White House overturns FDA approved OTC Plan B

[mstee]

I have always been religious about using birth control/condoms, and once when I was 16, the condom broke. I wasn't the type who would have sex without a condom "once in a while". No condom= no sex. Being the product of a teenage pregnancy, I was paranoid. Well I wasn't yet on the pill, and the first thing I did was go to a bunch of pharmacies and finally found one where a pharmacist was able to sell it to me. It worked, thank god. I got on the pill soon after.

Soon after that ordeal, they made it where anyone under 17 couldn't get it w/o a prescription. I have always been responsible and have tried to do the right thing, but I don't know if I would've had the courage to go to my mom and say "I'm having sex AND guess what, the condom broke and I need Plan B." I guess I could've gotten a prescription on my own, but just trying to find a pharmacist who would sell it (and waiting to see if it would work) was torture enough. I feel very lucky that I didn't have any side effects. I think it'd be good if it was available from pharmacists, with the condition that all the possible side effects explained first.

ETA: I can relate to others who have said the pharmacists were cold and acted strange. I felt like they looked at me like a teenage slut, rather than a scared girl trying to do the right thing.

[Kitchen Princess]

My son's GF said she took a friend to get Plan B and it was the worst thing *ever* afterwards. Lots of bleeding and cramps. It doesn't make sense to me, because that sounded more like a pill induced abortion, but it's hard to know what she was talking about. She said she wouldn't wish that on anyone.

[bananacat]

I"m as pro-choice as they come, honestly, but I didn't support OTC Plan B. It's a heavy does of hormones, and it could SEVERELY fuck someone up if they already had a hormonal condition, undiagnosed issues, etc. It's still a medication. Birth control pills aren't OTC for a reason, you know? And it's not because pro-life groups wouldn't stand for it. SOme women shouldn't take it, for medical reasons.

Did you happen to miss the part where the FDA, the experts, already approved it as being safe? This isn't a safety issue.

[Witsec7]

My son's GF said she took a friend to get Plan B and it was the worst thing *ever* afterwards. Lots of bleeding and cramps. It doesn't make sense to me, because that sounded more like a pill induced abortion, but it's hard to know what she was talking about. She said she wouldn't wish that on anyone.

I've cared for several young women after they needed to take plan b, each is different. All agreed they were glad the option was available to them.

[Austin]

I was expecting some sort of attitude when I purchased Plan B not too long ago (not for me - lol), but it was a pretty business-like transaction, which surprised me because this is a pretty conservative town. But I bought it at a big chain pharmacy so maybe that made a difference, as I think they have company policies against pharmacists giving women flack over birth control.

[Witsec7]

...

I'm kind of in favor of the moral/religious exemption. I could see how a pro-life pharmacist would have a serious issue with dispensing the Plan B. In their mind it would be like the state compelling any licensed health care professional (doctor, nurse, etc.) to be present at and participate in a death penalty execution. I'm not saying they *are* they same thing--just that a dedicated pro-lifer probably doesn't want to be a part of the legal, but still reprehensible (to him- or herself) act. Does that make sense?

Get a new fucking job. Fuck that moral and religious exemption.

[Maul the Koala]

I definitely think Plan B should be available over the counter. I'd push for more education in schools and such because yes there are side effects. And yes, for some people it might not work too well. I did some reading and found out that Plan B isn't as effective with the current medications I'm on. I'm a freaking adult. But the more education, the better.

Why is everyone so against things like Plan B, contraceptives and education for adolescents? They're going to be having Teh Seks anyway. Why not make it as safe as possible and prevent as many teen pregnancies as possible? It boggles my mind.

[muffynbear]

I've taken Plan B. I had no side effects at all. I don't get why so many are against it. It's just a high dosage of the Pill. Conservatives need to find something new to bitch about. It's seriously getting old. My question is, why aren't conservatives against Viagra? :roll:

[Witsec7]

I've taken Plan B. I had no side effects at all. I don't get why so many are against it. It's just a high dosage of the Pill. Conservatives need to find something new to bitch about. It's seriously getting old. My question is, why aren't conservatives against Viagra? :roll:

Before plan B women were self dosing with extra BC pills. Now its specifically formulated for an expressed purpose.

[Maul the Koala]

I've taken Plan B. I had no side effects at all. I don't get why so many are against it. It's just a high dosage of the Pill. Conservatives need to find something new to bitch about. It's seriously getting old. My question is, why aren't conservatives against Viagra? :roll:

Because men are expected to be sexual beasts and women should have no sexuality whatsoever.

It seems to always boil down to that.

[AmericanRose]

I just wanted to add my voice to those that have taken Plan B, and had no side effects from it (well, the second time - 5 months after the first - my period came earlier than expected. However, I would rather have that than not at all).

The first time was in a moderately-sized town in Minnesota, and though it was awkward for me, the women there just treated it as a matter of course - which was a relief to me, since all I knew about Minnesota was Michelle Bachmann, and my friend there had told me he lived in a conservative town! I was kind of expecting some grief.

The second time was in a conservative town in Colorado, and it was fine. Very businesslike.

The only problem was finding a place that was open to purchase it!

But yeah - I can't think of any teenager who would think repeated doses of Plan B was a good idea. And even if they thought the instructions that come with it were ridiculous, the cost would be prohibitive. I would definitely rather spend 40-60$ on something else! Especially with a cheaper option right beside it.

.. and come to think of it, I don't remember having that kind of money as a teen anyway.

[Funky Chicken]

bea wrote:

I"m as pro-choice as they come, honestly, but I didn't support OTC Plan B. It's a heavy does of hormones, and it could SEVERELY fuck someone up if they already had a hormonal condition, undiagnosed issues, etc. It's still a medication. Birth control pills aren't OTC for a reason, you know? And it's not because pro-life groups wouldn't stand for it. SOme women shouldn't take it, for medical reasons.

Nobody is forcing it down their throats though. And a lot of women with medical conditions are likely to know they shouldn't take it or similar medications. As to undiagnosed conditions, sometimes those first make themselves known when a medication is unwittingly prescribed under other circumstances. Still, a good pharmacist asks about other medications and pre-existing conditions before dispensing it. Plan B is still safer than pregnancy.

BTW - I think a lot of side effects people talk about with emergency contraception are those of the older formulation (in general anyway; that is not to say that Plan B has no side effects but it is mostly much better tolerated due to being progesterone-only) which also had high dose oestrogen and could make you feel pretty unwell. It was also less safe than the modern version. Also my understanding is that if Plan B fails, it has no effects on the developing embryo because it is not present in the intra-uterine environment. By the time the embryo implants (~5 days after conception) and has access to maternal circulation, the progesterone is no longer in the system.

[alba]

I don't know, which is why I'm asking, but has Plan B been proven safe for 14-16 year olds?

I'm not sure, personally (though others have argued it is), but as it's more effective the earlier you take it, I think it's better to be OTC than prescription as that makes access to it faster.

I'm kind of in favor of the moral/religious exemption. I could see how a pro-life pharmacist would have a serious issue with dispensing the Plan B. In their mind it would be like the state compelling any licensed health care professional (doctor, nurse, etc.) to be present at and participate in a death penalty execution. I'm not saying they *are* they same thing--just that a dedicated pro-lifer probably doesn't want to be a part of the legal, but still reprehensible (to him- or herself) act. Does that make sense?

I disagree. There was actually a case in the UK of a couple who noticed the condom had broken, drove to the only pharmacy open at that time (ASDA) and were refused the pill. By the time another place had opened and they had access to it, it was too late. They spoke out against it, saying they were lucky that they were in a stable relationship and had come round to the idea of having a child but that not everyone is in that situation, and the choice of whether or not to have a child should have been in their hands, not the pharmacist's. Sadly, I think pro-lifers will take this as a success story.

[Olivia]

I'm so torn on this one. I do think Plan B should be readily available to women, and this does seem like the best way to make it accessible. I find it beyond furstrating when pharmacists (and Catholic hospitals dealing with rape victims!) won't provide Plan B. What better way to prevent abortion than to prevent an unwanted pregnancy? (I'm pro-life and pro-plan B/contraception in general)

I've taken Plan B, and while I had some mild side effects, I think it's perfectly safe when take appropriately. I do think that, like birth control pills, it should ideally be taken under the advisement of a doctor. I was a naieve teenager when I was getting Plan B, and the doctor's advice on potential side effects, what side effects warranted concern, and ensuring that I would get on regular birth control if needed afterwards, was all worthwhile, IMO.

But then, it would be easier to deal with the fine line between 'accessibility' and 'lacking medical attention' if it weren't for all these crazies running around complicating things.