Teva Launches Educational Initiative to Arm Women with Facts about Emergency Contraception

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., maker of Plan B One-Step^® (levonorgestrel) 1.5 mg tablet, the #1 OB/GYN recommended emergency contraception, announced today the launch of “Perfectly Imperfect,” an educational initiative that aims to spark a conversation about the many myths surrounding emergency contraception and ensure women are prepared in case their birth control plan doesn’t go as perfectly as planned. In collaboration with Carly Aquilino and Nessa, stars of MTV’s “Girl Code,” and through the creation of a new multimedia website, www.PerfectlyImperfectandMe.com, this innovative and interactive program encourages women to understand that it’s more important to be true to themselves, knowledgeable and prepared than it is to be perceived as perfect.

In support of the “Perfectly Imperfect” initiative, an online survey of 1,000 US women aged 18-34 years, sponsored by Plan B One-Step^®, revealed that 9 out of 10 women have felt pressure to be perfect, and of those women, nearly 45% put the pressure on themselves. This pressure to be perfect also translates into how women surveyed would feel about a potential contraception failure. The survey showed that if a woman experienced a contraception failure, 1 out of 4 would feel disappointed in themselves, and confused about what to do next and nearly 60 percent would be panicked and/or scared.

“As members of the entertainment industry, I can relate to the pressures to be perfect. Nessa and I want women to know that you don’t have to live your life through a filter, it’s more important to be yourself and to let your imperfections shine through,” Aquilino said. “This is why we’ve joined this initiative and want people to check out the website to get the facts straight.”

“So many of us are focused on being perfect the first time around, we don’t explore the ‘what ifs’,” Nessa added. “This is especially important when it comes to contraception. Even if you try to do everything right, it is important to be informed about your options in the event you need a backup plan.”

The survey also uncovered existing misperceptions and misinformation regarding emergency contraception. Of the women surveyed, 87% incorrectly believed all forms of emergency contraception would harm an existing pregnancy and nearly 1/3 falsely believed that all forms of emergency contraception only work the morning after a contraception failure or unprotected sex. Furthermore, 75% were unaware that some forms of emergency contraception can be found in the feminine care aisle of the pharmacy/store.

“As a practicing OB/GYN for 20 years, I was not shocked by the survey findings. I see it all too often – women are confused, misinformed or feel there is a stigma associated with the use of emergency contraception,” said Dr. Diana Ramos, an OB/GYN and nationally recognized expert in women’s health who is serving as a spokesperson for Teva’s campaign.

The “Perfectly Imperfect” initiative also includes promotional support from MTV, the leading creator of millennial programming, and Her Campus, the #1 global community for college women. For more information about the initiative and to get the facts about Plan B One-Step^®, please visit www.PerfectlyImperfectandMe.com.

About Plan B One-Step^®

Plan B One-Step^® (levonorgestrel) 1.5 mg tablet is a progestin-only emergency contraceptive that helps prevent pregnancy when taken within 72 hours (3 days) after birth control failure or unprotected sex. The sooner it’s taken, the better it works. Plan B One-Step^® works mainly by stopping the release of an egg from the ovary. It is possible that Plan B One-Step^® may also work by preventing fertilization of an egg (the uniting of sperm with the egg) or by preventing attachment (implantation) to the uterus (womb). When used as directed, about 7 out of every 8 women who would have gotten pregnant will not become pregnant after taking Plan B One-Step^®. Plan B One-Step^® is not an abortion pill and will not harm an existing pregnancy. Plan B One-Step^® is a back-up method of preventing pregnancy, and should not be used as regular birth control because it is not as effective. Side effects may include menstrual changes, nausea, lower stomach (abdominal) pain, tiredness, headache, dizziness, breast pain, and vomiting. Plan B One-Step^® does not protect a woman against HIV/AIDS or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). For additional information, visit www.PlanBOneStep.com.

About Teva

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd is a leading global pharmaceutical company that delivers high-quality, patient-centric healthcare solutions to millions of patients every day. In addition to being the world’s largest generic medicines producer, Teva has world-leading positions in multiple specialty medicines therapeutic areas. In North America, Teva’s Specialty Medicines business focuses on innovative treatments for disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), including pain, and respiratory diseases, as well as having a strong presence in oncology, women’s health and select, US-only brands. Our focus is on creating new ways of addressing unmet patient needs, by combining drug development capabilities with devices, patient services and technologies. For more information, visit www.tevausa.com.