Plan B

Aniesha - posted on 12/18/2011

Definitely should be legal for people under 17. If you're being responsible enough to go out and get if afterwards (let's face it accidents happen sometimes), then you should have access to it. My partner and I have used it several times over the years, sometimes just because we were unsure about my dates etc and we really weren't ready for another baby. I consider myself to be a responsible adult by making this choice, so anyone of any age should be able to make that choice as well.

Esther - posted on 12/18/2011

I don't live in the US but from what I've read on here, some doctor might not prescribe plan B because of their religious views. So making it a prescription drug is not an option in my opinion.
Same with keeping it behing the counter, some kids have a hard time getting the courage to buy it, even if it's OTC.
I think it should be OTC but with very clear instructions and possible effects if taken too often.
I'd rather have a 14 year old take a pill like this, then have her give birth 9 months later. Education is key but some kids just won't listen and some girls get pregnant after unwanted sex.

Cathy - posted on 12/17/2011

I have no issue with a girl being seen alone at a clinic or by a doctor without parents attendance in order to obtain a prescription. I don't believe it's safe to access this drug over the counter with no records in place as to how often it's being used. Some teenagers ARE stupid. They will abuse it. That heavy level of hormones taken on a regular basis could be highly detrimental to their health.

Brittany - posted on 12/17/2011

I agree with Obama, no way!

Joy - posted on 12/17/2011

Oh I get what you're saying Katherine. You're not arguing :) That's what these discussions are for. Open, honest dialogue. It's good when people come at subjects with different views, as long as everyone's respectful. I've learned TONS from topics like these on this site, over the last 4+ years since I joined.
While I agree with you that it is a huge option for young girls, I just don't know what other solution there is to be offered. I mean, like I said, sadly, most girls won't go to their parents for a variety of reasons. And I don't like the idea of abortion being legal without consent for minors. So to me, this pill that prevents the pregnancy from ever happening in the first place just seems like a feasible option. It's such a tough subject though. Say someone was in your situation and didn't have the option (for whatever reason) of speaking with their parent(s) like you did. The day after, what do they do? Where do they turn? I don't know, it just seems like it should at least be available to them to prevent them more problems from an unwanted pregnancy much too young. I saw a story on the news the other day about how teen pregnancy truly does affect things like poverty, child abuse (on the unwanted baby), lack of education (both for the young mother and the child). The list of consequences from unwanted pregnancy goes on and on. I'm not saying ALL teenage pregnancies result in bad situations, but many do.

On a seperate note, I wanted to say that I'm so, so sorry you went through such horror when you were younger. But you're obviously a survivor and one tough lady. ((((HUGS))))

Katherine - posted on 12/17/2011

Hi Joy, I had a oopps im pregnant when i was 17. I was drugged and raped by my own friends. I was scared shitless to even tel my Dad about the rape let alone being pregnant. However I did because unlike my "friends" I knew my dad would help me through this, and he did. This of course was 12 years ago when you had to go to the dr office for such a pill. obviously the morning after pill did not apply in my case, but my point is even in my darkest moment in my young life i went to my dad. I guess for me it was having the communication between my dad and i that helped me go to him.
I have 3 daughters and 1 step son I continue that open line of comunication with tem because of things like this happening.
And you are so right In a perfect world girls would be going to thier parents and getting support and help but they dont.
I dont feel its safe for young girls to have such a huge option at thier diposal, it would be like giving them a year supply of the pill and no lesson learned.
SOrry not trying to to argru- very strong subject.

Joy - posted on 12/17/2011

Katherine, in a perfect world, you're right. Kids SHOULD be telling their parents these things. But the sad fact is, they aren't. Some kids may not feel comfortable talking about sex matters with their parent(s). Some kids may not HAVE parents. I was a foster kid, bounced around so much it would make your head spin. If I'd gotten pregnant back then, I most certainly would NOT have told my foster parent of the week. I'm a firm supporter of Obama but I disagree with him on this one. Now, to clarify, I don't think a 12 year old should be able to buy it. I think there should be a minimum age of maybe 14 or 15. I also think there needs to be a tracking system put in place, so that it can't be used over and over and over. Like, whenever someone buys it, their social security number gets entered into the system and they won't be able to buy it again for a certain amount of time. Kinda like how you can't buy more than one box of Benedryl at a time (I think it's 1...could be wrong).

Katherine - posted on 12/17/2011

I don't feel kids should take it. They dont know how the pill effect their body and they need to be informing their parents of such stuff. President Obama is right.

Joy - posted on 12/17/2011

I agree, Alfreda...it should be kept behind the counter at the pharmacy, like how they keep at home drug tests, paternity tests, some medicines, etc.

Alfreda - posted on 12/16/2011

My biggest concern, have they tested it on under 17 year olds? Are extra hormones really the best thing to give a girl going through puberty?

I don't believe it increase the chances of unprotected sex. I do think it should be behind the counter, so they are required to gather up some sort of courage to get it. That way they won't just keep it on hand to use instead of the birth control pill. I think kids who are going to be irresponsible will be irresponsible whether it is accessible or not. If the chance of catching a disease is not enough of a deterrent, then pregnancy sure wouldn't be. I think education is key, and having condoms readily available so they are not stuck in a situation of having to decide not to have sex since they don't have one.

I do not have a problem with it from a abortion perspective, as it is not much different than birth control. For those that say it didn't work, did you take it in the first 48 hours after sex? The sooner they take it, the more chances it will work.

Aleks - posted on 12/16/2011

Hard one, as this Plan B pill is not something that should be used regularly. It really is a plan b type of thing.. kinda like you wake up the next day and go "ooooopppsssss".

Its not meant to be used as a regular contraceptive. To be honest I don't think I would trust *some* teenagers to know or follow this advice that this is a once off kinda thing one can use. I think that some would be more inclined to use it more regularly, which is probably not a good thing.

So, am not sure that on their own, but with a guardian, may be perhaps. Probably better if it was on prescription,

Joy - posted on 12/15/2011

Sorry, haven't revisited the thread since I posted it. It's been a crazzzy week. Yes, I meant taking the pill AFTER the sex lol I used the wrong word...should have just said "after".

Iridescent - posted on 12/15/2011

I think it should be available at that age. They're having sex, and know enough that they aren't prepared to be a parent. Why force them into that situation?

Rachael - posted on 12/15/2011

i think that at 14, kids should be able to get plan B without parental consent. i live in Canada and you can buy it over the counter. Sometimes things happen, condoms break, you forgot to take your pill or whatever.I don't think that a person should have to have a baby or abort a baby because of one mistake, especially if they were taking precautions

Bonnie - posted on 12/15/2011

I have no problems with people using 'Plan B', but at the same time, I don't think it is right for those to think (especially teenagers), okay we can have unprotected sex and not have to worry about it and then just take 'Plan B'. Surely, there has to be people thinking this way and it just doesn't sound right to me and then you still run into possible STDs, etc.

Christy - posted on 12/14/2011

The same argument can be made about the IUD. Doesn't it prevent implantation of the fertilized egg? I think Plan B should be available to anyone that wants it.

Rebecca - posted on 12/14/2011

It absolutely should be available to girls under 18. Let's face reality: it already is. Any girl can go into any Planned Parenthood or doctor's office and pick up the pills to accomplish the same thing (even if it's not sold under the name Plan B). Not to mention the fact that teenage girls have older sisters/friends with older sisters who undoubtedly buying it for them already.

Sherri - posted on 12/14/2011

YES YES YES it definitely should be OTC and available to all. It is not an abortion and is to try and prevent anyone from needing one in the first place. So I am all for it!!

Becky - posted on 12/14/2011

I think it should be available to teens, but by prescription. Hormonal birth control is not without risks and it would concern me if young girls could obtain it as often as they wanted to without any counselling or medical monitoring.

Tracey - posted on 12/14/2011

IN UK we have gone the other way - women are being advised to stock up on the morning after pill if it is likely they will be enjoying themselves over the Christmas period, and I believe we can order it online to save going to the pharmacist.

Becky - posted on 12/14/2011

As someone who has used this several times . . . I'll tell you the cost is a factor! Over all I used Plan B about 3 times in 4 years when we did have an "oops" situation, but at $45.00 per 1 time use, I would not use it as regular birth control!

The Pill is available to underage girls without parental consent, and plan B is essentially the same hormone based drug as the pill. I feel it should be just as available.

Cathy - posted on 12/14/2011

In answer to the question....I don't like the idea of this pill being given to teens without prescription. It's a very high dose of hormones in one shot and if this becomes a regular occurrence then that in itself holds risks. If the teen is required to see a doctor then they can prescribe a lower dose regular contraceptive at the same time.

No prescription, how many times could the same girl get it over the counter?

It is also a very poor/less reliable substitute for regular birth control. It didn't work for me.

Cathy - posted on 12/14/2011

Plan B works similar to regular birth control pills; it simply contains a larger dose of the hormone levonorgestrel.

Plan B works primarily by:
Preventing ovulation
Possibly preventing fertilization by altering tubal transport of sperm and/or egg
Altering the endometrium, which may inhibit implantation
Plan B is not effective once the process of implantation has begun. It will not affect an existing pregnancy or harm a developing fetus.

Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill

The pill changes the body's hormone balance so that your ovaries do not ovulate (produce an egg).
It also causes the mucus made by the neck of the womb (cervix) to thicken and form a mucous plug. This makes it difficult for sperm to get through to the womb (uterus) to fertilise an egg.
The pill also makes the lining of the womb thinner. This makes it less likely that a fertilised egg will be able to attach to the uterus.


Julianne - Both the regular pill and emergency contraceptive work exactly the same way. The only difference is the dose in emergency contraception being equivalent to 7 days of a normal pill. Do you object or view all hormonal contraceptive as abortion?

PS. I got really annoyed watching The Walking Dead and Lori asked for abortion pills and Glenn came back with morning after pills... "you got knocked up 2 weeks ago, plan B ain't going to do squat!"

Jen - posted on 12/14/2011

I'm really really torn on this one. I am so in support of this medication being available but Im very concerned about it increasing unprotected sex among young teens (under 16 when they're particularly stupid). Plus I just see it being used incorrectly. I think we'd be MUCH better served by allowing actual oral contraceptives OTC. I don't know. I'm really of two minds on this. It's the age of the kids and their ability to use sound judgement when it comes to medications.



ETA: I don't see why we cant' have it behind the pharmacy counter if we're FORCED to go there for cold medicine (the stuff thatactually works like my beloved claritin D).

Jodi - posted on 12/14/2011

Proceeding as in course of action, after the act? Preceding is before..... I'm pretty sure she meant after.

Sal - posted on 12/14/2011

I totally missed the proceed bit... That seems odd to say the least.... Maybe it would encourage more unsafe sex so that's not cool... Still should be available to those of age though if they are old enough to have sex they should be able to buy Protection

Sarah - posted on 12/14/2011

My only confusion with it, is how would you know beforehand that you were going to have unprotected sex? Usually I would have thought that having unprotected sex is more a spur of the moment type thing. Surely if you know you're likely to have sex the next evening, you'd take a condom with you!

I guess it could be useful if you know you've forgotten to take your regular birth control pill.

I've nothing against the idea I guess, but to be honest, I can't see it being particularly helpful to a lot of people.
The morning after pill makes far more sense to me.

Julianne - posted on 12/14/2011

I thought that plan B prevented the zygote from implanting in the wall of the uterus AFTER MR sperm met up with MISS egg...
Personally I would never use it because I see it as a form of abortion, however, I do think it should be legal for someone under age to acquire. All birth control should be available to those who need it. Its rules like these that make America have the highest rates for teen pregnancy in industrialized countries.

Stifler's - posted on 12/13/2011

Yes. Because who needs underage parents who can't even drive, work, vote or buy nappies with their non existent income. The pill should be free to all and sundry also and condoms. Kids are going to have sex anyway no matter how much edumacation they go on the dangers of STIs and pregnancy. It's a biological urge. They have sexual organs they want to use them regardless of the consequences.

Sal - posted on 12/13/2011

This is I'm guessing the same as the morning after pill and I can see no issue with it and it should be available to anyone over the age of concent, but a restricted medicine where you need to speak to a chemist or dr to get it and not be used as primary birth control here we have to give our Medicare card when we get restricted med like the more serious hayfever meds so there is a record of who is getting too much

Becky - posted on 12/13/2011

I have one issue with Plan B . . . . it failed, and my little girl is now due in a few weeks!! :) Figured she must be meant to be.

Plan B is essentially high dose of regular birth control. When there is a lack of the official Plan B, a nurse can instruct you on how to use a regular months supply of birth control as a "Plan B" I checked into this years ago before I ever tried plan B myself after the first "oops" me & the man had a few years ago.

Because it is essentially the same as birth control that is already available to girls, why should this be restricted?

Joy - posted on 12/13/2011

Personally, I have no problem with this pill. I am happy that it is readily available. Of course, if I had a daughter, my opinion may be different. However, I do realize that kids are gonna sometimes do what they do. And kids get scared in the face of big decisions, like "OMG I'M PREGNANT" decisions. There are a wide variety of circumstances, some which I don't even agree with, but those situations may require (according to each individual) that pill. I'm fine with that. The choice we face is that either we continue to allow young girls to get pregnant and have babies before they are capable of being quality parents, OR we give them a possible solution. They’re gonna have sex anyhow (YES Momma, YOUR daughter). May as well give them something to maybe help scare them straight, while preventing yet another unwanted baby at the same time.