contraception

I don't have that much of a problem with a sexualized society. My problem is with a sexualized society that refuses to deal with the aftermath of sex, namely, STDs and pregnancy and its prevention.

Recently, in an action alert, Planned Parenthood stated that several major networks like FOX refuses to air commercials for contraception. What? These are networks that air sex all day, but somehow think it isn't family friendly to air condom commercials? It totally makes sense to me. Expose impressionable youth to sexual content through pop culture, because they'll understand the difference between celebrity and real life. But tell them about safety and pregnancy prevention? Give them vaccines to prevent sexually transmitted diseases? Goodness gracious, then the kids will be having orgies all over the place!

The morning after pill is now legal in the U.S. for over-the counter use, without a prescription, for those over 18.
But what does that really mean to you?

Following is an in-depth question and answer page about the decision and how it will be applied for all women, about Plan B, and about pharmacist refusals and how to manage them. Please circulate this information and/or link it as widely as possible.

The FDA press release from the day of the decision stated...

The decision to make Plan B OTC came the day that classes started at my university, so it took until this week for the news to make our mainstream and the campus paper to make some statement. The first full week of the paper's new daily run was been full of stries relevant to student life, and the front page feature of Plan B's new status was a breakthrough on a paper whose editor is known for his conservativeness.

The opening quote from the doctor in charge of our on-campus women's care clinic stated "It's safe enough to put it in vending machines." More than the issues that Plan B will hopefully counter, the emphasis was on the new availability and what it meant to the college community. The article leaned into an opinion that we all could be proud of, but the news article was only the beginning.

Its official, the FDA has approved Plan B for sale over the counter. However, unlike some other over the counter medications, plan B will be kept behind the counter under lock and key. Only women over the age of 18, with state issued IDs will be able to purchase the drug. Women under the age of 18 will be able to access the drug, but only with a prescription from their doctor.

The reasons why women under the age of 18 cannot get Plan B, according to the director of the FDA, without a prescription are confusing to say the least. He claims that although their own studies showed the drug was safe for women of all ages, they believed women under the age of 18 would not be able to follow the directions for use of the drug. He continued to attempt to back that opinion up, by saying that we have lots of laws which exclude teens from adult activities. I find this interesting coming from the director of the FDA. Is he unaware that doctors frequently give medications tested only on adults to teens and pre-teens? Is he unaware that physically a woman IS an adult by the time she reaches her teens?