On Aug. 24, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved emergency contraception (EC) as an over-the-counter medication. The drug is currently available to those 18 years of age and older. The FDA should be praised for its decision which is predicted to greatly reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions in the United States. However, EC should be available for all people, regardless of their age.

EC is necessary when rape occurs or when contraception methods fail or are not used. According to Planned Parenthood, Plan B, one type of EC manufactured by Barr Pharmaceuticals, should cut the abortion rate in half. It could, should the original contraceptives fail, prevent 1.7 million unintended pregnancies and the 800,000 abortions, some resulting in death, that happen each year in the United States. Plan B reduces the chance of pregnancy by 89 percent if taken within 72 hours of intercourse. The drug contains similar hormones found in birth control pills, but in larger doses.

Before the recent FDA ruling, women needed a prescription to acquire the drug. Now, females under 18 still need a prescription, but men and women 18 years of age and older can obtain Plan B over the counter.

The drug is seven times more effective if taken within the first 24 hours, but the success rate of Plan B decreases each hour. It is therefore vital that a patient have the pill easily available to her after unprotected intercourse.

Opponents of the decision believe that allowing EC over-the-counter would promote abortions and hurt an embryo. However, EC is not a form of abortion. The drug prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation, but does not terminate a developing fetus. The pill is ineffective against a growing embryo.

Others believe that the FDA’s decision will increase careless unprotected intercourse and promiscuity. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics reported that having EC available does not increase sexual activity among adolescents. Those who did engage in intercourse took the drug in addition to other contraceptives and did not rely on it solely as a form of birth control.

EC is not to be used in place of regular birth control. The drug is only intended as a last resort if the original form of protection should fail. Those who use EC should not be having unprotected sex intentionally.

Using EC is a woman’s personal decision and should not be determined by others’ beliefs, especially those whose job it is to protect us, like doctors and politicians. This is why it is so critical that EC be available as an over-the-counter medication to all women, no matter what their age.