urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve the application to switch Plan B® emergency contraception (EC) to over-the-counter status. On December 16, a joint hearing of the FDA Nonprescription Drugs and Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committees will hear evidence about EC and make a recommendation to the FDA regarding over-the-counter availability. EC meets all customary criteria for over-the-counter availability, including low toxicity, no potential for overdose or addiction, self-indication of need, uniform dosage and no important drug interactions. Virtually all major medical and health care organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, support making EC available over the counter.

Vanessa Cullins, M.D., PPFA Vice President for Medical Affairs, will testify before the advisory committees on the necessity of expanding access to emergency contraception.

“Emergency contraception is safe and effective, and is the best way to prevent unintended pregnancy in cases of contraceptive failure,” said Dr. Cullins. “There is no scientific basis for denying EC over-the-counter availability. We hope that ideological claims by anti-choice hardliners do not influence what should be an objective scientific process.”

Emergency contraception pills are a special combination of birth control pills that reduce the risk of pregnancy if started within 120 hours of unprotected intercourse. The sooner EC is administered, the better it works, making timely access critically important. Research indicates that widespread availability of EC could prevent 1.7 million unintended pregnancies and 800,000 abortions each year in the U.S. Studies also prove women use EC responsibly.

Given its safety record and the guidelines established for over-the-counter availability by the FDA itself, the advisory committees have ample scientific evidence to recommend EC be made available over the counter.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America is the nation’s largest and most trusted voluntary family planning organization. We believe that everyone has the right to choose when or whether to have a child and that every child should be wanted and loved. Planned Parenthood affiliates operate nearly 900 health centers nationwide, providing medical services and sexuality education for millions of women, men, and teenagers each year.