Levonorgestrelan (brand name “plan B”) is the emergency contraceptive that prevents ovulation after unprotected sex and have been shown to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and abortions.
By law, if science shows levonorgestrelan is safe and effective, FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg is required to agree to the use of over-the-counter. Hamburg determined that “there are adequate and reasonable, well-supported, and science-based evidence that plan b safe step and effective and should be approved for nonprescription use for all potential child-bearing woman.”
Levonorgestrelan first held back from agreement sold over-the-counter by Crawford in 2005 but it is available without prescription in 35 other countries around the world.