Re‑election triggers surge in US emergency contraception sales

Donald Trump delivered on his promise. He won the presidential election, defeating Democrat Kamala Harris. After a four-year hiatus, he will return to the White House for what will be his second and final term. The emotions surrounding this right-wing politician are intense worldwide, particularly among residents of the United States, which is understandable. The "Trump effect" is already noticeable, even though he will not assume office until January 2025. This primarily concerns emergency contraception.

It is well known that Donald Trump holds a very extreme stance on abortion and women's rights. He does not hide his desire for abortion to be completely banned. It can be assumed that he will also endeavour to restrict access to emergency contraception, which is currently legal in the USA. This has alarmed women across the United States, prompting them to flock to pharmacies.

American women fear that once Donald Trump officially becomes president, access to emergency contraception will be restricted. Women have been stocking up at pharmacies. This is most apparent in states where the right to abortion is banned. The online pharmacy Winx Health reported that within the first 60 hours after the election, sales of the Restart pill increased by over 990 per cent compared to the previous week.

The surge in demand is not limited to pills. There is also increased interest in permanent contraceptive methods. The non-profit organisation Planned Parenthood announced on social media that since Wednesday, 6th November, the number of visits for intrauterine device insertions increased by 760 per cent, and visits for contraceptive implants rose by 350 per cent.