The only absolute contraindication is pregnancy. A large amount of data indicate that maternal use of exogenous hormones is unlikely to cause fetal harm. Therefore, women who are not obviously pregnant should not be denied access to emergency contraception. Providers who are willing to prescribe ECP can list themselves in these information resources. Initially, while supplies are limited, Plan B is available only to Planned Parenthood Clinics and other health care providers listed on the 24-Hour Emergency Contraception Hotline.
Unintended pregnancy is an economic and social burden.
The primary cost is human cost in lost opportunities for parents. This is particularly true for adolescent parents. Providing a method to decrease the incidence of unplanned pregnancies is a valuable public health tool. The public health benefit of reducing unplanned pregnancies is a reduction in abortion rates and for continuing pregnancies, lower rates of preterm and intrauterine growth retarded infants.