FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 5, 2013
Contact
[email protected]
Washington, D.C. – Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, welcomed today’s news that lifts restrictions on over-the-counter emergency contraception (EC) and makes the medication more accessible to all women.
“Science has shown that emergency contraception is safe for women of all ages and can help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies,” Hogue said. “I’m pleased the Second Circuit has recognized this and ordered the FDA to begin making two-pill emergency contraceptives available over the counter.”
Imposing medically unnecessary age restrictions on EC creates numerous problems. Hogue said women in a range of situations—including survivors of rape or incest—shouldn’t be forced to jump through unnecessary hoops to use EC.
“We, like most people, hope our young loved ones will come to us first in critical situations like an unintended pregnancy, but that is often not the case, and the government’s job is to put the safety of young women first,” Hogue continued. “Leading experts like the American Academy of Pediatrics confirm this medication is safe and should be available for women of all ages. The FDA should comply with the court’s directive without delay.”
Please find additional information about emergency contraception, including ways it can help prevent teen pregnancy, on our website.
NARAL Pro-Choice America and its network of state affiliates are dedicated to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom for all Americans. NARAL works to guarantee that every woman has the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion. In recognition of its work defending our constitutional right to choose, Fortune Magazine described NARAL as “one of the top 10 advocacy groups in America.”
###