The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave its green signal to Plan B emergency contraception for women 18 years and above at a press conference today. The approval is the greatest victory for women’s health advocates nationwide, who have demanded FDA approval for over-the-counter access since 2003. Emergency contraception (EC) is effective up to five days (120 hours) after unprotected sex, birth control failure, or rape, but it is most effective (95 percent) if taken within 24 hours. Because of the time-sensitive nature of EC, over-the-counter access is crucial to its effective use. The approval of EC over-the-counter is the result of the demands of the women across the country. Even the Feminist Majority Foundation had send thousands of petitions to the FDA for its approval.
