2008 Woodie Awards
Who needs birth control?!
Taylor Warner
Issue date: 8/29/06 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Good morning. You are hung over. Who is this next to you? You are not on the pill. You did not use protection. Can you correct this blurred night?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the sale of over-the-counter emergency contraception. This "morning after pill" is the dawn of a new, safer era that does not include Sunday morning trips to the clinic.
This mistake-erasing pill requires the buyer be 18 years old. While this precaution discourages teenage sex, those irresponsible teenagers still have the option of having an older confidant purchase the pill.
As a woman, I am excited to see women's health and wellness being taken into consideration by the FDA. The convenience of the purchase, however, raises questions about the risks involved ingesting the pill.
Emergency contraceptives like Plan B are large doses of birth control that reduce the chance of becoming pregnant by 89%. The pill must be taken within 72 hours of the risky behavior.
Plan B is not an abortion pill. It is another measure to prevent pregnancy just like birth control pills or a condom. Hopefully all women (and some informed men) know that Plan B pills can be used if regular contraception fails to function.
The earlier the pill is taken, the more effective it is. If one is able to get the pill over the counter, it eliminates the middleman (the doctor's office) and makes getting the pill in time for it to remain effective a whole lot easier. Considering America has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the western world, this is a small step to mitigate the problem.
Some of the common side effects of the pill include nausea, abdominal pain, tiredness, headache, menstrual changes, dizziness, breast tenderness, and vomiting. If one is abusing this medication, it can be damaging, but that is the case for all prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
If a woman is already pregnant, there are no known damaging effects. Furthermore, there are no known negative effects on long-term conception. Skeptics may point to the fact the pill has only been on the market for seven years, but that is the case for most of what America buys or is prescribed.
Emergency contraception is to be used in the case of an emergency and not an easy cover up for irresponsibility or forgetfulness. The pill is considered safe, but remember to check up with your doctors anyway as hormones -- most likely what got you here in the first place -- can be tricky.
Thank you FDA for thinking of women's health and safety. One last piece of advice: girls do not make Plan B your plan A.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the sale of over-the-counter emergency contraception. This "morning after pill" is the dawn of a new, safer era that does not include Sunday morning trips to the clinic.
This mistake-erasing pill requires the buyer be 18 years old. While this precaution discourages teenage sex, those irresponsible teenagers still have the option of having an older confidant purchase the pill.
As a woman, I am excited to see women's health and wellness being taken into consideration by the FDA. The convenience of the purchase, however, raises questions about the risks involved ingesting the pill.
Emergency contraceptives like Plan B are large doses of birth control that reduce the chance of becoming pregnant by 89%. The pill must be taken within 72 hours of the risky behavior.
Plan B is not an abortion pill. It is another measure to prevent pregnancy just like birth control pills or a condom. Hopefully all women (and some informed men) know that Plan B pills can be used if regular contraception fails to function.
The earlier the pill is taken, the more effective it is. If one is able to get the pill over the counter, it eliminates the middleman (the doctor's office) and makes getting the pill in time for it to remain effective a whole lot easier. Considering America has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the western world, this is a small step to mitigate the problem.
Some of the common side effects of the pill include nausea, abdominal pain, tiredness, headache, menstrual changes, dizziness, breast tenderness, and vomiting. If one is abusing this medication, it can be damaging, but that is the case for all prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
If a woman is already pregnant, there are no known damaging effects. Furthermore, there are no known negative effects on long-term conception. Skeptics may point to the fact the pill has only been on the market for seven years, but that is the case for most of what America buys or is prescribed.
Emergency contraception is to be used in the case of an emergency and not an easy cover up for irresponsibility or forgetfulness. The pill is considered safe, but remember to check up with your doctors anyway as hormones -- most likely what got you here in the first place -- can be tricky.
Thank you FDA for thinking of women's health and safety. One last piece of advice: girls do not make Plan B your plan A.
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