Many welcomed the news that the pill's approval may be imminent. Teikoku Hormone Mfg., a company that hopes to put the pill on the market, said preparations were under way, with the assumption that approval was coming soon. Pill advocates, however, said they weren't about to let their guard down after repeated disappointments. The Professional Women's Coalition for Sexuality and Health, a Tokyo grassroots group that has been pushing for the pill's approval, urged the government to stop stalling and to make sure that women get correct information about its use. The most commonly used contraceptive in Japan is the condom.
Abortion is also common, with one in five pregnancies ending in abortion.