Sharon Camp Survived Illegal Abortion, Made Plan B Possible

Sharon Camp turned her own brush with death into a mission that would save countless lives.

After narrowly surviving an illegal abortion, Camp dedicated herself to ensuring no woman would face the dangers she had endured. Her vision was simple but powerful: every woman deserves safe, reliable healthcare options.

From 1975 to 1993, Camp led Population Action International, where she championed reproductive healthcare and family planning on a global scale. Her work reached women in countries where basic reproductive care remained out of reach.

But Camp's biggest breakthrough came in 1997. She founded Women's Capital Corporation, the startup that would develop and bring Plan B emergency contraception to market. For the first time, women had a safe, accessible option to prevent unintended pregnancy after contraceptive failure or unprotected sex.

The road wasn't easy. Regulatory barriers constantly blocked her path, but Camp refused to back down. She understood that red tape shouldn't stand between women and their healthcare.

Her influence extended far beyond business. Camp authored more than 70 publications on emergency contraception and reproductive justice, becoming one of the field's most respected voices. She mentored countless professionals who would carry her mission forward.

The Ripple Effect

Camp's work fundamentally changed reproductive healthcare access for millions of women worldwide. Plan B became available over the counter in 2006, removing yet another barrier to emergency contraception. Today, emergency contraception remains a critical option for women facing time-sensitive reproductive health decisions.

Her influence shaped not just products, but policy and perspective. Physician J. Joseph Speidel, who worked alongside Camp, remembered her "intellect, courage and tenacity" as forces that "shaped not only the institutions she led, but the direction of our field."

Camp believed in thinking big. "At least once in your life, put everything you've got behind some big, hairy, audacious idea," she told graduates at Pomona College. "I've done the big, hairy, audacious idea a few times myself, and believe me, there's nothing that works better for growing the brain power."

When Camp passed away in 2025 at age 81, she left behind a transformed landscape of reproductive healthcare where safety and access had replaced danger and desperation.