"Japan Embraces Over-the-Counter Emergency Contraceptive Pill for First Time"

Japan has begun allowing the sale of the morning-after pill as an over-the-counter drug, marking a significant shift in its approach to emergency contraception and womens health.

• For the first time, Japan will offer the morning-after pill as an over-the-counter drug, enabling women to access emergency contraception without a prescription.
• Previously, access to emergency contraception in Japan required a prescription drug, reflecting the countrys conservative views on womens reproductive rights.
• The morning-after pill, designed to prevent pregnancy by stopping an egg from developing, must be taken within three to five days after unprotected sex.