Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa joined chapters across the country Wednesday in free distribution of the emergency contraceptive pill, Plan B, as part of a national effort to get emergency contraception.

The Food and Drug Administration made Plan B available to men and women over the age of 18 without a prescription last month.

“Access to emergency contraception is essential for women who want to prevent unintended pregnancy,” said Kathi DiNicola, director of marketing and communications of Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa.

Kim Lehman, president of the Iowa Right to Life Committee, said Planned Parenthood is misleading women on certain issues.

“It is inaccurately stated that the pill does not cause an abortion. According to Webster, a woman is pregnant at conception when the egg is fertilized, and an abortion is the termination of a pregnancy that causes the death of an embryo or fetus,” Lehman said. “Who gave Planned Parenthood the right to redefine pregnancy?”

Lehman said emergency contraception stops the embryo from planting in the womb. She said no one knows whether the woman is pregnant at that point.

DiNicola disagreed.

“Emergency contraception is a higher dose of the same hormones found in daily birth control pills,” DiNicola said. “It works by delaying or inhibiting ovulation. It will not disrupt an established pregnancy.”

Dave Stark, pharmacy manager at Hy-Vee, 3800 W. Lincoln Way, said there are two types of medicine in a birth control pill – estrogen and progestin. In emergency contraception, however, there is only progestin. He said it’s basically a double dose of progestin in one pill, and the patient will take the first pill immediately, then the other 12 hours later.

DiNicola said Plan B is 85 percent effective if taken within 72 hours, and has very few side effects.

Lehman said, however, that taking a large dose of hormones can have adverse effects.

Tomeka Diggs, junior in animal ecology, said she thinks of herself as pro-abortion rights, but disagrees with making Plan B available without a prescription.

“I think people can start using that as a birth control. Now, you think, ‘Oh, I’ll just go to the drug store and get the morning after pill,'” Diggs said.

Diggs said she believes Planned Parenthood has women’s best interests in mind. She said it gives women the option of taking emergency contraception, but also offers other options, such as counseling.

Lehman said pharmacies shouldn’t allow men to buy the drug.

Stark said some pharmacies may not sell Plan B to males, but Hy-Vee Pharmacy will dispense it according to the law, verifying that it is therapeutically appropriate.

He said it isn’t against the law to sell Plan B to a male as long as he answers the same questions pharmacists would ask anyone, such as inquiries about allergies. Stark said Plan B is behind the counter and will be sold similar to Sudafed – pharmacists will ask to see the buyer’s driver’s license.