Plan B Birth Control Approved By FDA! (contraceptive, America, abortion)

[Sunstone]

Plan B birth control has been approved by the FDA for over the counter (non prescription) sales to people 18 years old and older. This comes after a political batter lasting about three years during which the political appointees in the FDA ignored the advice and recommendations of their own scientific advisory panel in order to stall over the counter sales of the drug.

For those who don't know what Plan B is, it's a birth control medication that can be taken up to 72 hours after sex. It's not intended to be used as a primary birth control, but rather to be used as a fall back birth control in the event of unprotected sex.

The reason the political appointees tried to keep it from becoming an over the counter medication was their fear that it would encourage people to have sex.

Do you think Plan B is a good thing or a bad thing? Why?

[Djamila]

I think, in America, it's a good thing. In Europe women are almost always much more educated about sex in general, and when you come to specifics like birth control they're light years ahead in the information they have, and rarely end up in these sorts of situations anyway. Personally, I certainly would never consider taking a post-sex contraceptive that works in the way Plan B does - but I wouldn't force that on other women.

[Hacker]

Over the age of 18? Ummm yes and no. I'm going to lean more towards YES because it's gonna happen anyways and it may lower the rate of abortions in this country, was that what the concern was?

[GeneCosta]

The reason the political appointees tried to keep it from becoming an over the counter medication was their fear that it would encourage people to have sex.

If someone is 18, they can have all the sex they want. What a louzy excuse. Who knows how many abortions and woes might have been prevented.

[tcprowling]

I am waiting for them to go to plan C.
Plan c is the most effective one " A glass of water, and nothing else before you go to sleep at night"!!!!!!

[Sunstone]

Originally Posted by GeneCosta

If someone is 18, they can have all the sex they want. What a louzy excuse. Who knows how many abortions and woes might have been prevented.

To be fair, I wrote that in some haste. The other reason the political appointees tried to keep it from becoming an over the counter medication, in addition to their belief that it would encourage people to have sex, was their conviction that the way the medication worked amounted to abortion.

[zombieharlot]

Personally, I think it's a bad idea - mainly because of how uneducated highschool students in America are when it comes to sex. If this type of drug becomes just as available as cigarettes, highschool students will, no doubt, get a hold of it. And as pig-headed as guys can be, they'll refuse to wear condoms and be a lot more careless if they know their partner can attain such drugs. Perhaps calling it a "Plan B" drug is message enough for its proper use, but I somehow don't think it is for some. I do think the drug is a good idea for those who know how to properly use it and are educated about all the precautions of safe sex.

[Sunstone]

Originally Posted by Djamila

I think, in America, it's a good thing. In Europe women are almost always much more educated about sex in general, and when you come to specifics like birth control they're light years ahead in the information they have, and rarely end up in these sorts of situations anyway. Personally, I certainly would never consider taking a post-sex contraceptive that works in the way Plan B does - but I wouldn't force that on other women.

I am gradually becoming convinced that no Western Culture is more stupid about sex and human sexuality than America. I say that despite that I love this country, and that criticism is reluctantly arrived at. But we sure are dumb when it comes to sex.