Plan B/Morning After Pill
kapeluza
Posts: 3,434 Member
Should the morning-after pill be available without a prescription to teens younger than 17?
I believe it should have been made unrestricted (no counter, no id, no judgement from unethical pharmacy staff) OTC long ago. I actually think Plan B should be in vending machines, easily accessible 24-7, in case of an emergency, mistake, condom failure, etc. [Maybe vending machines is taking this way too far but you get the idea.]
I believe it should have been made unrestricted (no counter, no id, no judgement from unethical pharmacy staff) OTC long ago. I actually think Plan B should be in vending machines, easily accessible 24-7, in case of an emergency, mistake, condom failure, etc. [Maybe vending machines is taking this way too far but you get the idea.]
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Replies
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Are their any risks to taking this pill physically?0
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I think regular oral contraceptives should be available over the counter! Plan B should be too! Getting Rx medications is such a pain in the *kitten* sometimes it's no wonder women just get pregnant. Not like that's an excuse, but really, it is such an unnecessary headache.0
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I concur, why make it difficult?? So dumb, vending machine for sure... they put condoms in bathrooms at the bar, why not the morning after pill!??!!0
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The reason given that girls as young as 11 wouldn't be able to responsibly take the pill is beyond me. I get that might be a concern, but if they need the pill, they are having sex!! They shouldn't be, but they are. So, if they turn up pregnant because they couldn't just go get the pill, what are they gonna do? They will likely hide it, they might not even realize what is going on. They likely won't be able to get an abortion for a number of reasons. At 11 they aren't even done growing, yet their body will be forced to carry a baby to term. Ugghh! There are so many things wrong with this...0
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I concur, why make it difficult?? So dumb, vending machine for sure... they put condoms in bathrooms at the bar, why not the morning after pill!??!!
Well, you don't need a script if you are over 17, so anyone younger should also not be getting them in a bar.0 -
Team all of the above!
The side effects (ALL medications have possible side effects) aren't any worse than Tylenol or Benadryl. If they are worried that young girls won't take it properly then they should require a prescription for Tylenol, 5 Hour Energy, Benadryl, etc.0 -
Team all of the above!
The side effects (ALL medications have possible side effects) aren't any worse than Tylenol or Benadryl. If they are worried that young girls won't take it properly then they should require a prescription for Tylenol, 5 Hour Energy, Benadryl, etc.
That's all I wanted to know. Then I don't care, it's none of my business.0 -
Are their any risks to taking this pill physically?
Your hormones get out of whack and you feel like *kitten* for at least a week. Takes a month for your cycle to return to "normal".0 -
it can cause heavy flow, cramping, feeling like crap, lethargy, but nothing dangerous. Nothing damaging.
I think it ought to be very very easy to get for any girl, regardless of age.
Also, since it prevents rather than ends pregnancy, perhaps this is less objectionable to those with an anti-abortion standpoint? Maybe not.... idk0 -
Are their any risks to taking this pill physically?
Your hormones get out of whack and you feel like *kitten* for at least a week. Takes a month for your cycle to return to "normal".
Damn, that stinks. I was just wondering. Minors are still citizens, and I try to weigh their personal right to privacy with their parents rights since they are legally reponsible for them.0 -
It is available OTC in a pharmacy here in Quebec and no problems where reported. (I am not sure but 14 is the age you can be to make medical decision for yourself)
I had to take it once and it didn't have any impact on my health.
Any methode to prevent unwanted pregnancy should be distributed like candies in my opinion.0 -
InformationThe emergency contraceptive/morning-after pill has three modes of action (as does the regular birth control pill); that is, it can work in one of three ways:
- The normal menstrual cycle is altered, delaying ovulation; or
- Ovulation is inhibited, meaning the egg will not be released from the ovary;
- It can irritate the lining of the uterus (endometrium) so as to inhibit implantation.
Keep in mind that fertilization (the union of female ovum, or egg, and male sperm) occurs in the fallopian tube and that fertilization marks the beginning of a new human life - and the beginning of the pregnancy. The newly created child then travels down the fallopian tube to the uterus (womb) where he or she implants. Implantation is necessary for the new child to receive nourishment from the mother and continue developing. The journey from the fallopian tube to the womb takes between five and seven days during which pregnancy cannot be readily detected.
Therefore, if a woman ingests emergency contraception after fertilization has taken place, the third mode of action can occur. The lining of the uterus can be altered causing the woman's body to reject the living human embryo, making implantation impossible and the child will die. This result is called a chemical abortion.0 -
Not true for everyone. I've taken it, didn't notice any difference in anything, cycle returned as normal. No cramping, no side effects, no nothing. As with every drug, it affects (effects?) different people differently.Are their any risks to taking this pill physically?
Your hormones get out of whack and you feel like *kitten* for at least a week. Takes a month for your cycle to return to "normal".
I think it should be available at anytime to any age. It's not like its a controlled substance that you can abuse, or get hooked on. I'd rather my tween tell me after the fact that she took plan-b instead of telling me after the fact that she was stupid and didn't use protection -- after all, it doesn't JUST protect against pregnancy.0 -
I have absolutely no problem with teens getting the morning after pill. It's a much better option than abortion or forcing a girl to give birth to a child she doesn't want.
I also think teens should be given the option to get on birth control pills without parental approval at a very low cost or free. Teen pregnancy rates in some states are staggering, and we need to get over this "just don't have sex" attitude because it is not working.0 -
If your child is 11 and having sex then she should be "old" enough to take the pill instead of having a 11 yr old with a baby.0
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If your child is 11 and having sex then she should be "old" enough to take the pill instead of having a 11 yr old with a baby.
It is interesting that people think that a child who has already had a penis inside her don't think she should be able to put a pill inside her.0 -
I fully agree that emergency contraception should be available to those younger than 17, but then I think all forms of contraception should be more easily available and not stigmatized. My concern with plan B is that it is still a hormone. Taking it once may mess up your hormones for a bit or it may not. But what about this scenario? Young girl decides she wants to have sex but doesn't want to use condoms because they kill the mood. And she doesn't want to take the pill because she doesn't remember to take pills every day. So, she thinks to herself, it's just easier to take the morning after pill after every time she has sex because she can remember to do that. And then she has sex 7 times in a month and takes 7 pills. This pill isn't designed for that kind of use and this much hormonal fluctuation will have an effect. So having this available to a young person whose body is still growing and developing without some kind of counseling to accompany it doesn't seem wise.0
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I fully agree that emergency contraception should be available to those younger than 17, but then I think all forms of contraception should be more easily available and not stigmatized. My concern with plan B is that it is still a hormone. Taking it once may mess up your hormones for a bit or it may not. But what about this scenario? Young girl decides she wants to have sex but doesn't want to use condoms because they kill the mood. And she doesn't want to take the pill because she doesn't remember to take pills every day. So, she thinks to herself, it's just easier to take the morning after pill after every time she has sex because she can remember to do that. And then she has sex 7 times in a month and takes 7 pills. This pill isn't designed for that kind of use and this much hormonal fluctuation will have an effect. So having this available to a young person whose body is still growing and developing without some kind of counseling to accompany it doesn't seem wise.
you know that Plan B is just like taking a double dose of regular bc pills, right? So even if someone used it seven times in a month (which is unlikely cause it makes you feel like *kitten*), it would still be perfectly safe, just l;ike any other woman who takes 28 doses of hormones every month.0 -
Off topic here, but plan-b won't cure any kind of STD she got from said romp sans condom.Young girl decides she wants to have sex but doesn't want to use condoms because they kill the mood
This. It's a beef'd up version of the daily BC pill, super potent, but not anymore dangerous. Same with drugs used for chemical abortion, its an even beefier version of the plan-b.you know that Plan B is just like taking a double dose of regular bc pills, right? So even if someone used it seven times in a month (which is unlikely cause it makes you feel like *kitten*), it would still be perfectly safe, just l;ike any other woman who takes 28 doses of hormones every month.0 -
I fully agree that emergency contraception should be available to those younger than 17, but then I think all forms of contraception should be more easily available and not stigmatized. My concern with plan B is that it is still a hormone. Taking it once may mess up your hormones for a bit or it may not. But what about this scenario? Young girl decides she wants to have sex but doesn't want to use condoms because they kill the mood. And she doesn't want to take the pill because she doesn't remember to take pills every day. So, she thinks to herself, it's just easier to take the morning after pill after every time she has sex because she can remember to do that. And then she has sex 7 times in a month and takes 7 pills. This pill isn't designed for that kind of use and this much hormonal fluctuation will have an effect. So having this available to a young person whose body is still growing and developing without some kind of counseling to accompany it doesn't seem wise.
you know that Plan B is just like taking a double dose of regular bc pills, right? So even if someone used it seven times in a month (which is unlikely cause it makes you feel like *kitten*), it would still be perfectly safe, just l;ike any other woman who takes 28 doses of hormones every month.
What would be worse for the body, the hormonal imbalance caused by the pills or pushing an 8lb screaming human out of your private parts?0 -
I'm not saying it shouldn't be available, just not over the counter where there is more potential for abuse. I definitely think it's better to not be forced to have a baby when you aren't ready to have one. I also know that plan B won't protect against STD's. I'm just remembering conversations that I've had with former school mates and even some fully grown adults now that take chances with their lives by not using condoms with the excuse that they kill the mood. You can't tell me this scenario couldn't happen.
The reason it makes you feel like *kitten* is that it is messing with your natural hormone rhythm. A once in a while pop isn't going to do lasting damage but in this scenario taking that many pills over an extended period of time will cause problems. Ask an endocrinologist if messing with your sex hormone levels is a good idea.0 -
How is taking plan-b on multiple occassions any worse than taking birth control daily? Six in one, half dozen in another.0
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I fully agree that emergency contraception should be available to those younger than 17, but then I think all forms of contraception should be more easily available and not stigmatized. My concern with plan B is that it is still a hormone. Taking it once may mess up your hormones for a bit or it may not. But what about this scenario? Young girl decides she wants to have sex but doesn't want to use condoms because they kill the mood. And she doesn't want to take the pill because she doesn't remember to take pills every day. So, she thinks to herself, it's just easier to take the morning after pill after every time she has sex because she can remember to do that. And then she has sex 7 times in a month and takes 7 pills. This pill isn't designed for that kind of use and this much hormonal fluctuation will have an effect. So having this available to a young person whose body is still growing and developing without some kind of counseling to accompany it doesn't seem wise.
I think you are describing a highly unlikely scenario.
Here is a statement from FDA commissioner Margaret Hamburg that might add to the discussion:The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) completed its review of the Plan B One-Step application and laid out its scientific determination. CDER carefully considered whether younger females were able to understand how to use Plan B One-Step. Based on the information submitted to the agency, CDER determined that the product was safe and effective in adolescent females, that adolescent females understood the product was not for routine use, and that the product would not protect them against sexually transmitted diseases. Additionally, the data supported a finding that adolescent females could use Plan B One-Step properly without the intervention of a healthcare provider.0 -
How is taking plan-b on multiple occassions any worse than taking birth control daily? Six in one, half dozen in another. Also, how does one abuse birth control?
Abuse of HORMONE birth control. As others said, it is not a regular dose of hormones, it's an extra shot. The female body, which does experience fluctuation, does not naturally experience that wide a swing that often in the course of a month unless there's something wrong. Birth control pills offer a small steady dose of hormones designed to follow along with your natural cycle, plan B doesn't. Taking it not as intended would qualify as abuse of the product.0 -
I fully agree that emergency contraception should be available to those younger than 17, but then I think all forms of contraception should be more easily available and not stigmatized. My concern with plan B is that it is still a hormone. Taking it once may mess up your hormones for a bit or it may not. But what about this scenario? Young girl decides she wants to have sex but doesn't want to use condoms because they kill the mood. And she doesn't want to take the pill because she doesn't remember to take pills every day. So, she thinks to herself, it's just easier to take the morning after pill after every time she has sex because she can remember to do that. And then she has sex 7 times in a month and takes 7 pills. This pill isn't designed for that kind of use and this much hormonal fluctuation will have an effect. So having this available to a young person whose body is still growing and developing without some kind of counseling to accompany it doesn't seem wise.
you know that Plan B is just like taking a double dose of regular bc pills, right? So even if someone used it seven times in a month (which is unlikely cause it makes you feel like *kitten*), it would still be perfectly safe, just l;ike any other woman who takes 28 doses of hormones every month.
What would be worse for the body, the hormonal imbalance caused by the pills or pushing an 8lb screaming human out of your private parts?
Not only that but your hormones are also all crazy-like when pregnant, and after. Your body is just totally changed.
And, I agree - the "7 times a month" isn't likely. However, it's still better what pregnancy and having a baby will do.0 -
How is taking plan-b on multiple occassions any worse than taking birth control daily? Six in one, half dozen in another. Also, how does one abuse birth control?
Abuse of HORMONE birth control. As others said, it is not a regular dose of hormones, it's an extra shot. The female body, which does experience fluctuation, does not naturally experience that wide a swing that often in the course of a month unless there's something wrong. Birth control pills offer a small steady dose of hormones designed to follow along with your natural cycle, plan B doesn't. Taking it not as intended would qualify as abuse of the product.
Yet even takng it seven times in a month, (as another poster brought up), would STILL be safe. That's how safe this stuff is.
The only reaon to keep it out of hands of minors is morality. If someone believes that forcing teenagers to live with their unintended pregnancies is the best route, then by all means we ought to keep it away from them. I just don't think that's for the best, not for the teenager, not for her offspring.0 -
How is taking plan-b on multiple occassions any worse than taking birth control daily? Six in one, half dozen in another. Also, how does one abuse birth control?
Abuse of HORMONE birth control. As others said, it is not a regular dose of hormones, it's an extra shot. The female body, which does experience fluctuation, does not naturally experience that wide a swing that often in the course of a month unless there's something wrong. Birth control pills offer a small steady dose of hormones designed to follow along with your natural cycle, plan B doesn't. Taking it not as intended would qualify as abuse of the product.
Yet even takng it seven times in a month, (as another poster brought up), would STILL be safe. That's how safe this stuff is.
The only reaon to keep it out of hands of minors is morality. If someone believes that forcing teenagers to live with their unintended pregnancies is the best route, then by all means we ought to keep it away from them. I just don't think that's for the best, not for the teenager, not for her offspring.
I agree, but I take it a step further. I do not want to be engaged in the decisions of other citizens or their families when it is a personal choice and doesn't have anything to do with me. If a young girl wants this pill, not my place to say no. If a girl this young is already having sex, not my business. And if the girl feels she can not go to her own family with this choice, not my business. My life, my body, my behavior are my own responsibility. If one of my children faced one of these issues, I would hope that they came to me, I understand parents want to be involved with their childrens lives and well being.......so maybe we should try our hardest to not let it get to this point.0 -
The only reaon to keep it out of hands of minors is morality. If someone believes that forcing teenagers to live with their unintended pregnancies is the best route, then by all means we ought to keep it away from them. I just don't think that's for the best, not for the teenager, not for her offspring.
Again, I'm not disagreeing with this point. I think ALL birth control should be destigmatized and made more easily available without judgment. Sex is a natural part of life. But don't you agree that in this scenario it would be better for this young lady to receive counseling that this isn't the best method of birth control? Of course, I know in actual practice, this is still difficult for young people to receive- non-judgmental honest counseling. But if we are talking about what-if's, isn't an environment where this young lady could receive good advice a good what-if?0 -
If one of my children faced one of these issues, I would hope that they came to me, I understand parents want to be involved with their childrens lives and well being.......so maybe we should try our hardest to not let it get to this point.
Absolutely agree with this. As a society, we are too uptight about talking about teenage unwed sex. Not much else can change until this does.0 -
I think that birtch control and emergency contraceptives should all be made OTC and low cost.0
This discussion has been closed.