Quick Hit: FDA Approves 5-Day Emergency Contraception
Please note: This entry -- originally posted at Our Bodies, Our Blog -- has not been updated since the publication date listed above.
In June, we wrote about the FDA’s Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs recommendation to approve ulipristal acetate (brand name "ella") for emergency contraception. On Friday, the FDA did approve the drug, as a prescription-only emergency contraceptive to be taken up to 120 hours (5 days) after contraceptive failure/unprotected sex. Existing "Plan B"-type emergency contraception is currently approved for use up to 72 hours.
Despite the five-day use window for this drug (and the three-day window for others), some media outlets persist in calling it a "morning-after" pill. Ahem.
At the time of our June post, a transcript of the Advisory Committee meeting - which includes the text of presentations and detailed discussion of the drug - was not yet available. That transcript is now online [PDF], including comments from representatives of Planned Parenthood and the National Women's Health Network.
See our previous post for further discussion of the new emergency contraceptive.
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