Let's talk about Plan B for a moment.

For the past few weeks, there has been lots of chatter about emergency contraception, typically referred to as Plan B or the morning after pill. All kinds of information is floating around about the contraception method itself. Here are some important things to know that I have gathered from Mother Jones, the New York Times, National Public Radio, Reality Check, and Planned Parenthood: 

• This type of contraception involves pills which release hormones that can decrease the risk of pregnancy after unprotected vaginal intercourse if taken within five days of the interaction. (Planned Parenthood and New York Times)
• Although often referred to as the abortion pill, it is not. If a fertilized egg implants itself in the uterine lining, the pill will not disrupt the zygote. (Planned Parenthood)
• There are two types of morning after pill, one involves taking two different pills and the other only requires one. (This fact will become important in a bit.) (New York Times and Mother Jones)
• Plan B is the popular brand name given to the two different options currently on the market. (National Public Radio and Reality Check)

     Here is a short breakdown of what has occurred:

• In April 2013, U.S. District Court Judge Edward Korman’s court ordered the Food and Drug Administration to make all types of emergency contraception available over-the-counter without age restrictions, which would eliminate the current prescription requirement. The judge made this ruling after twelve years of overseeing the case with the Food and Drug Administration spurred by a citizen lawsuit. (National Public Radio)  
• Since the ruling, the Obama administration filed an appeal through the justice department in order to delay implementation of the court order. (Mother Jones)
• The appeal was denied, and the two-pill emergency contraception should be available over-the-counter in stores within the next thirty days or so (because the government likes to take its sweet time). (New York Times)
• There must be a separate application process for the emergency contraception that only involves one pill, but it is expected to be approved. (New York Times)

Basically, we should all do a happy dance today, because a safe, effective form of contraception will be available to women of all ages soon. It may have taken twelve years, BUT it is happening nonetheless.  So yay!

- Lauren, emergency contraception information spreader!