The additional time buffer that Ella provides could be critical for many women, who may need to jump through myriad geographic, logistical and social hurdles to get the morning-after pill. As a public health practitioner, I’ve heard from some women who said they had to visit three pharmacies before they were able to find the morning-after pill. Others recounted having to ask various friends for money to scrounge up the amount needed to cover the cost of emergency contraception. And some young women reported being told by pharmacy staff that they must be 18 to buy the pill, despite the fact that it is legally available at any age.