morning after pill

aggieAXO · #1 12-17-2003, 01:02 AM

I am not sure if there is a thread on this already so if there is please link here.

I heard on the news tonight that this may become over the counter-I am just curious about what people think?

Do you think it will lead to more promiscuity?

MeLikey · #2 12-17-2003, 01:11 AM

The women from The View today were debating about this today... Elizabeth seems to think it will increase promiscuity.

Munchkin03 · #3 12-17-2003, 01:12 AM

My opinion is really mixed, despite the fact that the right to choose is something I strongly believe in.

On one hand, I think it will be great for women in small towns and in places where a 24-hour pharmacy isn't available. I've had women tell me about how they tried to get them, but weren't able to for whatever reason--from nurses being moralistic to hospitals simply not having it.

On the other, I know that women can abuse them. I have a friend who doesn't worry about having unprotected casual sex

because she can always get the morning-after pill, but she's sick as a dog after each time. I imagine that having it over-the-counter will make people like her be even less careful, but they're in the minority. My only health concern is that we simply don't know what those high-intensity doses do to our reproductive systems on the long-term.

mullet81 · #4 12-17-2003, 01:16 AM

i am pro-choice and I am all for having women have access to the pill - but i think it should stay under the supervision of a doctor. I think it gives people an easy way out having it over the counter. They should have to go see a doctor before recieving it - and I think every hospital should be required to carry it as long as it is legal in the country. I don't care if the hospital is religious and what not - their main concern should not be morality but treating the patient.

Hootie · #5 12-17-2003, 02:14 AM

They now want a law against it....

Holly's Law

HBADPi · #6 12-17-2003, 02:43 AM

Its a tough call and I'm definitely torn on this one, there are several pros and cons. As previously mentioned, it will be nice for women in small towns. My undergraduate years were spent in middle of nowhere western PA and I know during the 4 yrs I was there I know of several incidents where girls could not get down to the town's family planning because of money issues, family issues, weather conditions (apparently family planning is the first to close when a snowstorm hits), etc and if you even tried to get the college's health center to help you, they treated you like you were a common hooker. But on the flip side, like Munchkin03 I can see women misusing it. As time-consuming and inconvientent it is to go to the doctor, family planning, etc to get the morning after pill at least you know that they run tests and make sure that you are ok. I can definitely see a rise in STDs if this got passed.

Munchkin03 · #7 12-17-2003, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hootie
They now want a law against it....

Holly's Law

Holly's Law is against RU-486/mifepristone, known as the "abortion pill." It contains various chemicals that force your body to expel the fetus over a 24-36 hour period. It will probably never be over-the-counter because it requires a sonogram and pelvic afterwards to ensure that the fetus was properly expelled, and can be done only up to a month and a half after conception. The FDA approved it for use in 2000, and it has to be taken under doctor supervision.

The "morning-after pill," is simply Levonorgestrol--the same active progesterone in the Norplant, as well as BC pills such as Alesse/Aviane/Levlite and others--in very high doses. Basically, it's one big BC that, if taken less than 72 hours after unprotected sex, will prevent any fertilized egg from implanting on the uterine wall. It is ineffective if taken after implantation takes place.

A LOT of people mix these two up, and they are very, very different.

absolutuscchick · #8 12-17-2003, 03:15 AM

I think its really sad if women abuse it, but I think its also kind of ridiculous that she should have to see a doctor. I believe it should be available for people, and if they choose to abuse it, that's their issue.

Hootie · #9 12-17-2003, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Munchkin03
Holly's Law is against RU-486/mifepristone, known as the "abortion pill." It contains various chemicals that force your body to expel the fetus over a 24-36 hour period. It will probably never be over-the-counter because it requires a sonogram and pelvic afterwards to ensure that the fetus was properly expelled, and can be done only up to a month and a half after conception. The FDA approved it for use in 2000, and it has to be taken under doctor supervision.

The "morning-after pill," is simply Levonorgestrol--the same active progesterone in the Norplant, as well as BC pills such as Alesse/Aviane/Levlite and others--in very high doses. Basically, it's one big BC that, if taken less than 72 hours after unprotected sex, will prevent any fertilized egg from implanting on the uterine wall. It is ineffective if taken after implantation takes place.

A LOT of people mix these two up, and they are very, very different.

I understand that they are different - and do know that....however the issue of the other pill still applies because if you read about the girl, she got it at planned parenthood and never received (as you said) the proper sonogram and pelvic exam afterwards. So somewhere along the line, either she failed to go it, or planned parenthood failed to track her. Either way, you can get that pill there and the morning after pill is not very hard to get their easy (with a very short consultation and not even an examination).

absolutuscchick · #10 12-17-2003, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hootie
I understand that they are different - and do know that....however the issue of the other pill still applies because if you read about the girl, she got it at planned parenthood and never received (as you said) the proper sonogram and pelvic exam afterwards. So somewhere along the line, either she failed to go it, or planned parenthood failed to track her. Either way, you can get that pill there and the morning after pill is not very hard to get their easy (with a very short consultation and not even an examination).

You say its easy, but what do u do if you can't get into see someone. Or what if you're too embarassed? (obviously shouldn't be having sex if this is the issue but anyhow...) What harm does it do by making it so its easier to access. It saves money for the woman too, because she's not going to have to pay for a consultation. I really see no problem in having it easily available...because what harm does it do? So what if some women abuse it. It's their perogative. It's none of our business. Sometimes I think there are way too many regulations!

bethany1982 · #11 12-17-2003, 04:02 AM

If women have abortions for reasons other than rape, incest, health of the mother, ext., and not view it as negative, what will stop them from using this pill simply for the purpose of convenience? Abortion on demand, out of convince, in the privacy of your own home. This sounds like the perfect option for the pro-abortion crowd.

SATX*APhi · #12 12-17-2003, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bethany1982
If women have abortions for reasons other than rape, incest, health of the mother, ext., and not view it as negative, what will stop them from using this pill simply for the purpose of convenience? Abortion on demand, out of convince, in the privacy of your own home. This sounds like the perfect option for the pro-abortion crowd.

Amen sister!

SSS1365 · #13 12-17-2003, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bethany1982
If women have abortions for reasons other than rape, incest, health of the mother, ext., and not view it as negative, what will stop them from using this pill simply for the purpose of convenience? Abortion on demand, out of convince, in the privacy of your own home. This sounds like the perfect option for the pro-abortion crowd.

I totally agree. Unfortunately I know someone who has had two abortions, both for the simple reason that "she wasn't ready."

IMHO, this is just as good as using abortion as a form of birth control. She's a really nice person, so I'm sure there are plenty of other people out there who have made the same decisions that she has. And those people undoubtedly will abuse the morning after pill, should it become so readily available.

aggieAXO · #14 12-17-2003, 08:20 AM

I think I see everybody's point. My opinion is to let it be over the counter (I am sure this is a big surprise to everyone

) b/c those that are going to have sex are going to have sex whether it is available or not. Even though it might be over the counter that doesn't mean I now feel I can go out and have unprotected sex left and right-I still have my morals. I think it will be over the counter it will be just a matter of time.

Amy,

I also see your point, but if every drug were not allowed to be over the counter b/c of someone's death then the shelves would be almost bare. Even something as common and benign as aspirin have side effects that can cause death (people bleeding out from ulcers or dying of peritonitis due to perforated gut or anaphylactic reactions). There never will be an absolute 100% safe drug b/c drugs are foreign to the body and reactions can happen at anytime to anyone of us-that is the risk we take, but I am sure going to take 2 aspirins if I have a headache.

mu_agd · #15 12-17-2003, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hootie
I understand that they are different - and do know that....however the issue of the other pill still applies because if you read about the girl, she got it at planned parenthood and never received (as you said) the proper sonogram and pelvic exam afterwards. So somewhere along the line, either she failed to go it, or planned parenthood failed to track her. Either way, you can get that pill there and the morning after pill is not very hard to get their easy (with a very short consultation and not even an examination).

i'm not quite understanding how you can group the two together. one is taking a higher dosage of birth control when you think there is a chance of getting pregnant up to 72 hours after having sex. with the other, you know you are pregnant and are getting an abortion. with holly's law, the girl didn't go back for a checkup, like should have been done.. i don't know who's fault that is and am not going to place blame.

i haven't decided how i feel about the morning after pill being otc. part of me thinks it is a good idea, part of me doesn't. i think that all woman should have access to it. although i don't condone it being used as your main form of bc. but you know what, accidents happen, condom breaks, condoms aren't used properly, etc. and when that happens, i am all for the woman to have a backup method at birth control. and unfortunately with it not being otc, as a few have stated already, people are not always given the opportunity to get it or even told about it in some circumstances.