The government is considering whether to make morning-after birth control available without a prescription, and like most issues that involve sex and pregnancy, it has generated heated debate. Fierce arguments have gone on inside and outside the Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites), which may decide as soon as this week whether drug stores can sell the emergency contraception known as Plan B without a prescription to women age 16 and older. Each side accuses the other of manipulating science for political purpose. Plan B supporters say the pill is a safe way to prevent thousands of unwanted pregnancies and the abortions that sometimes follow. Making the contraception available over the counter, they say, is crucial for women who might need the protection over a weekend or when it is difficult to obtain a prescription. Plan B can prevent pregnancy for up to 72 hours after sex. The sooner the pill is taken, the more effective it is.
