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    Lois McGuire, R.N., M.S.N., W.H.N.P.

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  • July 23, 2009

    Blog: Plan B or One-Step for emergency contraception

    By Lois McGuire, R.N., M.S.N., W.H.N.P.

6 comments posted

It's official: Seventeen-year-olds can now legally walk into most pharmacies, ask for emergency contraception and buy an FDA-approved product after giving proof of age — no prescription needed.

Over-the-counter (OTC) emergency contraception — Plan B — is nothing new. The FDA approved the drug, for prescription only, in 1999. Then, in 2006, Plan B got OTC approval, but only for sale to women age 18 or older.

Reproductive rights organizations challenged the age restriction in court, finally receiving a favorable ruling earlier this year. Now, a new product called One-Step — a single-dose OTC version of the same hormone in Plan B — has been approved for anyone over the age of 16.

Plan B and One-Step contain a synthetic form of a hormone called progesterone. Birth control pills also contain progesterone, but at a lower dose.

Here are some common questions about emergency contraception.

Where do drugstores keep their stock of Plan B?

You still won't find Plan B on the open pharmacy shelf. In its unique regulations for selling Plan B without a prescription, the FDA set these rules:

  • The product has to be kept behind the pharmacy counter. If you want it, you have to ask the pharmacist or pharmacy clerk for the product.
  • A licensed pharmacist has to be on the pharmacy premises when you buy Plan B, although an assistant or clerk can handle the transaction.
  • You need to present some form of government-issued identification to prove your age before buying Plan B.

How do I know if a pharmacist sells Plan B?

The simplest thing is to call ahead and ask. Alternatively, your health provider may be able to direct you to local pharmacies where you can get Plan B.

Some pharmacies have chosen not to stock Plan B because of perceived lack of consumer demand. But media attention has focused mainly on individual pharmacists and drugstore owners who have publicly stated their religious objections to emergency contraception and made a point of refusing to stock or dispense Plan B. It's unclear whether this stance has made Plan B harder to purchase in general, but courts are already grappling with related issues. The controversy has been particularly heated in the state of Washington. Since 2007, pharmacies there have been required either to sell Plan B themselves or to give any customer who requests Plan B the name and address of a pharmacy where it's sold.

What if I am not 17 yet?
If you are under 17, you can get a prescription for emergency contraception (Plan B, One-Step or Next Choice, which is a generic, prescription-only version of Plan B) from your medical provider. Title Ten clinics and Planned Parenthood clinics also prescribe emergency contraception.

Can I just have a prescription available in case I need it?
Yes — in fact, that's a great idea! Ask your provider for a prescription when you go for your well-woman exam.

Far too many pregnancies are unplanned. If efforts to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies are to be successful, women must be given access to a full range of contraception options.

6 comments posted

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  • January 19, 2010 3:49 p.m.

    Dear Lois (and any other who is reading this), I do not mean to sound rude or stuck up in any way, but I have been researching the Plan B pill for a few years now and I must say that some of the info given to young girls is incorrect. For one, if you take this pill when you were already pregnant, it can have serious affects, starting with the elimination to the existing pregnancy. This pill is supposed to do one of three things: 1) It will stop your body from releasing the egg to meet the sperm. 2) It will affect the fallopian tubes which will stop the sperm from meeting the egg. 3) It can irritate the lining of your uterus and the egg, which by now has been fertilized by the sperm, will not attach and will be expelled. (This is actually an abortion)

    - Lyndsey

  • December 9, 2009 2:47 p.m.

    Dear Angela, If you took Plan B and did not realize you were already pregnant, there are no side affects to an existing pregnancy. Lois

    - Lois McGuire

  • November 29, 2009 8:52 p.m.

    I took plan B 11 hours after unprotected sex. I just found out yesterday that I am pregnant! This was the only time I had sex during my cycle and the first time taking plan B. Another friend of mine also got pregnant after taking plan B. WEAR A CONDOM if you don't want to get pregnant! I swear this is just a sugar pill!

    - Mandi

  • November 23, 2009 4:56 p.m.

    my question is what if you took plan-b and didn't know you were pregnant? Are there any side effects to the baby in the first trimester?

    - angela

  • September 15, 2009 12:03 p.m.

    i am so soory bt i gave it to my boy friend im 16 yearsold

    - Crystal

  • August 18, 2009 3:29 p.m.

    According to the Plan B One-Step and FDA websites, this emergency contraception is available to anyone who is 17 years of age or older; the articles says the age is 16. Just wanted to make sure women and girls are receiving the correct information. Thanks!

    - Alison

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