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Plan B Pill for 17-Year-Olds
The FDA has signaled that it will approve Plan B, the so-called "morning after" pill, without a prescription for women age 17 and older.
Plan B is already available to women age 18 and older without a prescription. It was first approved in 1999 and became available without a prescription in 2005 for women age 18 and older.
In March, U.S. District Court Judge Edward Korman of New York ordered the FDA to extend Plan B's availability without a prescription to 17-year-old women -- and to do so within 30 days.
In his ruling, Korman noted that Plan B "is the only emergency contraceptive drug currently available in the United States." He also wrote that politics was a factor in the FDA's 2005 decision to limit nonprescription use of Plan B to women age 18 and older.
The FDA today announced that it will not appeal that ruling, and that the FDA has sent a letter to Plan B's maker stating that, upon submission and approval of an appropriate application, the company may market Plan B without a prescription to women 17 years of age and older.
Plan B is made by Duramed Research, a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceuticals. In an email to WebMD, Teva spokeswoman Denise Bradley states, "We support the FDA's decision to expand OTC [over-the-counter] access for Plan B to consumers 17 and older. The company believes that timely access to Plan B is extremely important, as the sooner Plan B is taken the more effective it is. We will continue to work closely with FDA to ensure that all provisions of this decision are met."
Plan B is already available to women age 18 and older without a prescription. It was first approved in 1999 and became available without a prescription in 2005 for women age 18 and older.
In March, U.S. District Court Judge Edward Korman of New York ordered the FDA to extend Plan B's availability without a prescription to 17-year-old women -- and to do so within 30 days.
In his ruling, Korman noted that Plan B "is the only emergency contraceptive drug currently available in the United States." He also wrote that politics was a factor in the FDA's 2005 decision to limit nonprescription use of Plan B to women age 18 and older.
The FDA today announced that it will not appeal that ruling, and that the FDA has sent a letter to Plan B's maker stating that, upon submission and approval of an appropriate application, the company may market Plan B without a prescription to women 17 years of age and older.
Plan B is made by Duramed Research, a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceuticals. In an email to WebMD, Teva spokeswoman Denise Bradley states, "We support the FDA's decision to expand OTC [over-the-counter] access for Plan B to consumers 17 and older. The company believes that timely access to Plan B is extremely important, as the sooner Plan B is taken the more effective it is. We will continue to work closely with FDA to ensure that all provisions of this decision are met."
Labels: morning after pill, Plan B
75 Comments:
make it 16! ahha, this is a great idea though, it opens up this choice for us younger girls
keep your legs closed and you will not need a "plan b"
i think that this is a great idea. 17 year olds these days i think most of us do know what we want now a days. And were maturing much faster also. some of really do love who were with and knows that there the only one so of course some of us have sex. Or make love. whatever your preference is.So we all get BC but again were 17 too and we still do have fun and we forget to take it or something goes wrong during sex. Were all human and mistakes are made so thankfully the plan B is there. And the little comment about keeping your legs closed this person is just a clown and a fool. Because hat person i can guarantee has had sex and is in no place to make 17 and older girls feel bad about it.
Liberal or conservative, pro-choice or pro-life, doesn't anyone recognize that this is bad medicine? Serious side effects can accompany the morning after pill, particularly if taken beyond the 72-hour window. By making this drug increasingly accessible without a doctor's involvement, it is entirely likely that more teens -- confused and scared about the possibility of pregnancy -- will seek EC outside of the FDA-approved window of opportunity.
For a 17-year old female to get a tooth extracted, her legal guardian must sign consent forms about the procedure, anesthesia, etc. And yet, because women's reproductive health has become a political issue instead of a medical issue, it is now okay for a teen to obtain EC without a doctor's authorization -- let alone a parent's involvement? This is not about compassion for teens in difficult circumstances -- it's about practicing and promoting good medicine. It's about protecting a young, scared female from seeking out a pill which, in some circumstances, has led to internal bleeding, sepsis, or worse.
A 17-year-old can't buy cigarettes or beer legally. What is so wrong in requiring a young woman to see her doctor (or any doctor -- ERs are always open) before obtaining EC, anyway? If anything, this new legislation seems to send the message to teens that if they find themselves in precarious situations, they should quickly and quietly fix things themselves instead of seek out help and support from adults in their lives. It's sad. It's unethical. It's bad medicine.
This is a very bad idea. It is just gives teenage girls another excuse to go out and have sex at a younger age and not have to worry about the consequences. At seventeen you are not allowed to fight for your country or buy cigarettes, to gamble or even drink, but are apparently old enough to a potentially harmful drug without any questions. This is absurd.
And besides if you think you are mature enough to make the decision to have sex at whatever age you are then if something happens you should be mature enough to handle the situation without resulting to things that could potentially harm your body later in life.
To the commenter who said that at 17 you need permission to get a tooth extracted - where I live, the age of medical consent is 15. And I'm not talking about reproductive rights - it's 15 for any medical situation. It varies from state to state.
There is a great news story about this that has tons of information I highly recommend it: http://www.newsy.com/videos/plan_b_the_new_plan_a/
There are plenty of over-the counter medications that have side-effects. These teens have access to all kinds of dangerous things, why not give them access to something that can keep them from making even worse medical decisions.
Ahem, this is not available over the counter, anywhere, in any state, for anyone. It is available BEHIND THE COUNTER which means you are required to speak to a pharmacist (also known as a medical professional) before you can receive the medication. You are just not required to see a physician.
And, to the person who said "keep your legs closed" - have you considered that there are situations where it may not be that simple, such as rape or incest? Obviously not.
i think this is great. for those kids who's schools refuse to talk about condoms or safe sex, there needs to be an alternative. I am 17, my school dreads the thought of talking about safe sex, its abstinence all the way. Being 17, abstinence is out of the question, obviously. If you wont teach us how to have sex safely, at least give us a backup plan when we screw up.
oh, and to the person who said that its bad for teens to have access to dangerous meds, why dont you go complain about the fact that my mommy leaves the tylenol in a cabinet low enough for me to reach with my chair, and that theres enough in there for me to kill myself with
wow i remember at 17 i thought i knew it all....then i grew up. this is just one more window for teen girls to protect themselves. do i agree...no but if my 17 year old daughter had this option i couldnt disagree with her using it. what do we expect when in this society we allow sex into our homes and neglect the family values we were raised with. Maybe if we (parents) would concentrate more on being a parent instead of a best friend our daughters wouldnt need the EC. Just a thought.
Ok. I am 17. I think it would be smart that 17 y.o. can get the pill. I see it this way, You need to take it because teenagers like myself can be stupid. If we don't the population will grow profoundly, and it may be the end of the world. Ok, well maybe not the end of the world but still. They should be aloud for all ages. There are 12 y.o. that are pregnat. I mean come on! would you rather 17 and up not get pregnat, and let every younger child be left screwed?
I think it's extremely sad that this year, more and more bills are being passed that want to kill people. Face it-it's murder. Why are you wanting that? I just don't understand that it's acceptable to jail someone who kill yet allow teenagers to kill? Don't you see the pricetag - life and allowances for rule to continue to change. Rules are set for safety - not for punishment.
keep your legs closed , this is more safe ....... mmee
I've been a teenager, and I think it's wrong to give any permissions to 17 y.o. "kids." Sorry, but you guys have to admit you are too young for adult stuff. Plus, think about it - you are murdering someone just because you 'feel it'. Think about it again - aren't you glad your mother didn't 'feel like it'?
People can say "keep your legs closed" all they want. Honestly, that's not going to stop young women from having sex. At least now there is a way for a 17 year old to take care of herself, and, in some cases, do the responsible thing. Teen pregnancy is a problem under-talked about, but endemic to our culture. I think the FDA did the right thing, there is no way we can stop all teenagers from having sex, but at least we can make it safer.
Oh, and on a slightly different note, has it occurred to anyone that not everyone can afford to see a doctor? Should this medication only be available to people of a certain economic class? Just because a person can't afford health insurance, doesn't mean they shouldn't have access to contraception. (Especially considering how much medical care a pregnant woman needs...) The FDA making this a behind-the-counter drug, makes it accessible to everyone.
What a horrible thing they could do. This just gives teenage girls excuses to go out and have sex and not have to worry about the consequences. These teenagers want to go out in the big world and play house they should have to deal the consequences!!!!!! WHAT A HORRIBLE THING A PERSON COULD DO, TAKEN A MORNING AFTER PILL TO KILL A POOR LITTLE FETUS SOMEONE THAT IS HELPLESS AND INNOCENT!
Some of you people really don't think before you speak. As is life, hormones rage in Teens and they are going to have sex. Because you don't like it, well that makes no difference. And the Plan B pill is to prevent attachment, therefore no fetus, therefore no murder. They should not be denied the option of being able to prevent the pregnancy if something was to happen whether it be lapse in judgement or broken condom. So some of you should be ashamed at your stupid comments.
As the parent of a 14 ur old girl (going on 25 - of course), you can only teach them the best way possible. Arm your child with all the CORRECT, TRUE, & ACCURATE information. Even if that means scaring them about sex. lol Kids are going to do what they are going to do the older they get, lets be real! If you feel they are going to make "not so smart" choices, give them a baby for a weekend to take care of. They will change their minds one way or another. Abstenence, or an extensive amount of birth control. Most kids who get pregnant or get the girl pregnant, weren't talked to by the parents. Its embarrassing, but i'd rather turn red from embarrassment then red from anger at being a young Grandma
I am torn on this issue on so many levels.
I am a K-12 special education teacher. Reading some of your comments make me really angry. The kids I work with are not able to make 'appropriate' choices. They will have sex with anyone because they think that is how to make and keep friends.
What about rape or incest? Don't those young girls deserve to be treated with a little dignity?
That being said, I think that today's youth view sex as casual, rather than a sacred act between a husband and a wife. I was not a virgin when I married my husband, but he was the only man I have ever been with. I don't think that the human desire to have sex has really changed much in past few generations...the difference is boys and girls are changing sexual partners like they change their outfits...why don't we just hand out a supply of antibiotics to go with all the sexually transmitted diseases that I think will be running rampant in the near future?
get real people. teens are having sex whether we like it or not (personally, i don't like it). policies based on what we want vs. the reality just don't work. george bush showed us that with his stupid, unrealistic abstinence messages. what worries me here is that some of the comments from teens talk about forgetting to take BC and so needing plan b. IF YOU ARE HAVING SEX YOU SHOULD BE USING CONDOMS EVERY TIME NO EXCEPTIONS!!
on the safety issue, i am 51 and had to take plan b once when the condom broke. it is safe and i felt nothing after i took it. having said this, it should never be taken casually or as bc (it is "emergency" contraception after all). as it is quite expensive, i don't think too many people will be taking it casually.
finally, TAKING PLAN B IS NOT "KILLING" anything as it stops the egg from implanting in the uterine wall BEFORE conception. Get your facts straight!
Get your facts strait. Conception happens in the fallopian tubes before implantation. An Egg will only implant if it is fertilized. (conception) You are killing a baby.
I can't believe what our country is coming to! This is aweful. It is a parent's job to tell their children about sex and the consequences that happen with it. It is not the schools fault if children get pregnant! A baby isn't a mistake, it is a human being!
I am torn between if giving this drug to teenage girls, is the right thing to do...Although I'd much rather have them take this pill, than to get an abortion...In some states there is parental conent for abortion, so in some ways this pill is not a big deal..It carries risks, just as abortion does...I am pro life and I don't want to see teenagers or any women faced with making the decision to have an abortion...I think the only good thing that could come out of this pill being available is the decline of uplanned pregnancies and abortions.
The "I think that this is a great idea" blogger who wrote April 23 @ 11:42 AM is PRECISELY the reason why this is a horrendous decision. The child does not even have a grasp of proper use of the English language (spelling,grammar etc.) but thinks 17 year olds are LIKE, totally LIKE mature ya know? Please - they can't even think for themselves and obviously from the PRO PLAN B bloggers neither can the adults in this venue. Open the door to more promiscuity and harmful behavior in our society - the ramifications will be astounding.
This is ridiculous. People getting all worked up over this EC. I am 18 years old and I've had the same boyfriend for 3yrs and we do have sex. I believe that no one person or group of people should be allowed to make a decision for everyone else. Not everyone believes what you do if you're against this and if you believe it's murder. If you feel that way then don't use it if you feel abortion is wrong don't ever get one. I cannot fathom how people think they should be able to decide things for other people.
Sure it's your opinion that's fine but everyone has an opinion. I think this is a great option. It's better than a 17 year old getting pregnant and not wanting a baby and doing something drastic. Even for older women who maybe get pregnant and can't afford the baby. or even afford getting pregnant. Sure there is adoption everyone knows that. But again that's not what everyone wants.
Also those who are saying it will promote promiscuity are wrong. Just because there's now this pill doesn't mean anything. If someone whats to have sex their going to have it. People aren't going to be like "Oh ok there's this new pill now i can have sex with no problems!!" People who wanted to have sex will still have it with or without a pill
I hate the keep your legs closed that is just rude and disrespectful. If i got raped and got pregnant i would not want to carry that baby inside of me.
May 2, 2009 12:23:00 AM
And to the person who criticized someone else's grammar and spelling
Seriously? That is just and excuse
So are you saying those adults who don't ever have good spelling or grammar shouldn't be having sex or reproducing? You're just finding excuses and FYI someone who normally has excellent grammar and spells great doesn't use that on the Internet. That's why things like LOL and g2g are used bc<< (see that means BECAUSE) they are quicker.
Plan B is a great thing.
I think this is a great idea. I don't think this should be used as birth control but there a cerain situation that perhaps plan b might be extremly necessary.
While I am very much against premarital sex, abortion, and the morning after pill, I really can't stop anyone from taking Plan B. It's not my choice. As a 25 year old wife and mother, it makes me sad to see so many young people making stupid mistakes. But that doesn't mean I'm going to tell them to do as I say. Being rude and condescending never helped any cause. It sure doesn't help in parenting either.
i had sex last night and the condom broke and about three hours ago took plan b and i pray to god it works....having sex at 17 is a choice i made that i dont regret...but we used a condom and it broke and there is nothing i can do now but to pray that plan b works for me...and if not...i dont know what im going to do...
oh and yes i do agree about the side effects as some stated below but it does not just give girl's a reason to have sex younger and younger... if there guna have sex there guna have sex 1 out of 100 girl's will not have sex because of that pill... the other 99 are having sex... and i looked at some posts below and i agree most of use teens are maturing faster and are having sex because we love the other person and know that there the one me and my girl have been dating for 6 year's now and we waited 4 of them to make love... so don't go around thinking that all teen's are having sex because there slut's and whore's maybe they love the person there with and make a choice to take it farther... and Im not just saying that because Im a guy and "all guys are addicted to sex"... that's also bullshit because we do grow up i remember being 14 that's all i wanted to do... Im 17 now and u know what i couldn't really care about it... so 17 is the best age for this pill... and as for the parental thing do u have any fucking idea how some parents are? i know parent's that will beat there kid's because of it which is worse than any side effect's and do not try and argue with me because i will fight you to the death and i can think of every reason to match your reason... and Plan B is way better than abortion's i do not agree with them at all! but yea everyone is entitled to an opinion on this and people have to make choice's and parent's cannot make many choices for 16 year olds and up thats when its time to let us deal with things we get are selves into... if all you older people jump in we are not guna learn from are mistakes.... alright i think Im done with my novel... peace guy's and just cut your youth some slack we make choices and were stronger than you think...
i think they should make it available to girls at all ages... there are girl 13 years old running around pregnant... this needs to stop...
I think this is just too far! If f these young ladies don't have sense enough to wait till marriage OR use birth control methods, then how can you expect them to be knowledgeable and responsible about taking Plan B in time? I think parents should be examples and get a grip on their kids. too many are out of control.
to the woman that claimes murder, you hav yet to have properly research the Plan B medical properties.
Yes one of the aspects is to keep the fetalized egg from implanting to the wall.
But the other two major properties are:
1) Stop release of egg
2) Kill the sperm and egg released.
The reason they give the 72 hours is because impregnation is not instant. It can take anywhere bettween one and five days, as the sperm can servive in a woman for upto five days seeking an egg.
People make mistakes, they dont always have sex, but still have the change of being pregnant. All it takes is one stupid choice, and theg guy releasing near the vaginal area. Could you imagine never having sex, and getting pregnant because he released near the area. The morning after pill is available by the pharmisist, but its no differnent then anyother BC it contains much of the same elements. And it can not terminate a child that has already been attached to the wall.
KEEP YOUR LEGS CLOSED OR USE PROTECTION AND YOU WON'T NEED A PLAN B PARENTS NEED TO BE PARENTS AS WELL AND THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN.
I AM VERY PROUD TO SAY I AM PRO-LIFE! NOT CHOICE GOD DOSN'T WANT YOU TO KILL EVEN IF IT ISNT IMPLANTED YET IT WAS MEANT TO BE SO PARENTS BE PARENTS!!!!!!!!!
When is this any of your business? A simple year lies between 17 and 18 and many of you are treating it like its between 12 and 20. So many of you think that as an adult at "18" people can make wise decisions then? Maturity especially during adolescence varies greatly from individual to individual. A twenty year old can be more immature and unable to handle the consequences of sex than a seventeen year old. Also, people need to stay out of others business. If that young adult decides to have sex let them, its their life and their choices, stay out its a free country.
To all you pro-life "omg you're killing baby" bible thumpers....life does not start until 14 days AFTER fertilization!!!!(much too late for the plan b pill to be effective) Until cell differentation it is simply a blastiocyst packed with unprogramed (stem) cells....insects are more geneticaly similar to humans than those balls of cells in the first fourteen days so all of you that are so against it can take your own advice and turn yourself in for murder...
I'm 17 and I've used the pill before. Me and my boyfriend were having sex and the condom broke. It was too late and there was nothing we could do. So I took this pill. Label me as "unethical" or a "murderer" or whatever you want to label me as. But I don't care. This is my body, and my choice. When I want to have a baby, I'll have one. But not before then. So anyone who says that I'm "baby killer" can go off crying to their mommies about the "horrible injustice" because no one cares about what you say to us.
Us girls grow up in times were sex is more casual, and I wish it wasn't. Sex is a great thing! I just wish it didn't have such consequences when misused. I'm so glad that the FDA approved this! Now us women can have a choice. Without this, I would have resorted to more drastic measures to rid myself of this baby, possibly hurting myself. And I'm sure I'm not the only one. Does the term "back-ally butchery" ring a bell? The sale of metal coat hangers would increase. I know this is harsh, but its the raw truth. Its better, and safer for us. And would our children really want us to see us in such misery? I myself do not want a baby because I cannot support it, and because I want to live my life more.
And to those who are saying "Shut your legs"? I think the correct term for you is "Shut your mouth".
I think that schools & parents should actually talk to their kids about this subject. The subject not necessarily being birth control, but sex in general. Because, in my opinion, if teenagers were more informed, this wouldn't be such a great controversy. I think that parents shouldn't try to be their kids best friend & basically get the safe-sex items for them. their first conversation about it wouldn't be "Hey, i'm sorry but i'm pregnant." or "Mom, I need birth control." And schools shouldn't be so worried about talking about it to their students. If adults told kids the absolute truth about sex & actually said something to them about it, but you don't have to scare them, or shove your opinions down their throat. Just make them aware of what can happen. Adults just need to say something to their kids before they aren't kids anymore.
I am a teenager, & even though I choose not to have sex, I know many young girls that have choose to. Their ages range from about 12 years old to young adults. Some were just a one time thing, but some are now sexual active. I don't think they realize the possible consequences of their actions. But that's just how teenagers are, we sometimes don't think before we do something.
That's why it's good to have the options that we have today. Do I agree with most of the options? No, but it's personally not my choice to make. Yes, there is abstinence, but not everyone will choose to do that. On the subject of rape & in an emergency, this contraceptive is a good option to have.
I guess what it all boils down to is that people make choices, good and bad. We are not perfect, and things happen to us. But it is nice to have options for the bad choices, and the things that happen that you couldn't control.
Okay, to all the parents out there who are for this morning after pill. You need to educate yourself on some of the side effects. One of the major ones is if these teenage girls start abusing this pill it thins the lining of their uterus. If this happens, when they are ready to have babies they will not be able too because their uterus wall will have been weakened because of this pill.
ectopic pregnancy
If the morning-after pill fails to prevent pregnancy, there is an increased chance it is a tubal pregnancy.
This is just another tragic thing that can happen. I had a relative die this year from an etopic pregnancy. So why would anyone want to increase it. Everything that i am saying has been researched. This comes from this actual site.
Im 26 and a mom, i have taken the morning after pill a few times do to a condom breaking and a few other erisponsable miss haps. I am in a serious and manogamous relationship but we are just not ready for another child. I cant say that i agree with 17 year olds having sex but when i was 17 i was having sex to say the least but i think there is a bigger consern. if thies kids have sex and think this is the easy way out they need to think again having a baby can be the least of there problems if there having unprotected sex or the condom breaks first and for most they should be tested for std's. children having children is ruff but even worse children getting hiv and aids and dying from it.
face it ignorant people.
kids have SEX.
it's how it's always been.
sure, some practice abstinence. but somee do not. and that's fine if you're in love.
and don't feed people bull about 17 year olds can't be in love. you can't understand or judge someone else's feelings.
and if they have an accident or rape, i'm happy we have the choice of plan b. if you're already pregnant it doesn't work.
so therefore, give up on the murder bull.
To all thoses people who said "keeep your legs close" you people need to shut up cause if a kid wants to have sex let them you aint going to stop it and some kids are smart enough to use a condom but to others they might slack off and they need a plan B and yes im a kid yes i also use a condom but if something happens then im going to use plan b if it was made to help then im using it!!
Ok, first of all, plan B WILL NOT stop a pregnancy that is already started. It is not an abortion and therefore all this talk of it as murder means nothing. It hink that it is a good thing to make it avalable to seventeen year olds. Some seventeen year olds don't have a supporting caring parent that they can talk to and get help from, especially when they are given a 72 hour window in which to go to a doctor, get a perscription, go to a pharmacy (many of which close) and even come up with the money to pay for it. I know many of you think teenagers shouldn't have sex, but that isn't the issue here. The issue is whether 17 year olds should be able to get birth control that works after having sex without a perscription. It would be wonderful if it never had to happen, but are you ready to tell teanagers, too bad, you messed up, you have to have a kid if there is another option? ( i don't consider an abortion an option, but that is not what plan b is.) For those of you who want to share your opinions, i respect that, but dont make random claims, if you are going to back up your opinion with facts, make sure you facts are TRUE first. Plan B has a website, i suggest you take a look.
Many people think teenagers shouldn't be havin sex and they really shouldn't. This isn't the issue. I'm 17 and my girlfriend has used plan b. I made a stupid decision and if it wasn't for this pill I might be a 17 year old father. I'm going to be a senior in high school and I can barely afford my car insurance let alone a child. Teens have sex. Not many of my friends are virgins and as a teen getting pregnant can really ruin your life. All you you need to stop focusing on this issue that 17 year old shouldn't be having sex. They do and will. When I needed this pill you had to be eighteen so my nineteen yearbood friend bought it for me. I could never Go to my parents with this and not everybody has somebody to get them this pill. I didn't even know I could get this pill before I had sex so saying that this will make mor teens have sex is bs. Focus on the issue. Whether you think of kills babies is irrelevent. The pill is out there already. Seventeen year old have sex. Why destroy destroy their future.
Can a 14 year old take the plan b pill..and it work
are there chances that the pill wont work in it is taken within the 72-hour window??????
I NEED TO KNOW!!!!
Plan B is a good thing. I just had to recently use it not because i couldnt keep my legs close or anything like that. The reason i had to use it was because plan a (using a condom) didnt work it broke. so for all you people that are saying that its a bad things and its only making girls have more sex think about it a little. If i wouldnt of been able to take this pill i would of had to get an abortion does that sound any better....obviously not! As for the side effects i'm guessing it varys for people. I didnt have one thing go wrong i never felt sick or anything the only thing i felt was happy knowing that i stopped something and saved my future. So before you start making comments about girls only taking this because they cant keep their legs close or its asking people to have more sex think a little. Its either take this pill and stop it before it gets worse or... get an abortion, or have the baby and give it up for adotion or even have and keep your baby. I', not saying there is anything wrong with abortions, adoptions, of motherhod but each of those could have serious emotionaly baggage for young girls.unded
Plan B is a good thing. I just had to recently use it not because i couldnt keep my legs close or anything like that. The reason i had to use it was because plan a (using a condom) didnt work it broke. so for all you people that are saying that its a bad things and its only making girls have more sex think about it a little. If i wouldnt of been able to take this pill i would of had to get an abortion does that sound any better....obviously not! As for the side effects i'm guessing it varys for people. I didnt have one thing go wrong i never felt sick or anything the only thing i felt was happy knowing that i stopped something and saved my future. So before you start making comments about girls only taking this because they cant keep their legs close or its asking people to have more sex think a little. Its either take this pill and stop it before it gets worse or... get an abortion, or have the baby and give it up for adotion or even have and keep your baby. I', not saying there is anything wrong with abortions, adoptions, of motherhod but each of those could have serious emotionaly baggage for young girls.
And Scorpio.... ectopic pregnancy and implantation in the tubes can occur even when you don't take this pill or any other pill. This can occur with other birth controls too. That's why before you take this pill women should know what the side effects are that way the can watch their bodies and be aware if they do start having side effects. Also these side effect are very rare. You need to point that out. You can just come on here and scare girls by telling them the pill causes ectopic pregnancies.
hey loopy up there ^ it isnt a 100% that the morning after pill wont work after 72 hours,it just makes up less effective! but i guess its worth a try x
Has anyone considered rape as a factor? It happens to young girls every day and they are too afraid to tell. Some of us need that choice. I was raped and im greatful that there was something out there to prevent me from getting pregnant. Am I too young to make that decision?
I am a 25 year old engaged lady who had sex with her fiance lastnight and the condom broke. We were both shocked. My birth control of being on the pill was done 3 weeks ago... so I am off to get the Plan B tomorrow morning, which will be within 24 hours, which I read was good. The sooner the better. After reading all the comments I do think Plan B is something good because there are people like me who are planning a wedding a the condom broke out of no where. There are lots of things ahead of me and I just want to make sure everything will be fine.
For those that feel this is some excuses for a young girl to have sex with no consequences, I feel is wrong. Most average young women are not thinking that. Also for those who are not able to talk to their parents about sex and ways to be safe, may make mistakes and this is just another safety net to help prevent unwanted pregnancy. In addition, this is also great to protect those of have been raped and can not go to get help but don't want the results to end up as pregnancy. If you think the worst of something does not help make a better place. Parents should education and children should listen. This pill is not different than birth control and does not kill a fetus because it actually makes you have your period sooner to prevent pregnancy. In doing this does not kill life. Every woman should have the choice to make their own decisions and face their own consequence. I was raped two years ago and if it had not been for the plan B I may have gotten pregnant. I think it was a good idea.
I thimk this is a horrible idea. I understand girls make mistakes but having this available to them will make the mistake disappear. They will not learn, I don't believe you should be able to erase a mistake like this. This just gives girls this thought "I can have sex and not have to worry about getting pregnant. If I do get pregnant, I can just use plan be" I believe that this just condones the behavior of american teenager of this generation. They have sex and a lot of them won't have to see a change in their life. Mistakes happen but you should have to deal with ALL the consequences that come after.
Not everyone is raped, some people make the decision to have sex. There is NO SAFE SEX, there is bound to be a consequence to your actions. Deal with the consequence. Technically when you take this pill you are killing a life. Love does not mean that you should have sex with someone. I'm tired of people using that excuse. It is statisticaly proven that people who are in a sexual relationship will not be toghther forever. All consequences behind, what about the medical problems that come along with this pill? Society used to say sex was bad, at least without marriage. But now it's advertised to men and women of all ages. I think that this pill should be banned and illegal.However in Some situation it should be allowed. In cases such as rape, incest, molestation, of strong possibility of death during labor. Other than this cases, people should have to leave with the mistakes that they choose for themselves.
NOT ALL TEENS ARE GOING TO HAVE SEX!!!!!! I'm tired of people generalizing about the teen population. I'm 16 and I don't plan on having sex ANY time soon. I don't give a damn about my hormones, Actions can be controlled, and so can hormones.ABSTINENCE is NOT out of the question.Ugh, why can't people understand this, teens will have sex. But most of them are NOT having sex. DON'T generalize the teen population. You may be saying "will you are an exception" that's possibly true but if it is, I know a lot of exceptions. To the person who wrote on June 9, 2009: You're the ignorant person who's feeding people my age LIES. It is not perfectly fine to just have sex when you think you're in love. Teenagers can fall in love, but many are not mature enough to tell the difference between love or infatuation. Even if it is love, i think they should wait untill they really know that they will be with whomever. To the guy who wrote on June 22, 2009: If teens have sex they should deal with the possible consequences. Teens are having sex, but it takes TWO people to make the decision. Think, Both male and female didn't have enough foresight to think of the possible consequences of what, 30 seconds of pleasure. They should be forced to live with their actions, unless raped,molested,etc. But technically that isn't their own voluntary actions. To the person who wrote on Jul,8,2009: You wouldn't have to get an abortion. What else could you do? hmm... I don't have the baby, or even adoption? Didn't think about that? Anyhow, I believe this is kind of selfish. Most people are saying, this is going to ruin my life, i'll be an outcast, my parents will hate,etc. My mom had me at 21, and I have a sister who is 7 years older thatn me.(do the math) She kept, both of use, and we both learned from her mistakes. Parents talk to your kids, because if you don't some guy or other person will. Please save/help my generation, because if you don't... It'll only get worse. (sorry for the improper use of the formal English capitalization. I was anger and had no other way to convey my utter detest of the"universal plan b")
i just saw the commercial for this and am scared. if we as a society accept this, the abortion pill will be next. what happened to waiting? it doesn't make you happy? will the clap, aids, or syphillis make you happy? because this pill will be the excuse as to why you don't need a condom anymore. i mean after all, condoms don't feel good and you only use them so you don't get pregnant. i mean you can just so tell who's got an std and who doesn't. you're 17, you can't even be out past midnight on a school night, but you so know for sure if your boyfriend or girlfriend has ever been with someone else. they would never cheat on you or lie. i weep for the future of our society. good luck with your lives when your bodies are disease ridden, sterile, and no one will touch you. including your family. congrats on being mature and modern.
Wow. People who are bashing this pill need to calm down. Im a 17 year old guy who thinks this is an amazing idea. If there would have been something for 17 year old girls 2 years ago, there would have been a substantial amount of girls that wouldnt have kids in my town (unless they wanted one). And I do think that the girls shouldnt sleep around, but I do think that this gives them more freedom. I have a girlfriend who I have been dating almost a year now and I believe that if one of the condoms broke and I was scared that her birth control wasnt working, then that would give me the option to buy that for her.
Anyways, FDA approved it so you can whine and protest it all you want but chances are they arent going to raise it back to 18. So calm down and learn to live with it or dont. I dont care.
I'm really surprised with all the info out there that so many people are unaware of when conception really does start - sperm unites with ovum - beginning of a baby.
If you love someone you give all of yourself to them - I wouldn't want to kiss someone with a plastic (or rubber) bag over their head. Save the love making for a time when you can give 100% of yourself to the one you love - after your married.
It's YOUR choice? - suppose it was your choice to kill someone or to steal their car?
If you saw a parent beating their baby or young child in a store - wouldn't you try to stop them.
Also, plan B is sold behind the counter - the pharmacist does not have to sell it to you, a cashier or a tech is able to do that. I have never once heard a pharmacist conseling a customer on how to use plan B.
Lastly, why would anyone pray to God, capital "G" that plan B will work. God forgives us for making mistakes,but do you really think God would bless taking a baby's life?
In reference to:
"I'm really surprised with all the info out there that so many people are unaware of when conception really does start - sperm unites with ovum - beginning of a baby.
If you love someone you give all of yourself to them - I wouldn't want to kiss someone with a plastic (or rubber) bag over their head. Save the love making for a time when you can give 100% of yourself to the one you love - after your married."
MY RESPONSE:
I just recently got married and my husband and I have had unprotected sex TWICE! We were both virgins when we got married, so we did wait, BUT we made the decision that we are not financially stable enough to have a child, so I'm on birth control and he uses a condom. Being married does not guarentee two people are ready for children.
I agree with the person who said keep your legs closed and you will not need a plan b or anything else, this pill is enabling these young girls to go out and still have sex, and they are forgeting about the consequences of their actions, but one thing people tend to forget is that it is advertising unprotected sex which causes STD'S, wise up america
yes...you could have sperm in your tubes already waiting for that egg...so you would have a fertilized egg.
if you miss one day of the pill...if you take it NOT at the same time...what ever...you will get pregnant.....
you will ovulate one way or another.
if your PH balance is just right....sperm will survive......
i think most of us know somebody who has gotten pregnat even when careful.
most of us think it won't happen to us.
most of us know the concequences of sex.
most of us do NOT know the concequences AFTER sex.
Everyone seems to be more worried about having a beautiful baby whom you would never known you would love so much!!! and making sweet love that is WELL worth the wait of husband and wife than they are about getting a STD, or emotional issues that come with beging dumped after sex...being used just for sex...having sex just to have it...just to see what it's like ...just to get ATTENTIon... just so someone would like you....People!!!! YOu ARE worth the wait!!!
or the emotions of what you are actually doing to an egg and sperm....especially when it has fertilized. or if plan b does not work! their emotional craziness of abortion. Most people have no idea!!! Well, I bet a lot of people do......but...no one will speak of it!!!
Or the emotional aspect of getting an STD!!!!! not just emotional...but LIFE THREATENING!!!!! ....so when someone is about to have sex.....I'm sure they are well aware of all the AFTER consequences!!! We are weak!!! And OBVIOUSLY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER OUR BODIES!!!!
Rape.....well...that is against someone's will.
we are talking about sexually active people who both choose to have sex.
Teens are by far not the only ones taking and doing such things.
Get your facts straight people. Educate yourself. Understand...that one thing leads to another....know who and what you are putting into your body!!
nobody wants to be controlled and nobody can controll everybody! just God. and God gave us free-will!
God forgives....but we never forgive ourselves.
I agree with the one that said keep your legs closed and you will not need a plan B. The one who commented against the person that said this, describing them as a clown and a fool is the one that is the real clown and fool. So you think you can do what ever you want. Oh, since girls mature much faster these days. HAha. Yeah, with the stuff they put in your food at school and with the methods they use to teach you. Ok sure, ha. Reality, little girl, with loose legs. You are to young. Are you really mature enough? If so, then I will agree with your comment. But I can guarantee that you as well as most are not. WE all have our rights under the constitution, but what so many fail to realize is that we also have our responsibilities. AS A RESULT, we all do not have the same rights, Some have to be earned. Can you support, this child if PLAN B DOES NOT WORK? Ok, and you feel it is ok to do what ever and when ever so long as you got a pill. Yeah, that is real mature. Keeping your legs closed will benefit your relationship in the future. Have some values, for goodness sake!
I would like for everyone who said its murder to do the proper research and investigation on the Gestation period. It takes more than 3 days for an egg to become a fetus. It takes at the VERY LEAST, 2 weeks for an implanted egg to become a fetus. IT IS NOT MURDER. In three days, the sperm has BARELY implanted the egg. Please, stop calling it murder. It may not even be teens "getting rid" of a baby, it may just be a teen making up for the birth control that she missed on friday and remembered that she had sex that night. Don't put down young girls for taking the necessary precautions to not mess up their lives over something as simple as missing one birth control pill. If they have this choice, let them make the decision on whether they want to potentially allow themselves to get pregnant. Allowing this pill to be accessible OTC is better than a young girl finding out 2 months later that she's pregnant and then going for an abortion, THAT may be considered murder. When a young girl takes it after the recommended time period, it becomes her own responsibility to take care of herself if she gets sick. That is not the government or the FDC's fault, and those women who are responsible (especially the responsible 17 year olds), should have this option. If a young girl misses a pill and doesn't have the means to go to a doctor, that's not her fault, that's why they are allowing the day after pill to be accessible to girl's seventeen and older.
Please, do your research on the Gestation period before putting down young girls for "murder" when it's not even murder yet.
OK SO, ALL PLAN B IS IS A BUNCH OF BIRTH CONTROL, SO FOR THE IDIOT WHO SAID IT SHOULD BE BANNED AND ILLEGAL, THEN GIRLS COULD JUST TAKE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF BIRTH CONTROL PIULL AT ONCE (ABOUT 10 DEPEPNDING ON EXACTLY WHICH TYPE)
I am 19 and been with my boyfriend over three years, so yes to you other idiots 17 year old cant be in love because i loved him at 17 and love him now. I am a college student and have been on birth control, i have also used Plan B because i dont want a child, it would be irresponsible. And to those of you who call it murder SHOVE IT YOU ARE REDICULOUS that is all <3
im 16 and this situation happended to me a couple months ago. i was scsred and didnt know what to do. i think this pill should be opended to 16 and older. honestly when we have sex we dont think about hte cosequences until the fact that you might be pregnant. people discriminate against young girls having babies but they dont want to help us. everybody makes mistakes and thats what people dont realize that until that person is actually the one being discriminted
Alright, i'm 17 and have a boyfriend with whom i have had sex with. We have been together now for a year and six months, and we love each other. All those who are saying plan b for 17 year olds is a "horrible" idea probably haven't been in the situation others have been in when they decide to take the pill. Who are you to judge what they want to do? and to those of you who are just saying to "keep your legs closed," are ignorant. Obviously it's not working. If it was we wouldn't be commenting on plan b for 17 year olds. Girls are having sex younger and younger, and we know that. We all become curious at some point in life, some a little earlier than others. How can you blame them? it's called plan b for a reason. If plan a fails, you have a backup. Yeah, it is kind of irresponsible of them in the first place, but by using plan b, they are saving a baby that they do not want from possibly being aborted, which is actually killing it. The pill is preventing the killing.
The truth is: people are going to have sex weather they're allowed to or not. If they have unprotected sex it's their choice and it's good that they can have the morning after pill. Maybe you all should educate yourselves a little more on this and then talk. Adults: stop telling teens that they're naive and stupid and need to grow up because you yourselves have some growing up to do also.
Having sex is not bad. And we need to stop telling kids that it is because adults have sex too and why is it okay for them to do it? Instead of telling kids that they shouldn't have sex because they're dumb and all taken over by hormones, actually talk to them. Be they're friend AND they're parent. It is possible.
Teens are going to have sex no matter what. If they make a mistake and don't use protection, they will only find other, harmful ways to deal with it.
I am 17 and I've always said I was goin to wait till I was married to have sex, but that didn't happen. Like some of you said. School don't teach us about safe sex, and most parents don't. I don't have sex anymore, but I do have friends that do. I think this is a great idea cause as of right now I have 4 friends that are pregant, and i know that if any of the could have got this pill they would have. Im against abortion, but this is not abotion. this is the moring after pill, you dont know if your pregant or not, your just being safe. The only thing i think should be different about this pill is i think it should be cheaper
FYI Plan B is not killing anything. it is simply preventing the pregnancy hormones. as someone who has screwed up and had to use Plan B i am aware of everything it does. I think its great that its available to young girls like myself. its better to prevent a pregnancy then bring a child you can't support into the world.
I have just taken the Plan B pill and believe me i think it is a great idea. I am 17 years old and when the condom broke on my boyfriend and i today i was so scared. I didn't know what to do, we talked to his mom and she is a nurse so we found out we can get the plan b pill over the counter and we were so relieved. Now just to wait it out and see what happens. But i am so glad that they came up with this.
Ok, I am an 18 year old girl & I've taken this pill. It's NOT murder to those of you who are screaming it, if you were half as smart as you thought you were then you'd know that this pill does NOTHING to an already exsisting pregnancy. Second, to the little 17 year old who said it should be available at any age, wrong. There is a reason that kids aren't suppose to take medicines without parents approval -- they don't know how. If you screw up & take this med. wrong you are putting yourself in danger. I'm also willing to bet that those of you saying "KEEP YOUR LEGS CLOSED" .. have made a mistake in your lifetime, probably worse then having sex & the condom slips. So shutup. & you don't know where all the people that take these pills walk in life .. maybe they didn't open their legs, maybe they were forced open.
Why not approve it for 16 year olds? What about 14 year olds? Why discrimate? Since when are 17 year old girls WOMEN. Isnt sex with a 17 year old stuatory rape? How about this - treat life as a meaningful gift to be treasured.
I need to know if a 17 year old guy can buy plan b? My girlfriend is 16 and regaurdless to what anyone says, we're going to have sex. Does anyone know if a 17 year old man can buy this?
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