The important news of the day?

[kyburg]

Ain't Pluto. Y'all are missing it.

The "morning-after" contraceptive pill can be sold to those 18 and older in the United States without a prescription, the Food and Drug Administration ruled on Thursday, ending a three-year battle over the morality of wider access and use by teenagers.

The FDA ordered Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s Plan B pills must stay behind pharmacy counters to prevent those under 18 from receiving the drug without a prescription.

So.

I don't need a prescription. I don't even have to give a reason. Hmmm.

I'm tempted to go see how many of these things I can go pick up just for the ugly fun of it. Maybe even get a t-shirt made that says "Will Buy Plan B For You." Of course, I'd have to put something snarky on the back like "Complete with Clue By Four," but I'd do it.

These things ought to come with the rape kits for emergency rooms. Honestly.

Comments

[turandot.livejournal.com]

Have actually used it twice, and back in the days where the only way to get one would be to tell your gynecologist about your problems (usually - missed more than two contraceptive pills in a row or "I was on antibiotics, and our backup method malfunctioned"), only to be told to go to Planned Parenthood because no pharmacy in the state of Texas would have it. No ifs or buts, and that's pretty annoying - I mean, why have a gynecologist if they're not legally able to provide you with medication?

Honestly? I had no trouble whatsoever with it, and if you ever get a package and read about the clinical studies done by the maker (which are enclosed with the instructions on how to use) you find out that the chance of serious side effects are virtually less than 1%, unless you have a family history of blod clots and high blood pressure. Moreover, as it is just a strong dose of progesterone, if an egg has implanted already, then virtually no harm can come to it. The info is all in the package, if one bothers to read it.

I don't think there's gonna be a rush from any and all women to buy and stock just in case - after all I didn't even know Plan B existed before I actually needed it. There is gonna be many women who already are on a birth control method as prescribed by a doctor who in case of a real emergency (see above) can just be told by their gynecologist or general practitioner, after said doctor looks over at a patient chart, that it's probably not a bad idea to get to a pharmacy. Heck, that means that any ob-gyn group can now actually stock it in their in-house pharmacy, so that their clients can purchase them in the same building, instead of having to make arrangements to get across town (or in some states, to cities that can be hours away by car) within the 48 hour window, when they already have enough other worries (the last time I missed my bcp for three days I literally had so much shit stressing me out that had contributed to it that all I could do for the next hour after realizing what I had done was sob histerically).

It's about damn time.

[bigbigtruck.livejournal.com]

I've used EC only once - did enough research to find out the proper megadose of my normal prescription and got a refill. I had to do it off insurance and off pharmacy records, and pay cash so the transaction couldn't be traced.

It's so nice to know that others will be spared that hassle and guilt.

Shit, I spoke too soon. Of course. There's still the pharmacist and clerk in the way...

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

Hence, the taste tests! The ritual spankings!

Oh wait.

[turandot.livejournal.com]

Most Planned Parenthood locations have their own in-house pharmacy, and if you would rather your insurance not know what kind of medication you are taking and why, they're fine with that. In Mississippi, they have one clinic, and are the only clinic left in the whole entire state who has refused to buckle under the pressure of anti-choice activists and still allow women to have whatever elective surgeries they need. Their site posts all sorts of resources, tailored to every woman's choice about what to do if pregnant (including resources for low income women who might not be able to afford the cost of an abortion - which as a medical procedure is not expersive for most income brackets, but still out of reach for many women living under the poverty line).

They are the most awesome pro-woman (i.e., neither choice, nor anti-choice) organization out there, which is why I've donated money to them before, and (when I hopefully dig myself out of my latter day student days) will donate to them again. I can never say enough good things about them.