On January 21, 2005, the Center for Reproductive Rights filed suit against the Acting Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration in federal court for failing to approve the emergency contraceptive product Plan B for over-the-counter status. Emergency contraception (EC), sometimes known as "the morning after pill," reduces the risk of pregnancy by approximately 89 percent when it is taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse, according to a study published in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
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New from the Center Governments Worldwide Put Emergency Contraception into Women’s Hands: A Global Review of Laws and Policies (PDF)
This briefing paper available in PDF from the Center examines government initiatives worldwide aimed at making EC more accessible. These initiatives begin with the recognition that EC is a means of preventing pregnancy, not terminating pregnancy. Steps to improve access to EC include registering EC products, making EC available over the counter, and ensuring that EC is available to women at greatest risk of unwanted pregnancy, including rape survivors and adolescents.

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BACK UP YOUR BIRTH CONTROL WITH EC
While emergency contraception is safe, effective, and FDA-approved, only a small proportion of American women have ever used it. The Back Up Your Birth Control Campaign is part of a host of new initiatives – ranging from national legislation to local public awareness efforts – that reflect a growing consensus in the U.S. about the importance of preventing unintended pregnancy. Learn more at www.backupyourbirthcontrol.org

How would you like to be at the forefront of insuring contraceptive coverage in the U.S.?
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has held that it is illegal discrimination under federal law for an employer to provide insurance that covers perscription drugs but does not cover prescription contraception. Yet every year women spend approximately 70% more money out-of-pocket than men spend on health care because their employer’s health insurance plan does not cover prescription contraceptives. If you are interested in talking to someone about what you can do to get insurance coverage for your prescription contraception, contact Linda Rosenthal at 917-637-3600 or email info@reprorights.org. We may be able to help.