News Summary: Morning-after pill available to all

Published April 5, 2013 5:45pm ET



WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge ruled Friday that age restrictions on over-the-counter sales of the morning-after pill are arbitrary and must end within 30 days. The Justice Department didn’t say whether it would appeal the ruling.

WHAT IS MEANS: The ruling means women can buy emergency contraception without first having to prove they’re 17 or older. And it could allow Plan B One-Step to move out from behind pharmacy counters to the store counters.

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WHAT IT IS: The morning-after pill contains a higher dose of the female progestin hormone that is in regular birth control pills and can reduce the chances of pregnancy by up to 89 percent if taken in time.

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