Morning After "Plan B" will be OTC in thirty days for all females...Wow!

DDD

Well-Known Member
I just saw on the news and am surprised that a Federal Judge has mandated that all women regardless of age will be able to purchase "Plan B" to prevent pregnancy the morning after an encounter with-o adequate protection. I couldn't decide whether here or Watercooler was the right place but wanted to share this as I know alot of teens, in particular, could benefit from this option. I'm just amazed. DDD
 

ksm

Well-Known Member
I am happy to learn that! I haven't heard the news yet - but this is good for those of us who haven't yet placed young teen difficult child's on birth control. At least there is an option for after - if difficult child will come to us and let us get the pill for her. I doubt that she would follow thru on her own. KSM
 
I actually was stupefied that it wasn't already....I had no idea you needed to be 17.

and frankly, I think its an invasion of privacy to require an id to be shown-it should be anonymous if you ask me.

I completely agree that todays ruling is a good thing.
 

AnnieO

Shooting from the Hip
I think it's good that it is available. The only thing that worries me is that, like any other medication, it has the possibility of side effects and reactions - and if a 14-y/o buys it and uses it, unknown to her legal guardians, then has a reaction... Will she tell said guardians or emergency personnel?

We actually DID get this for Onyxx, about 4 years ago. I picked it up. They did ID me but they really didn't care who I was.
 

HaoZi

CD Hall of Fame
About time! Though I am guessing you still have to get it at the pharmacy counter. And I bet it's not that cheap, either.
 

HaoZi

CD Hall of Fame
CNN.com article says it averages about $50. Okay, not cheap per se, but a lot cheaper than having a baby.

Storm had her last day of "Alive and Well" class today. It's a week long class about "Helping teens make healthy choices/ creating positive relationships." Not quite a sex ed class (some of that, too, and why was I not informed about this class?) but involves more relationship stuff as well as STD info, relationship abuse, self-respect, etc. Asked her what she learned this week and she showed me her workbook and I told her about this Plan B ruling and how it's a big deal for women and why/when it would be used and that it would have to be asked for at the pharmacy counter and all that.
 

BusynMember

Well-Known Member
About time for those girls whose parents would literally disown them but then force them to have the baby if they knew. It's about time women and even girls had more of a say over their reproductive choices. And I'm one who would never personally have an abortion of any kind, but it is none of my business what anyone else does. I don't judge others that way.
 

TerryJ2

Well-Known Member
It's a good plan but of course, not as good as bc to begin with. And I do worry about side effects. Those hormones are strong and you should be under the supervision of a dr. But it's a start. Especially for our difficult children.
 

susiestar

Roll With It
This is wonderful. We have had pharmacists and some stores flat out refuse to carry this because it interferes after conception. Which is nuts, because if you are preg this won't cause an abortion. More than a few locally owned pharmacies have refused to carry this, and a couple lost a LOT of clients because they then refused to carry any birth control pills. It was an ugly local battle, esp with such a large college in town. It really bothered a lot of people. More than a few local ministers were upset by the decision of these pharmacies, which really shocked the owners.

I have told my kids that they could come to me or go to the doctor if they needed help/advice/etc ... regarding sex in any way. I actually have a letter on file with the OB/GYN giving consent to medical care for my daughter if she should come in with-o me, including stating that I will pay all bills as needed. Our ob/gyn will treat any female regardless of age if they are mature enough to go to the doctor to ask for help, but a LOT of parents refuse to pay for treatment for their child if they don't know about the visit. I never wanted that barrier between my kids and medical care. Docs here think little of treating the boys, but often the girls have to have a parent even if they manage to get to a doctor on their own because they feel they cannot talk to their folks. I had a friend in HS who was hospitalized after her ob/gyn told her mom about her birth control choice. My friend was 18 at the time, and still in HS. The doctor broke the law by telling her mom, and got a lot of penalties for it. worst was knowing that the mom beat the daughter bad enough to hospitalize her after she learned of the rx for birth control. I swore my kids wouldn't have me standing between them and medical care.
 

TerryJ2

Well-Known Member
OMG, Susiestar, I am so sorry for your friend. That's exactly the type of situation that makes me want to donate to the nearest Planned Parenthood to buy BC for some young person. I had a close relative who went to the public health clinic to pick up her BC pills because she didn't want our families to know (word spreads through the Catholic community). I'm so glad that she was able to do that. She married yrs later and had a beautiful baby girl. :)
 

BusynMember

Well-Known Member
Sus, that's just nuts...beating your kid. Wow, bet that helped (sarcasm).

It's too bad some kids can't go to their parents. I told my kids they could come to me too. If they are going to be sexually active, not telling me won't stop t hem, and I prefer they get protection.
 

tiredmommy

Well-Known Member
i do kind of hope that it's kept behind the pharmacy counter. Not to deny access, but to force a quick consultation with the pharmacist. The young women that find themselves using this product should understand that there are certain riska and what to do if they experience a problem.

I have to say that I was very concerned the first time I called over my store's former pharmacist because she is very religious. The good news is that she is very professional as well and went over the risks, possible side effects and how to handle an emergency. She advised the young woman to seek emergency help IF she started having excessive bleeding and/or cramping (much more than a typical period) and to seek out more conventional birth control going forward as it is safer in the long run and less likely to seriously impact the user's future fertility if they wish to start a family later. Very positive and no judgement whatsoever.
 

TerryJ2

Well-Known Member
Very good. That is, IF the pharmacist isn't too busy. Sometimes I feel like I have to talk a million miles a second because they are always so rushed.
 

HaoZi

CD Hall of Fame
OMW Sus... I just can't begin to understand that. I hope she didn't suffer any lasting physical damage, though I'm sure she had lasting psychological damage.

I walk a fine line with trying to give my daughter factual information and not giving her too much information just yet at her age. The packet she brought home also mentioned pornography, but she hadn't filled in anything by it. I looked at that and asked if they talked about it and she knew what it was. She wouldn't look at me but said yes. I said, "Okay, then we can avoid that awkward conversation." She laughed and agreed.
 

Malika

Well-Known Member
I wish we were able to teach our young people that a sexual relationship is best entered into where there is maturity, love and commitment.
 
Top