FDA Ruling On Emergency Contraception: Good for Women, Not For Teens
by Melinda Casino

Bush image from Bush v. ChoiceThe FDA ruled today that women can obtain emergency contraception, sometimes called "the morning after pill" or Plan B, without a prescription. But only if they're 18 or older.

Jessica Valenti at Bush v. Choice says this is a "victory for women, not so much for teens."

However, in spite of this, she remains determinedly optimistic about the FDA ruling:

"Lets remember that the drug has been proven safe for women of all ages, and that it's young women who need easy [access] to EC the most. But, enough with the negativity—we finally got an answer, and that's something to be super happy about."

Media Girl takes a more cynical view, suggesting the timing has everything to do with elections in "GOP getting re-elected, plan b(?): Approve Plan B":

"The FDA has shocked me. After stonewalling their own doctors and scientists, the politicians in the agency have decided to act rationally, perhaps as a ploy to help the Republicans you've seen frothing at the mouth over the past two years whenever they talk about sex to seem more reasonable."

After giving her analysis of the attitudes to sex that block women's access to contraceptives, Media Girl reminds readers:

"This could reduce the number of aborted pregnancies significantly. That should be good news for everybody."

Over at community blog Culture Kitchen, whose motto is "Daily servings of political dissent", Lorraine writes:

"The FDA got it half-right this morning. Plan B contraception has been cleared for over the counter dispensation, but only if you are over the age of 18. Younger than 18? You're shit outta luck, unless you're willing to go to the doctor's office and get a prescription yourself. How you're supposed to do that without your parent's knowledge, since I'm assuming they'll get the insurance bills, is beyond me. If you're lucky, there will be a Planned Parenthood office in your town. But again, that will require luck."

"So, here's the deal. I am making a pledge, which I fully intend to keep. If you need Plan B contraception, and you contact me, I will go to my local pharmacy and get it for you. Your parents don't have to know."

Read her whole article, "Come to Me for Plan B", at Culture Kitchen.

Image credit: Bush v. Choice

BlogHer Contributing Editor Melinda Casino also writes at Sour Duck.

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Submitted by Melinda Casino (view blog) on Thu, 08/24/2006 - 12:39

Comments

 

Makes me glad I am Canadian..

When I was like 17 or 18..after a night of em er....stupidity...it was a relief to walk into a local ER and ask for the morning after pill..just in case..

And no problems, no issues...

 

Just right there for me....

Again..it is NOT an abortion pill...

 

Look for me at http://crunchycarpets.com or check out the ladies at www.wetcoastwomen.com

Submitted by Crunchy Carpets on Sun, 09/07/2008 - 15:33
 

All I can say, attagirl

All I can say, attagirl Lorraine. Maybe more people need to join the civil disobedience. I'm ready to help if an under-18 approaches me to get stuff for her.

Priya Ramachandran
Blogher Contributing Editor - South East Asia
Words on Water

Submitted by DesiGal on Thu, 08/24/2006 - 10:09
 

That's a bit of a double edge sword

On the one hand, I can definitely see why you (and others) would want to step up to the plate, and help out. The abortion rate is high among the young (and the average age seems on a downward trend here). Slowing this or unwanted pregnancies is definitely a supported goal.

By offering to supply the "morning after pill," are you not taking over, or ignoring the parent's rights in this matter? Where do we draw the line here? If we condone "other adults" to help out in this matter, will it stop at just this or extend itself to other medical treatment in which the child does not want to parent to have knowledge of?

I realize that I speak of a perfect world, where children should feel free to come to their parents with any problems that they have. I am also cognizant of the fact that this does not happen in a majority of the cases.

I'm just not sure that adults should have the ability to offer an adolescent who is not their child, a medicinal remedy to a possible pregnancy.

On a side note, I don't believe that the government should have any kind of a role in the decision making of things like this, stem cell research, or the majority of issues which center around the medical world. But that's for another post.

See more over at Moogie's World

Submitted by Moogie on Thu, 08/24/2006 - 14:00
 

A Step in the Right Direction

Okay, I was watching the TV news this morning and discovered that Plan B approved for behind the counter sale to women over the age of 18 or with ID, but without Rx AND to men of, apparently, any age. So, a 16 year old boy can buy it for his 15 year old girlfriend, but she can't buy it for herself, is that right? Do I understand that correctly? Doesn't make much sense. Anyway, as stated in this Link Textarticle from SFgate.com, there are about 9 states that do allow a few pharmcists to sell to women of any age without an Rx. Anyway, getting Plan B available without Rx to women over 18 did make me happy and is a step in the right direction.

I just can't help but wonder, Isn't this, essentially, just a mega dose of the same birth control pill women have been taking for oh 40 year's now? Why is this thing controversial? I just don't understand what the big deal is.

Maybe it's those who can't tell the difference between birth control and abortion. Like my local Fox news channel, (KTVU, channel 2). When they announced that Plan B was available the "headline" to the right of the news caster read, I kid you not, "Abortion Pill Approved". Plan B is NOT, NOT, NOT an abortion pill!!!! (And yes, I realize it's Fox, but this is the SF bay area and the local news is usually taylored to fit in a bit better here than their national news does.). When will people learn that abortion pills and birth control are two differnet things?

Speaking of birth control, has anyone seen this little Link Textnugget from Slate.com? Apparently Ortho-McNeil, a major supplier of birth control pills to publically funded clinics used to sell birth control to them for as little as $.01 per pack has raised the price to more than $18 per pack. When I first saw this I thought, well, they're a corporation their reason for existing is to make profit, not for the public good, but really. If this were any other medication would they be able to get away with this? What's the deal here? This is a big step in the wrong direction.

A woman's reproductive rights should not be limited by her age, socio-economic status or access to health care. Can't we do better?

Submitted by Absurda on Thu, 08/24/2006 - 16:47
 

Bah!

I hate that it is only approved now, purely for political gain. It is infuriating.

Even putting aside the unfairness of denying this to younger women, the battle is NOT over. How many pharmacies are going to stock it? It is sadly not uncommon for conservative pharmacies to refuse to dispense this vital resource. The law doesn't force pharmacies to stock it, so many women will have no more access to EC than they did before politicians found it expedient to make it available to women who vote.

Also, just for the record, according to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, which is a wonderful research organization, abortion is actually not that high for teens. Teens are responsible for 19% of abortions, whereas women between the ages of 20-24 are responsible for 33%. Still, it is an outrage to deny this to young women.

Suzanne, BlogHer Contributing Editor - Feminsim & Gender
Campaign for Unshaved Snatch (CUSS)& Other Rants

Submitted by Suzanne Reisman on Thu, 08/24/2006 - 16:48
 

I had to read a coupla times

I had to read a coupla times to make sure it was only a morning-after pill. I can understand the emotional/social/religious implications of buying someone an abortion pill, and that is a situation I wouldn't inject myself into.

But a morning after pill? Surely it's more responsible than say, buying an under-18 a 12-pack. As Lorraine's article surmises, lawmakers will probably make it illegal for anyone to buy it for anyone other than themselves. But I do hope it doesn't come to that.

Priya Ramachandran
Blogher Contributing Editor - South East Asia
Words on Water

Submitted by DesiGal on Fri, 08/25/2006 - 04:33
 

Seems Like Good News

Maybe the FDA is finally breaking free of the radical right...? One can hope

www.crankmama.typepad.com

Good Mama, Bad Attitude

Submitted by Redsy on Fri, 08/25/2006 - 12:18
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