'Morning after contraceptive pill' (godless, abortion, sexuality)

[michel]

I live in the U.K; in the news just now, it was announced that the 'morning after' contraceptive pill would be made freely available (no cost) by any chemist to girls aged 13+(Not Nationwide, more in the area I livein)

Sounds good on the face of it (If you can accept contraception in principle), to stop unwanted births, or abortions, but isn't this likely to further encourage the young to use no 'barrier' protection -ie condom to stop the spread of S.T.D's?

[Godless Dave]

Probably not. It's billed as an emergency alternative, for one thing. For another, the side effects can be pretty unpleasant (cramping & nausea). Girls who are already responsible enough to use barrier methods are not going to stop being responsible.

[huajiro]

I agree with Godless Dave....those who don't use protection, won't use protection until they die, or get an STD and learn from it.

[Sunstone]

I think that even if it does encourage some kids to forego condoms, it is a good idea to make a morning after pill available to them. Better some kind of contraceptive than none at all.

[Jaiket]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

I think that even if it does encourage some kids to forego condoms, it is a good idea to make a morning after pill available to them. Better some kind of contraceptive than none at all.

Good point.

Thirteen year-olds are at an age where their body is their own, incarceration is the only method of stopping (most) teens from doing what they please. Be it drugs, sex, or jazz-fusion.

[Bastet]

I think it's a good idea, and not just for the teenagers who don't want their parents to know they're having sex (and thus, wouldn't ask them to take them to the doctor if a condom broke). I don't know about anyone else, but I gotta tell you, even at 18 I didn't want to go to the doctor for the morning after pill after I had a condom break. Not only was I thoroughly embarassed, and scared sh-tless, but seeing a doctor can be expensive...you cut the costs by being able to get it over the counter. I think it'd make for less abortions and unwanted pregnancies, and I think that the argument that it would encourage kids to have sex without using condoms, is just as thin as the argument that teaching sex ed in schools encourages kids to have sex. The responsible ones are generally the ones that know all about STDs and are going to keep doing all they can to protect themselves.

[Sunstone]

Some people seem to feel that the most important thing you can teach kids is to fear sex. But the most important thing you can teach kids is to deal with sex responsibly.

Sex is a natural part of growing up. It is more natural than driving a car. But isn't it strange that while no one debates the wisdom of teaching kids to opperate a car in a responsible, competent manner, all sorts of people feel it is unwise to teach kids to deal with their sexuality in a responsible, competent manner?

[painted wolf]

we couldn't have that... they might have fun with it... and "we all know its wrong"

wa:do

[Holly]

Originally Posted by michel

I live in the U.K; in the news just now, it was announced that the 'morning after' contraceptive pill would be made freely available (no cost) by any chemist to girls aged 13+(Not Nationwide, more in the area I livein)

Sounds good on the face of it (If you can accept contraception in principle), to stop unwanted births, or abortions, but isn't this likely to further encourage the young to use no 'barrier' protection -ie condom to stop the spread of S.T.D's?

Nope, in fact there has been a study done debunking this claim.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/ar...r_pill?mode=PF