ACTION ALERT

TAKE A STAND FOR EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION!

On May 6, 2004, the FDA decided not to approve over-the-counter availability for Emergency Contraception ("EC"). This is an egregious assault against the reproductive health of women. Given the strong scientific evidence and unprecedented medical consensus supporting making EC available over the counter, this decision is unjustifiable.

Emergency Contraception is a time-sensitive treatment. If taken within 72 hours, it reduces the risk of pregnancy by up to 89 percent. The sooner a woman takes it, the better it works. Requiring a prescription for EC is a proven barrier for some women to get this back-up birth control method in time. EC helps reduce unintended pregnancy and the need for abortion.

If you are in favor of making EC available over-the-counter, you can:

Send a letter, call or fax to:

FDA Commissioner
Food & Drug Administration
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
Phone (888) 563-6332

President George W. Bush
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Phone (202) 456-1414
Fax (202) 456-2461

Secretary Tommy Thompson
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Fax (202) 690-7203

Please visit the National Women's Law Center's website (www.nwlc.org) for sample messages you can send and additional background information about Emergency Contraception.

STAND UP, SPEAK UP and ACT UP!