(ella) F.D.A. Approves 5-Day Emergency Contraceptive

[kpete]

Source: New York Times

F.D.A. Approves 5-Day Emergency Contraceptive
By GARDINER HARRIS
Published: August 13, 2010


WASHINGTON — Federal drug regulators on Friday approved a new form of emergency contraceptive pill that prevents pregnancies if taken as many as five days after unprotected intercourse.


The pill, called ella, will be available by prescription only. Developed in government laboratories, it is more effective than Plan B, the morning-after pill now available over the counter to women 17 and older.

That pill gradually loses efficacy and can be taken at most three days after sex. Ella, by contrast, works just as well on the fifth day as the first after sex.

Women who have unprotected intercourse have about 1 chance in 20 of becoming pregnant. Those who take Plan B within three days cut that risk to about 1 in 40, while those who take ella would cut that risk to about 1 in 50, regulators say. Studies show that ella is less effective in obese women.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/14/health/policy/14pill.html?_r=2&th&emc=th

[LaurenG]

1. That is great news.

I hadn't heard about this one.

[SocialistLez]

2. Good news for women everywhere!

This is especially good for women who are raped and may wait a day or two to report it.
I know a lot of hospitals give women emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy.

[Submariner]

3. Great news! Good way to prevent Terror Babies

[DimplesinMI]

4. Excellent News..

And this would have NEVER happen under a McCain/Palin Administration. Thank you for your FDA Administration, President Obama for protecting a Women's Right to Choose!!!

[Dappleganger]

5. This mom of two girls is very happy.

The more choices they have available to them, the better.