Should "Morning After" pregnancy preventative be available without prescription?

Many beleive (and obstectrics confirms it) that the "Morning After Pill" is not a form of abortion, and should be available without a prescription. This drug is identical to a high dose of regular birth control pills. It does not cause abortion, but prevents ovulation, and makes the unlikely event of a fertilized egg implanting difficult.

This is NOT an "abortion" debate, as this is about prevention of pregnancy. If you do participate in the discusssion, I kindly request that you know the fact ofr what you are talking about, and the action of this drug, as well as the definition of "Pregnancy." (BTW, the American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians defines "pregnancy" as the implantation of a fertilized egg into the wall of the uterus. This does not usually happen until about a week after intercourse. The Morning After Pill will not cause abortion in an already implanted egg. It only prevents ovuation, and perhaps may prevent implantation, if it is taken later. Most doctors say the drug needs to be taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse, and the drug will not work after this time.

Here is the article. Poll follows.

 

From what I hear from FDA scientists, the morning after pill is safe and effective by OTC standards. While there is less data about younger women, it seems clear that the objections are social rather than medical.

 

It's not exactly the same as bcp, because regular bcp contains estradiol or some other form of estrogen, as well as progestin (similar to progesterone). I had to look it up, because knowing what is in it changes my answer. If they were to make other progestin-containing products over the counter, yes, it should be available without prescription. And yes, I do think that progestin should be available without a prescription to anyone, seeing as how widely prescribed such products are, and how much safer they are than bcp that contain estrogen. If the "morning after pill" had contained any form of estrogen, I would have said a resounding "NO" it should not be available otc because of the possible risks and side effects known to be caused by estradiol/estrogen. And, since I have to have a prescription to get the progestin I am taking, which is basically the same, except a lower dose than the pill in question, I have to qualify my answer with the statement about making other progestin-containing medicines otc as well. But that raises other issues, doesn't it? If they make the progestin-only "mini-pill" otc, then you have the idiot-factor to deal with. Those people who would not take it correctly and put themselves at risk for pregnancy and other problems, and then blame the medicine for it, and even sue the pharma company. ANd you also have the problem with doctors wanting to be in control of whatever we do to our bodies, the whole doctor-god complex. And the fact that the male-dominated medical profession has little faith in women's ability to recognize and treat their own reproductive issues/problems. ...so I don't see it happening in my lifetime. But it sure would be nice if I could just get my progestin and take it without having to spread 'em for my doc twice a year. It sure would be nice if I were in control of my own healthcare, because I know my body well, much better than any doctor does.

 

I agree that, it should be readily available, without any sort of delay.

Some might say that making it over the counter, will cause women/girls to just be careless with sex, but if it is not abortion-related, how is that much different than taking birth control everyday anyway? I wouldn't understand, someone who would rely on the morning after, rather than just taking birth control.... but it's much better than getting pregnant and resorting to having an abortion.

I also like the idea of the morning after pill, because there are many women who don't want to be on birth control, as a continuous thing because of health problems and such; so, if by chance a condom would break or whatever else that person relies on for protection.... there would at least be a better option out there, than to just have to go and get a fucking abortion.

I refuse to be on birth control; I just don't like the idea of taking a pill everyday. Not to mention, when I did try birth control, I became nauceas on the daily. So my doctor kept trying different kinds of birth control, like the "lo" stuff and what not...and I would still get realllllly sick from it.

But, if something had happened, where I thought that I could get pregnant, I would like to have something like the morning after pill available to me, even though I would really rather not take anything...it's farrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr better than abortion, or having a child before I am ready.

 

I absolutely think that this should be available over the counter for women. I think that anyone that has a problem with the morning after pill (paticularly anti-abortionists) just doesn't understand what it is. If they had a firm understanding of how the pill works they would be advocating it in order to help women avoid needing an abortion. I hope to see it easily available for women ASAP. We have every right to reproductive control of our bodies.

 

Absolutely over the counter, not like Tylenol, though. A pharmacist should dispense them with instructions on usage, AND they should be affordable and Medicaid and insurance should pay for them. I think birth control pills should be over the counter as well.

 

I think ultimatly the anti-abortionists are against [what they see] as the destroying of potential life, and that life begins at the moment of conception. So they are going to have a problem either way.

Pretty sure* in Britian it's kind over the counter, in that you don't need to see a doctor; unless you're young (under 18 I guess), have health issues and/or not on regular BCP. Either way you definetly don't just buy them like cough medicine.
Honestly don't believe it will make a diffrence to attitudes because people have been screwing around and having 'unwanted' pregnancies since the dawn of time. This is just a new way to deal with the problem, and certainly less traumatic than the methods of yester year (backstreet abortions, infanticide, forced adoptions etc).
It's probably not even becoming more common, just more acceptable to talk about and deal with.

So I agree with the others in principle, but would still hesitate to say it should be completley free to all. For the medical related reasons mamaboogie stated.

*Never taken it myself, or indeed been on BCP. Just figuring it out from ancedotal evidence and stuff in magazines.

 

I honestly believe that this should be made readily available, with proper counseling from the pharmacist.

Because it is a pregnancy preventative and not an abortion pill, I don't see where there should be any debate. I honestly think that all of the political and social debate about teen sexual behaviours is making the problem worse than if they left the talk purely to parents and health educators in public schools.

I'd say more, but my mind has totally skipped off into the sunlight, and I must follow. Might post more later.

 

Who gets to define "proper" counseling? Or are you talking about usage instructions?

 

Usage instructions. You know, telling the purchaser that using the product shouldn't be done regularly in place of birth control, the possible side effects, warning signs to look for and report to emergency medical treatment for, etc.

I don't mean that every woman needs to see a counselor before getting Plan B. I just think every woman should know what to expect when taking said pill.

 

^^ Oh, OK. I wasn't sure what you ment. Use instructions should be included with every medicine.

You mentioned that the morning after pill should not be used as a regular BC method. Is that the case? Is it medicaly safer to injest small homone doses every day or occasionaly a larger dose? Has that been looked into? An earlier poster mentioned sensitivity to regular BC pills, would the morning after be a useful option for women like her. (It would depend a lot on lifestyle, i.e. how often is there a morning after.)

 

While I don't have any evidence to back me up, I've heard from health care professionals that it is not recommended to use the Plan B as a regular form of birth control. I think one of them said more than 3 times in a year. I wish I had evidence, but I'm sorry. I don't.

But just from my own personal view, a large amount of hormones/chemicals introduced into the body temporarily messes up the functions of the body. Like with ecstasy (the drug), you're told not to do it more than a couple of very spaced times in a year because doing it too often will permanently mess up your seratonin levels. I think the same would apply to the hormones/chemicals used in Plan B. Using them too often might really have harsh effects on your entire reproductive system.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

How interesting that a 14 year old can get megadoses of female hormones on the QT so daddy doesn't find out she's doing it with boys and get mad

BUT

men with testosterone levels in the deficient zone are told that BY NO MEANS SHOULD THEY GET NANOGRAMS OF TEST. INSTEAD, ZOLOFT, PAXIL, VIAGRA....

 

No, that's not what's going on here, IG.

If a person younger than 16 needs a Plan B, she must see a physician, and so must therefore tell her parents about her actions. I was never allowed to see a physician by myelf.

Why does everything always have to be about the inequality of gender? LIFE'S NOT FAIR! oh well.

 

I said no...and I'm not anti-abortion.

I said no, because I worry about people that might use it irresponsibly...using it regularly...if it's like Tylenol that you can get right off the shelf...no...because I could see that's how it may be potentially harmful...I don't personally know what the long term usage of the morning after pill might be...but if it's a high dose of hormones and you're using it A LOT, I could see it causing problems.

 

Pro-Life is just a code word for Anti-Choice. "Pro'Lifers" may say they just want to save lives but in reality the "Pro-Life" agenda is to take away a womans right to choose and to ultimately take away women's rights altogether. That is the real reason Pro-Lifers aka Anti-Choice people want to do away with Plan B.

 

I agree with Dancer Annie... this isn't like Tylenol, and if it were available OTC it would be treated much lighter than I think it ought to be. We don't know what the long term effects are, and until there are studies out to that effect I think it should stay as-is.
love,
mom

 

Wait a minute, there. I'm a pro-life person and I DO advocate Plan B contraceptive, no matter how it's administered.

 

I think it should be available over the counter. How many young people have unprotected sex and then just hope and pray that everything will be ok?

My one concern would be people using it instead of regular contraception such as birth control pills or condoms... But I reckon that that would be such a small minority that it shouldn't stop everyone else benefiting from it. After all, thats a 'pro life' argument against abortion as well - "people will use it as a contraception wah wah wah" and I think that thats bollocks.