Plan B

Unintended pregnancy is a public health problem with major significance worldwide. Plan B, a progestin-only type of emergency contraception, is an effective yet underutilized method of pregnancy prevention. Plan B is 75 to 89 percent effective in preventing pregnancies when taken within 120 hours (five days) after sexual intercourse; however, the medication is more effective the earlier it is used. Although Plan B has been controversial and wrapped up in the abortion debate, it is not effective if a woman is already pregnant and therefore does not disrupt an established pregnancy. It has been estimated that wider access and acceptability of Plan B could reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and could prevent 1 million abortions annually. This form of contraception is important in that, ...