The Mega-Important Pill Your Pharmacist Might Not Let You Buy

Uh-oh—the condom broke. Emergency contraception can greatly reduce the chances of an unplanned pregnancy, but the problem is, you might not be able to get it. Nearly one in five men can’t purchase the morning-after pill, recent research from Columbia University Medical Center suggests.

In the study, three male shoppers—ages 19, 25, and 28—tried to buy Plan B at more than 100 pharmacies across three New York City neighborhoods. The guys were unsuccessful in 19 percent of the stores, either because the medication wasn’t in stock, or, as in nearly three-quarters of the cases, because they didn’t have their female partners—or the women’s IDs—with them.

There have never been any Food and Drug Administration (FDA) restrictions on men buying the drug, but the study authors believe some pharmacists may have refused to sell the participants the pill because they couldn’t confirm the age of their partners. 

The experiment was conducted in 2012, when over-the-counter purchase was restricted to people 17 and older. Last year, the age limit was lifted. 

Study author David Bell, M.D., M.P.H, says he plans to redo the experiment again to see if the purchase barriers still exist since age is no longer a factor. That’s because there might be other issues in play as well: When Dr. Bell spoke to other pharmacists, they suggested the men might have been blocked to prevent them from forcing their partners to take the morning-after pill against their wishes. 

“Many times, when the guys are accessing the EC, they’re doing so because their partner can’t get it in time,” says Dr. Bell. “So they are being supportive, they are being responsible. We pay a lot of lip service to tell males to be responsible, but when it comes down to it, we put barriers in place about it.”

And it’s important to get the medication fast—the effectiveness of Plan B declines with time, particularly after 3 days, says Dr. Bell.

So what can you do if you’re sent off in search of the pill? Your best bet is to call pharmacies first, to make sure they have it in stock and that they’ll sell it you. And if they’re uncooperative, show them you’re informed. Tell them that you know there are no laws prohibiting you from buying it, or requiring your partner to be there, says Dr. Bell.