The Center for Reproductive Rights, a nonprofit legal advocacy organization dedicated to promoting and defending women's reproductive rights worldwide, deplores the FDA's short-sighted decision to once again play politics with health policy. On May 6, after delaying a decision for several years, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) denied American women access to over-the-counter emergency contraception (EC). The FDA took this action over the advice of its own medical experts, as well as the nation's obstetricians and gynecologists.

Three years ago, the Center for Reproductive Rights petitioned the FDA on behalf of 70 medical and public health organizations to make EC available over the counter on the grounds that it is safe for people to use without the intervention of a physician. Last December, the FDA's own expert panel recommended approval of over-the-counter status by a vote of 23 to 4. As recently as a few days ago, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reaffirmed its support for approval. Despite broad support by scientists and doctors, the FDA has let politics trump sound medicine and turned its back on women's urgent needs.

Emergency contraception has the potential to prevent 70,000 unintended pregnancies each year that now end in abortion. If policymakers are serious about reducing the number of abortions in this country without harming women, they should support increased access to emergency contraception. Instead, the FDA's action will needlessly place women at risk of pregnancy when contraception fails.

There is no evidence to support the assumption that over-the-counter availability of EC will make women more willing to engage in unprotected sex. But there is plenty of evidence that emergency contraception has high success rates and is safe for use without a prescription.

The FDA’s reason for denying over-the-counter status is unsupported. The scientific evidence shows that women of all ages can use Plan B safely and effectively without the supervision of a doctor. Moreover, the overwhelming majority of the FDA’s expert panel concluded that restricting EC for teens would compromise their health and well-being by denying them a second chance to prevent an unintended pregnancy.

Learn more about emergency contraception.