With reports in the media in recent months about the controversy of Plan B being available over the counter, I think it’d be interesting to look into different aspects of this drug and analyze the safety and potential controversy that lies in the issue. My research has shown that very little of the controversy has to do with science, but more with politics (of course).
Plan B is a one pill, emergency contraceptive that is taken post-sex in order to stop pregnancy. This method is often used after other forms of birth control have failed, or if they are suspected to have failed. This pill is not an abortion pill. The pill is designed to delay or prevent ovulation and interfere with the fertilization of an egg. Time is of the ultimate importance because once the woman becomes pregnant, Plan B will not terminate the pregnancy. Fertilization of an egg can occur up to six days after sex, therefore taking Plan B after that will prove ineffective.
The effectiveness of Plan B was studied by comparing it to a similar pill, called Yuzpe, which is similar to Plan B, but requires four pills, instead of Plan B’s one. The study of 1,955 subjects was double-blind, randomized and multinational. Researchers found that, “After a single act of intercourse occurring anytime during the menstrual cycle, the expected pregnancy rate of 8% (with no contraceptive use) was reduced to approximately 1% with Plan B.”
The effectiveness of this pill also increases the sooner it is consumed after unprotected sex. The effectiveness rate is at 95% if taken within 24 hours, but drops to 89% when taken within three days after sex. These figures still provide a hopeful outlook to curtail an unwanted pregnancy, but the sooner the better.
As for the safety of the pill among different ages, one article argues that there is “strong scientific evidence showing that age restrictions are unnecessary.” This article, an op-ed posted by the New York Times, was written by Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood. At first I was a little suspicious because the article seemed to have some bias, considering the source of the information, but evidence one the FDA website confirms her findings. The website reads,
Obviously the science is there for the drug to be used, without restriction by all women. As soon as politics catches up with science, more women will be better able to prevent pregnancy when all else fails.