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Emergency contraception (EC), also known as the "morning-after" pill or Plan B®, is simply a concentrated dose of ordinary birth-control pills that prevents pregnancy after sex.
The morning-after pill's effectiveness
Emergency contraception can significantly reduce a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant when taken within days of unprotected sex, and it is more effective the sooner it is taken. The "morning-after" pill is extremely safe: it's approved by the FDA and if a woman is already pregnant when she takes it, the medication won't harm the pregnancy.
Improving access to the morning-after pill
An independent committee at the Department of Defense recommended requiring that all overseas military bases stock EC. This decision is important because EC has not been reliably available to U.S. military women serving overseas, which left servicewomen at greater risk for unintended pregnancy.
The FDA approved EC for over-the-counter sales for individuals ages 17 and older, but women may still face barriers when trying to obtain the medication. Research demonstrates that EC is more effective the earlier it is taken. Thus, finding ways to facilitate access to EC without delay is crucial.
For emergency contraception's full potential in preventing unintended pregnancies to be realized, we must:
- Protect women from pharmacists who oppose birth control
- Inform rape survivors about EC
- Educate women and doctors about EC
- Make real efforts to prevent teen pregnancy
Learn more about how these goals can be achieved.
Read our fact sheets and information to learn more about emergency contraception and how it could prevent unintended pregnancy and help reduce the need for abortion.
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