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(CNN) -- Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration voted Tuesday to recommend emergency contraception -- or the "morning-after" pill -- be available over-the-counter.
The FDA generally follows the recommendations of its advisory committees but it is not known when the agency will act on the recommendation.
The makers of Plan B contraception say that when it is taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, it can reduce the risk of pregnancy by about 89 percent.
Plan B, made by Women's Capital Corp., has been available since 1998, but only with a doctor's prescription.
"Putting safe, effective back-up birth control on the drug store shelves next to condoms will give many more women a second chance to prevent pregnancy," said Kirsten Moore, head of the Reproductive Health Technologies Project, a group backing no-prescription emergency contraception.
Supporters also say making Plan B over-the-counter would give women easier access to emergency contraceptives on weekends and nights, when doctor's offices are closed, reducing the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions in the United States.
Those against making Plan B -- or any other emergency contraception -- available without a prescription argue some women will substitute emergency contraception for regular birth control and point to potential health concerns.
Plan B contains a high dose of a hormone found in traditional birth control pills which can cause blood clots in certain people.
Have all the sex you want with no worries!
The FDA generally follows the recommendations of its advisory committees but it is not known when the agency will act on the recommendation.
The makers of Plan B contraception say that when it is taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, it can reduce the risk of pregnancy by about 89 percent.
Plan B, made by Women's Capital Corp., has been available since 1998, but only with a doctor's prescription.
"Putting safe, effective back-up birth control on the drug store shelves next to condoms will give many more women a second chance to prevent pregnancy," said Kirsten Moore, head of the Reproductive Health Technologies Project, a group backing no-prescription emergency contraception.
Supporters also say making Plan B over-the-counter would give women easier access to emergency contraceptives on weekends and nights, when doctor's offices are closed, reducing the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions in the United States.
Those against making Plan B -- or any other emergency contraception -- available without a prescription argue some women will substitute emergency contraception for regular birth control and point to potential health concerns.
Plan B contains a high dose of a hormone found in traditional birth control pills which can cause blood clots in certain people.
Have all the sex you want with no worries!
