What limitations, if any, do you feel right for Emergency Contraceptive aka "Plan B"?

[uppityperson]

Should it be available to any one of any age or age limited? Should it need a prescription for anyone of any age or age limited? Should it be out on the shelves like aspirin or behind the counter to be asked for like sudafed? Should there be mandatory education given by whomever sells it, again what age?

Should the cost be minor, for example $10, medium like $25, or higher? I know, the maker needs to make a profit, but seriously, 1 pill (comparable to several of commonly found oral contraceptives) don't cost that much, even with packaging and included instructions.

What limitations do you feel right?

[PeaceNikki]

1. It should be readily available to anyone who needs it.

ideally, places like Planned Parenthood would exist in every community. Places where women (and men) of all ages could go, as needed for guidance, counseling, exams, privacy and whatever tools available that medical science and the fine doctors and nurses can offer.

[Seedersandleechers]

2. One pill?

Isn't the plan B the same as the morning after pill? That has been my understanding. If correct it needs to be taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex, then again 12 hours later. If you vomit the pill it needs to be taken again. If there is a chance you are pregnant you shouldn't take it so possibly a pregnancy test may be necessary. I think all women should have access but I think girls under the age of 17 should have to get it behind the counter for no other reason then there might need to be teaching involved with plan B.

[PeaceNikki]

3. ...

Doh, i thought you were replying to me.

[Seedersandleechers]

6. I didn't see your post when responding

I meant to respond to uppity. Sorry about that.

[PeaceNikki]

9. No, I'm sorry, I thought there was an indent!

Your reply makes more sense in context.

I would like there to be some counseling, too. But, absent it, I can't support restricting it. It needs to be easily, quickly and readily available and the risk of not getting it on time far FAR outweighs the minimal risk to which you refer.

[uppityperson]

12. They were 2 pills taken 12 hours apart, now are given as 1 dose in 1 pill

Though there are some types that are still 2 pills, depends on where in the world, what type are available.

[Seedersandleechers]

13. Understand, I want access to all women of all ages

it's just that with the really younger girls I feel there should be some teaching involved. Maybe it's just the nurse in me but it's how I feel.

[uppityperson]

16. You mean aside from the enclosed instructions and those given by the pharmacy?

Do you feel the same when a 15 yr old buys a bottle of acetaminophen since it is quite easy to OD on that and yes, some have committed suicide by ODing?

I imagine you feel the same way, if the issue is safety.

[Seedersandleechers]

21. Okay, hear me out.

Say a 12 year old is getting plan b behind the counter like one would for sudafed quite often because she is getting raped by her father. Maybe just maybe a kind and wise pharmacist will take notice and help the poor girl. Am I dreaming? Am I nuts? Maybe so. Oh well.

[uppityperson]

23. Here's a list of who is mandatory reporter. In many states pharmacists are. Besides,

at $35-75 a dose (typical costs in pharmacies, PP clinics sliding fee scale/much less), how often would a 12 yr old buy it? If she were getting it at a clinic, they ARE mandated by law to report it. I'd rather have her be able to get it, and have it reported, than have her avoid going to a doctor for an Rx to get it. One less step.

Here's the list by state of who is mandated reporter of child abuse.
http://www.hannahsfaith.com/MRbS.html

[ZombieHorde]

4. Contraception is good for our society.

Contraception should be available to everyone for as cheep as possible. Avoiding unwanted pregnancies is obviously a social boon.

[Scuba]

5. None. n/t

[jberryhill]

7. Probably should not be allowed to be given to men /nt

[CTyankee]

27. Wow, that was insightful!

[jberryhill]

28. Thank you

If a man is attempting to purchase it, then there is a question as to what it is he is up to.

[CTyankee]

29. well, goodness knows what mischief!

[jberryhill]

30. Such as coercion or deception

Preserving a woman's choice necessitates the non-involvement of any man in that choice.

I don't know if you are being sarcastic with me or not, but the forcible or deceptive administration of drugs to women by men is hardly an unknown phenomenon.

[CTyankee]

31. Oh, I was being sarcastic. You didn't quite explain your rationale for posting what you did

so it might be a good idea if you elaborated a wee bit more as to your meaning right at the beginning.

Just a word to the wise...

[jberryhill]

32. Oh

Okay. In addition to those reasons, it goes without saying that an instructions or contraindications incident to purchase would not be directly communicated to the user, if the purchaser were male.

Now, a woman could also be buying it for someone else, but it is at least certain that a man is.

Wouldn't a male purchaser raise questions in your mind?

[CTyankee]

33. Well, I actually hadn't envisioned that circumstance.

I guess it would just strike me as something a guy wouldn't do because it would look so odd. A man would probably figure out on his own that he'd be questioned, and if he had bad ulterior motives he wouldn't want to risk being found out. In that case, he might try to get another woman to get it for him.

Anything's possible, I guess...

[Control-Z]

8. The current cost somewhat precludes

misuse, or abuse, if there is even the potential for either (which I don't believe there is). My point is, for the current price it is highly unlikely to end up in the wrong hands or by anyone who doesn't already know and understand the proper use.

If a minor has the need, though, I don't believe there should be limitations, including cost.

[izquierdista]

10. Proper medical advice

Someone asking for it needs to get private, confidential advice that it is, indeed, what they need. Could be a nurse, could be a pharmacist, could be a doctor, but they need to be able to ask questions and have them answered that it is indicated in the current situation. And WITHOUT and religious proselytizing, judgments, gossiping, and outright lies.

The general public is profoundly stupid on the subject of self-medicating, and the advice of when and how to use it is worth far more than the cost of the single pill.

[Seedersandleechers]

14. Which is why I think it should be available behind the counter for very young girls.

For teaching purposes only.

[uppityperson]

17. Do you mean behind the counter like sudafed, you have to ask for it, or needing a prescription

from a doctor or nurse practitioner? And for what ages? Thank you.

[Seedersandleechers]

19. I mean behind the counter like sudafed under the age of 17 for teaching if necessary.

That's all. I want it available to every women without a prescription. Am I being totally unreasonably here?

[uppityperson]

24. OTC to all, with instructions given to all and no Rx needed.

That sounds good to me also. Everyone needs instructions. No one needs an Rx.

Funny how "OTC", Over The Counter, have come to mean mostly On The Shelf. And now that some things are truly "OTC", meaning you have to ask to have them passed over the counter, it is getting mixed up in many minds of needing a prescription.

[ellenfl]

11. plan b has been around forever. i took it once . . . 20 years ago.

i don't believe the dosage is harmful to women of any age. i say no limitations. since it would be much cheaper than contraceptives, i would imagine that some girls might use it that way. that might actually be a good thing . . . for women, not big pharma.

ellen fl

[Seedersandleechers]

15. We were using it over 30 years ago at a women's clinic I worked in.

We used LoOvral: 4 pills taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, and 3 pills 12 hours later. If vomiting occured they had to come back and get more pills. (Dr. was paged and met patient at clinic if necessary). This plan B is not new.

[uppityperson]

18. Indeed, so were we. It's been around, just not openly out there. Here's an interesting link to

comparables.
http://www.fwhc.org/birth-control/ecinfo.htm

[Seedersandleechers]

20. Years ago I had to use it myself several times.

It made me vomit, gave me stomach aches, and caused irregular bleeding. But it did work and I was glad to have access as should every other female.

[weedle]

22. Plan B

Plan B or Morning After Pill should be available for anyone! This saves major regrets and unwanted children from entering this world. Not to mention if raped many do not tell and many young girls are raped by family members. Who are they supposed to go to then? They want to save money and the future of numerous girls who either were forced or made bad decisions or oops condom broke then make it available. I'm pretty sure many misunderstand the concept of this pill. This pill does not give you an abortion! This will only prevent your egg from being fertilized. This is the reason you must take it so soon with in the 72 hours. And the reason it does not always work. I now have a 5 month old little boy because I took the morning after pill about 36 hours after the event. Well my egg was already fertilized so it did nothing. found out 6 weeks later I was expecting.
To take away the right of women and their bodies and the options to protect themselves and have privacy about what goes on in their life then taking away limitations on this is a must!
And I'm sorry but if anyone of my cousins or nieces or friends children came to me in a situation needing this. I would have no problem going to get this pill for them!

[CrispyQ]

25. No limitations, even in price.

It should be free. Like so many things in a just society should be. Health care. Eductaion. Three hots & a cot. Child care.

[Irishonly]

26. I think it should be available to anyone who needs it.

My understanding is that it is shelved behind the counter and you have to ask for it. Education should be given is sex ed but I doubt I will be living when that happens.

I have always said in a perfect world girls should be able to go to their parents. Mine daughter came to me and I got her to our pharmacy quickly. Not all girls can go to their parents. I am not even sure if there are school nurses a girl could go to.

I think we paid $18.00 for one if my memory serves me correctly. The pharmacist explained how it worked and was very kind. When my daughter told him the circumstances, he thought as I did she probably didn't need it but it was worth the cost to calm her down. She was 18 at the time and certainly didn't need to offer me any explanation although I knew she had started birth control.

I am a stickler about being pro-choice but I am a firm believer in prevention. She was taught to use birth control and a make her partner use a condom. His condom had a hole.

Cost should not make any type of control prohibitive.