By National Women's Law Center
What is emergency contraception (EC)?
EC is a form of contraception that is also known as the “morning-after pill.” It is an extremely time-sensitive drug that works for up to 120 hours after unprotected sex, birth control failure or sexual assault (but the sooner you use it, the better!)
Hasn’t EC been in the news recently?
Yes! In August 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a brand of EC – known as Plan B® – for over-the-counter use by women age 18 and older. It took the FDA a long time to approve EC as an over-the-counter product, so it got a lot of press when it was finally official.
Why is EC controversial?
Some people think that EC causes an abortion, but EC prevents pregnancy. If you are already pregnant, EC won’t do anything. There is a separate pill – known as RU 486, or mifepristone – that will cause an abortion, but that is only available from doctors. EC is different; the FDA approved EC as a contraceptive to prevent pregnancy, not an abortifacient (“abortifacient” is the general term for a drug that causes an abortion).
Where is EC sold?
Plan B® is available at pharmacies and health care clinics. If you are 18 or older, you don’t need a prescription to get EC. If you are 17 or younger, you will still need a prescription to get EC. You can’t get Plan B® at convenience stores or gas stations, even though those places sell some over-the-counter products. You can, however, buy Plan B® online through websites like http://www.drugstore.com.
How do I get EC at a pharmacy?
No matter how old you are, you have to ask for EC at the pharmacy counter. If you are 18 or older, you will only need to show a photo ID to get EC. But if you are under 18, you will need to have a prescription. (If you are under 18 and live in AK, CA, HI, ME, MA, NH, NM, VT or WA, many pharmacists in those states can give you EC without a prescription- there are special laws in these states). You can find out where at http://www.ec-help.org/. If you are under 18 but don’t live in one of those states, and you still need help getting a prescription for EC, go to http://www.not-2-late.com. Anyone working behind the pharmacy counter can sell you Plan B® – including pharmacy technicians.
| katalinacmnacha89 says, "There are too many situations in which this could be helpful. What happens in the case of rape? What happens when the condom breaks?" |
When the FDA approved EC for “over-the-counter” use, they put a bunch of restrictions on it (like the age restriction) so pharmacies can’t stock EC in the same aisle as the aspirin and cough drops. When we say that EC was approved for “over-the-counter” use, we mean that people 18 and older can buy EC without getting a prescription from a doctor first.
Who can buy EC?
Anyone 18 and older can buy EC – guys too! There is also no limit on the number of packages of EC someone 18 and older can buy.
What forms of ID will individuals age 18 and older need to buy EC?
The FDA didn’t list any specific form of ID that would be required; individual pharmacies will make that decision for themselves. However, a driver’s license or passport will definitely work, and other forms of ID are probably okay too.
How will the age restriction be enforced?
Barr Pharmaceuticals, the company that makes Plan B®, agreed to monitor pharmacies that sell EC to make sure people under 18 are only getting EC if they have a valid prescription. The first time Barr learns that a particular pharmacist sold Plan B® to someone under 18 without a prescription, Barr has to re-train everyone at that pharmacy about enforcing the age restriction. If it happens again at the same pharmacy, Barr has to report the pharmacy to the state Board of Pharmacy.
How much will Plan B® cost?
It costs Barr $27 to make Plan B®; the actual price at pharmacies is usually about $35 but may run as high as $50. NWLC and others are working to get EC covered by Medicaid and by private insurance in states where it is not already covered.
My state has a law that allows participating pharmacists to dispense EC without a doctor’s prescription. How does EC’s over-the-counter status affect that law?
As mentioned earlier, AK, CA, HI, ME, MA, NH, NM, VT and WA have laws like this. The FDA’s decision will not affect teens’ access to EC under these laws. Women under 18 can still get Plan B® directly from a participating pharmacist in those states. See http://www.EC-Help.org.
I had a prescription for Plan B® and the pharmacist wouldn’t give it to me! What do I do?
This fact sheet will help you figure out what to do if you face a refusal at the pharmacy. And tell us about it online, or by phone at 1-866-Pill4Us – NWLC can help you and make sure it doesn’t happen to other women at that pharmacy!
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