Women – Women may buy the morning-after pill without a prescription -- but only with proof they're 18 or older, federal health officials decided Thursday.
Karina:
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The "morning after pill" (otherwise known as emergency contraceptive, or by its US brand name, Plan B) is essentially a high dose of the same hormones contained in regular birth control pills. The drug has been available in this country since 1999, but has been fairly heavily regulated, with the FDA deciding just two years ago that Plan B was not appropriate for over-the-counter availability. Soon after, the manufacturer filed another attempt at over-the-counter clearance with the FDA, and earlier this year several senators, led by Hillary Clinton declared they would block Lester Crawford's nomination as FDA commissioner until a Plan B decision was released.
As all standard, daily birth control pills require a doctors visit and prescription, this ruling is naturally bound to cause some controversy. Earlier this week, when it became clear that the FDA decision was imminent, Janice Shaw Crouse wrote a long post on ProLifeBlogs in dissent:
Since birth-control pills require a prescription and a doctor’s supervision during use, how can the FDA or the drug manufacturer condone providing Plan B (a mega-dose of the same drugs) over-the-counter? Widespread access to Plan B would expose women to the health risks that heretofore were acknowledged by doctors who screened women before prescribing birth control pills and then monitored them for the wide variety of contra-indicators for their use. ... Also, some physicians are concerned about the long-term effects of high-dosage birth control pills (Plan B) and others worry about their effect on adolescents and the fact that there are no constraints that would prevent repeated use of Plan B for “emergency contraception.â€
But generally, the buzz on this ruling is overwhelmingly positive, as even many pro-life advocates acknowledge that use of Plan B is not akin to abortion.
Update: WebMD has another related article focusing on questions and answers about Plan B.
2006-08-24 13:22:23
I happen to be a very avid pro-lifer, but i dont see any reason why this should not be. Theres no real difference between this and a birth control pill. Of course the preference is that people try not to use it as a normal form of contraceptive, but the girl doesnt even know she is pregnant yet, unlike a traditional abortion.
Thank heaven somebody has finally come to their senses. This has been needed for years, Hooooray!!! I'm sure the Catholic's will be outraged by this decision, but those guys have been so out of touch for so long that nobody pays any attention to them these days. If the Catholic leadership can't manage and control it they oppose it.
The only problem with this non Rx is that it cannot be monitored. For girls/women who use this drug too many times, is there any long term effects? Since it is not monitored, then could one use it every Monday. I agree it needs to be available, but at what cost? This argument is double sided. There are many great advantages and also disadvantages for the pill. Will they also offer counseling on how not to need this pill? Like, protection or counseling for promiscuity?
And to think that 'heartache of abortion' is so easy to avoid. Unwanted children don't have to be a problem... if everyone would just use the common sense that God gives them, they could PREVENT pregnancy and not have to murder their children. This is such a huge DUH... I think PLANNED PARENTHOOD means AVOIDING getting pg, not killing our babies after the fact. Makes no sense whatsoever. That group needs to change their name.
ssMarilyn
Well.. to get a little technical..
After sex, if the woman has not ovulated yet... the sperm could wait up to 3 days for the egg. So the pill would stop the fertilization if taken promptly. However, the egg can be fertilized as quickly as 10 min after the deed is done. (If the egg is in the tubes already)
Sorry.. tried not to be too graphic for the fellas.
I am concerned that there is not enough research on long term effects. The FDA is quick to approve drugs that have not been tested thoroughly. The difference between this pill and the standard pills is that the standard pills take 30 days to be effective. It is a gradual process. This morning after pill is just taken once to have the same effects. How strong is this pill then? At least the under 18 group has to be evaluated first. I'd hate for a young girl to have made a mistake and take this pill, then years later when ready to have kids not be able to because of the pill.
Fabulous idea! They should have done this immediately! It is simply not right for a woman to have to pay the price the rest of her life for a mistake that takes a few short seconds, especially when there are many guys out there who simply want to use a woman just get their rocks off, love and leave... Granted, it is not a form of birth control, but indeed is a good thing. Bravo!
saneman: Remember, this was the FDA not the White House or the Presidency.>>>>
Nope. The FDA scientists originally approved over the counter sales, and the bush administration pressured them to back off. The morning after pill and the 'abortion pill' are two different things, but the religious right wants people to believe they're the same. They work differently. The morning after pill increases projesterine, which stops cells from attaching to the uterine wall to create a pregnancy. The 'abortion pill' sloughs cells which have already attached to the uterine wall. In other words, bush AGAIN tried to redefine the truth about science, and replace it with hysterical nonsense. (as he did with stem cell research.)
>>
Ignorance never does 'rest easy' when it loses an argument.
Why is everybody missing the big picture here? Whatever happened to morality? It seems like everybody these days are just acting like animals. We need to realize that television, the movies and the magazines are just stories. They are not real life.
This pill represents a total disregard for personal responsibility. The morals of this country are going down hill fast enough without the help of the morning after pill.
I apologize if I have offended anybody I just don't think that we should take promiscuous sex in such a casual manner.
As others have stated this is just opening up the door to more STDs. With HIV-AIDS being such an epidemic, maybe it's time to take a little more responsibility for our personal actions. Maybe we should all just step back and think about this for a minute think about what the problem is and ask ourselves is this really the best solution?
LinO
You need some education-
CDC's HIV mission is to prevent HIV infection and reduce the incidence of HIV-related illness and death, in collaboration with community, state, national, and international partners. CDC’s programs work to improve treatment, care, and support for persons living with HIV and to help build capacity and infrastructure to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
There is lots more - you need education for sure
For the record I am not Catholic. I do believe in birth control. I just believe we should take a little bit more responsibility for personal actions. I also believe in monogamous relationships. "I know that won't be too popular" that's okay though I do support an individual's right to do whatever they please with no governmental oppression (just as long as it's legal and it doesn't hurt anybody else).
LinO:
You are one of the many people that are mislead. HIV/AIDS has no cure or vaccine to prevent it. 100% of people diagnosed with HIV have a 100% mortality rate. They do not die from AIDS they die from opportunistic infections. They have no immunity to cast off the common cold which leads to pneumonia then death. I know the life expectancy has increased with the help of drugs but sooner or later the drugs cannot combat the illness. It is a deadly disease. Please, read up on the AIDS pandemic. It is horrifying.
Just because there is a baby boom means nothing. Every day more and more newborns are diagnosed with HIV. It is passed along from mother to child in utero. Granted, drugs reduce the transmission from 35% to @85%, but what about the 15% of children that have the HIV virus from no fault of their own? Knowing that your mother has given you a fatal disease must be devastating.
HIV has no preference, no color favorite, no sexuality love. It can be given to ANYONE. Now the older generation is having an increase because of living longer. Many retirement communities are infecting each other because they believe that they are too old to contract it. With the help of Viagra and Cialis, HIV is being transmitted to the elderly as well. No one is safe or invulnerable.
My previous post disappeared!
The morning after pill has been available in other countries, with no increased incidence of STD's. This pill gives the female, after an unplanned sexual encounter, (who cannot take the BCP, and a condom was not available), a sense of security, especially after a rape. She still has to worry about STD.
It should not be available for under 18. They need more education. Parents beware - your child over 10 is no longer a child, but very worldly, and that appplies to both sexes. Educate them properly.
Condoms should be used for every encounter,unless only one partner (married). You cannot trust who he/she has been with before you- and what can be passed to you. Remember you can pass it along next time too.
I'm using the term 'you' as example - not accusing.
The only reason I am concerned about other people's sex lives is that it affects me. I am generalizing here, but from what I see in my job, most women that use this pill are unwed teens or early 20's. If one was in a stable committed relationship, this pill would be unneeded. I work hard for my tax dollars. Those tax dollars pay for the medicaid benefits most of these women will use to support their pregnancy.
Trust me.. I have no insurance and cannot benefit from the help of Medicaid because of the requirements. The people in the Medicaid office told me to say my husband left me when I was pregnant that was the only way to receive it and also not work at all. I am too responsible for that. I paid for my pregnancy through a State program. YES.. I PAID money for it. I had to pay for formula $15 a can when the girl in front of me (@20 yo) had 3 children and was using WIC to get her formula for free.
Republicans hate sex and enjoyment. They think life should be as hard and cruel as they are, and only get off on war and death. The only life they really care about is the life they don't have. That's why they try to prevent anyone else from escaping their misery, and punishment by preventable diseases or unplanned pregnancies is just fine with them. It comports with their vision of their god.
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It's about time.