Plan B Pill Now Readily Available

This photo released by Barr Pharmaceuticals on Wednesday Dec. 6, 2006 shows the packaging, pills and educational booklet for the over-the-counter version of the morning-after pill now available at pharmacies nationwide. The top left box shows a front view of the package, the top right box shows the back of the package, the bottom left insert included inside the box shows the pills and the bottom right piece is the educational booklet included in the package. (AP Photo/ Barr Pharmaceuticals) (AP)

On Wednesday, in celebration of Plan B's expanded availability, the pills were being given away free at more than 350 Planned Parenthood centers in 30 states.

Planned Parenthood's vice president for medical affairs, Dr. Vanessa Cullins, urged women to back up their regular birth control by keeping emergency contraception in their medicine cabinet "in case the condom breaks, you miss two or more birth control pills or have unprotected sex."

Planned Parenthood centers also sell the pill; as a clinic operator, the organization gets a discount from Barr that helps it undercut pharmacy prices.

The pill giveaway was denounced by some Planned Parenthood critics.

"They're using this to drive customers to their clinics and drive up their profits," said Jim Sedlak, vice president of the American Life League.

Dr. Joe DeCook of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists said he worries that sexually active women using Plan B will feel less need to see a physician, reducing the odds of early detection of sexually transmitted diseases.

DeCook pronounced Plan B's over-the-counter status a "done deal" that would be hard to reverse, but some other opponents said they would carry on the fight. They said future studies may cast doubt on the pill's merits, and they spoke of pushing legislation on the state level to curtail access to it.

"The battle is not over," said Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America. "There are more things we can do and will be doing."

Already, four states _ Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi and South Dakota _ specifically allow pharmacists to opt out of providing emergency contraceptives.

Because of the prescription requirement for younger buyers, Plan B is actually kept behind pharmacy counters _ not on display. NARAL Pro-Choice America is one of several groups working to broaden awareness of it.

"We're not seeing many TV ads for it, like you see for Viagra," said NARAL's president, Nancy Keenan. "Folks have to know it's there."