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Plan B advocates seek access for all

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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Had unprotected sex? Condom break?

Later this year, women who fear an unwanted pregnancy can go to a pharmacy and pick up the morning-after pill without first seeing a doctor. That's not true, however, for girls age 17 and younger, who will still need a prescription to buy the emergency contraceptive.

The drug's manufacturer, lawmakers and women's groups vow to try to lift that age restriction, even as they applauded Thursday's decision allowing some over-the-counter sales of the pills called Plan B.

The Food and Drug Administration's decision is a compromise in a three-year battle over easing restrictions on the drug, which has been available only by prescription since 1999.

The restrictions could hinder efforts to halve the nation's annual 3 million unplanned pregnancies, supporters of unrestricted over-the-counter sales say.

"While we are glad to know the FDA finally ended its foot-dragging on this issue, Planned Parenthood is troubled by the scientifically baseless restriction imposed on teenagers," Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards said. "The U.S. has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the Western world. Anything that makes it harder for teenagers to avoid unintended pregnancy is bad medicine and bad public policy."

An estimated 41 countries allow emergency contraceptives to be sold without a prescription, Planned Parenthood said. It wasn't immediately clear how many, if any, have age restrictions.

U.S. opponents worry that greater availability of the pills will increase promiscuity and promote use of the pills by sexual predators.

"If the FDA thinks that enacting an age restriction will work, or that the drug company will enforce it ... then they are living in a dream world," said Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America, which led the opposition.

As a condition of approval, the drug's manufacturer, Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc., agreed to use anonymous shoppers and other methods to check whether pharmacists are enforcing the age restriction.

"I'm sure the FDA will follow through on that and make sure these important conditions are established and enforced," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.

Barr hasn't said what the nonprescription pills will cost when they go on sale, perhaps as early as November. They now cost $25 to $40 in prescription form.

The pills will be sold only from behind the counter at pharmacies, not at convenience stores or gas stations. Pharmacists will check photo identification. Adult men also will be able to purchase them for their partners.

Plan B contains a concentrated dose of the same drug found in many regular birth control pills.

If a woman takes Plan B within 72 hours of unprotected sex, she can lower the risk of pregnancy by up to 89 percent. Plan B is different from the abortion pill: If a woman already is pregnant, Plan B has no effect.

The FDA's long delay in deciding on Barr's application ensnared President Bush's nominee to head the regulatory agency, Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach. After the FDA's announcement Thursday, Democratic Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Patty Murray of Washington said they would lift their block on the nomination.

That won't settle the drawn-out Plan B controversy. The Center for Reproductive Rights said a lawsuit filed last year to do away with all age restrictions would continue.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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