12/7/2011 6:45:07 PM

But if it were available over the counter, and teenagers starting using it, how could the religious right keep their birthrate up?



[Edited on December 8, 2011 at 12:38 PM. Reason : .]

12/8/2011 12:38:48 PM

I think both extremists sides of both parties of something at stake by banning it.

The right can appease their bible thumping rightists.

The left can ensure a future generation of minority underpriviledged social spending money grubbing constituents.

12/8/2011 12:48:48 PM

^lol

12/8/2011 12:50:14 PM

What's the current rule on this, 17+ can get it without a prescription? This would make it so 16 and under could get it without one?

12/8/2011 12:50:33 PM

Quote :

" The left can ensure a future generation of minority underpriviledged social spending money grubbing constituents."

So why does the left enthusiastically support literally every other measure to reduce the birthrates of those folks?

btw: go ahead, just say niggers, it's clear that's what you're reaching for

[Edited on December 8, 2011 at 1:10 PM. Reason : .]

12/8/2011 1:10:45 PM

^^
yes

[Edited on December 8, 2011 at 1:11 PM. Reason : .]

12/8/2011 1:11:11 PM

^ Something I read this morning implied that the under-17 crowd need parental permission, not a prescription.

12/8/2011 1:33:30 PM

I'm honestly unsure about how I feel about this issue, I'm leaning towards it should be OTC. I mean yeah there shouldn't be a problem for ANYONE to get emergency contraception, however, if made OTC it'd would be a highly stolen item that odds are it would be kept behind the counter anyways. I really hope that no one would use this as a normal birth control method.

12/8/2011 3:33:11 PM

^^ that was a suggested compromise.

12/8/2011 3:41:38 PM

Are 16 and unders allowed to go to planned parenthood for prescriptions? Not saying that's a viable solution because of the 'stigma' going to one, I'm just curious.

12/8/2011 3:44:40 PM

Quote :

"I'm honestly unsure about how I feel about this issue, I'm leaning towards it should be OTC. I mean yeah there shouldn't be a problem for ANYONE to get emergency contraception, however, if made OTC it'd would be a highly stolen item that odds are it would be kept behind the counter anyways. I really hope that no one would use this as a normal birth control method."

Why are you unsure? Because it might get stolen a lot?

Quote :

"I really hope that no one would use this as a normal birth control method."

Why?

12/8/2011 3:57:24 PM

^ Many reasons. STDs can spread. From what I read it loses effectiveness after many doses, it not good for a woman's system, etc

Unsure because it effects a small group, and I feel that group (under 16) should receive some kind of counseling (from a friendly doctor, friend, etc) about more efficient/better birth control methods. I'm not chastising the person for needing the BC or having sex at a young age, however, it's important they're at least educated a little bit.

[Edited on December 8, 2011 at 4:03 PM. Reason : a]

12/8/2011 4:02:58 PM

As long as it's clearly labeled that it's only effective in emergencies, I don't have a problem with it. There (supposedly) aren't any significant side effects other than the usual nausea, dizziness, etc.

The sexually active 16 and under group is not that small...and it's an important group to protect. 16 year-olds should not be having children. I agree that they should be getting counseling, and they can currently do that without involving parents in most states, but teenagers aren't exactly known for thinking ahead.

12/8/2011 4:22:59 PM

Hmmm...I'm kinda with bbehe. I guess I'd like to know more about the effect of repeated doses of the morning after pill and maybe some statistics about the MAP/STIs. I guess I've always thought it was ridiculous that people needed it so much...we've had birth control pills and condoms for a long time now.

Plus, women's health is important, and it involves more than just preventing pregnancy. Sexually active teens need to get their butts in for an exam, not just pop pills the day after they get they groove on. There's nothing empowering about not seeing a doctor cause you're too busy or embarrassed. That's just lame.

[Edited on December 8, 2011 at 4:34 PM. Reason : Basically, we need to figure out how to get them to go to the doctor.]

12/8/2011 4:32:31 PM

http://ec.princeton.edu/questions/ecsideeffects.html

Quote :

"Emergency contraceptive pills (also known as "morning after pills" or "day after pills") have no long-term or serious side effects, and emergency contraception is safe for almost every woman to use.In general, progestin-only (like Plan B One-Step, Plan B and Next Choice) and ulipristal acetate (ella) emergency contraceptive pills have fewer side effects than combined emergency contraceptive pills (pills containing both estrogen and progestin, such as regular birth control pills used as EC). You might find yourself feeling queasy and some women throw up after taking emergency contraceptive pills. You might also get a headache, feel tired or dizzy, have some lower abdominal pain, or find your breasts are more tender than usual. If you do feel this way, it should stop within a day or two. Some women also find that the pills cause unexpected bleeding; this is not dangerous and should clear up by the time you have your next period. The pills might also cause your next period to come early or late. (For more information about how emergency contraception might affect your monthly cycle, click here). A study comparing levonorgestrel (Plan B One-Step or Next Choice) and ulipristal acetate (ella) showed generally similar side effects for the two medications1. About 20% of women in each group experienced headaches following EC treatment, 13-14% experienced painful menstruation, and 11-12% experienced nausea. Women taking ulipristal acetate had their next period on average 2.1 days later than expected, while women taking levonorgestrel began their next period 1.2 days earlier than expected, but the duration of periods was not affected. To prevent nausea and vomiting, you can take the non-prescription anti-nausea medicine meclizine (also sold under the brand names Dramamine II or Bonine). Research shows that taking two 25 mg tablets 1 hour before using combined emergency contraceptive pills reduces the risk of nausea by 27% and vomiting by 64%, but this drug doubles your chances of feeling drowsy (to about 30%). If you happen to throw up within 1 hour of taking a dose of either type of emergency contraceptive pills, some health care providers recommend repeating that dose just in case your body didn’t have a chance to absorb all of the medication."

Quote :

"Basically, we need to figure out how to get them to go to the doctor."

Good luck changing the nature of teenagers. You can encourage doctor visits but also provide an option for those who won't/can't go.

[Edited on December 8, 2011 at 4:55 PM. Reason : .]

12/8/2011 4:48:24 PM

Quote :

"“As the father of two daughters, I think it is important for us to make sure that we apply some common sense to various rules when it comes to over-the-counter medicine,” Obama said. He said Sebelius “could not be confident that a 10-year-old or an 11-year-old going to a drugstore should be able, alongside bubble gum or batteries, be able to buy a medication that potentially, if not used properly, could end up having an adverse effect.”"

Quote :

"He added that he thinks “most parents would probably feel the same way.” To the critics, Obama stressed that “for those over 17 this continues to be something that you can go in and purchase from a drugstore. It has been deemed safe by the FDA.""

12/8/2011 4:57:20 PM

Well shit, what other over the counter drugs could have an adverse effect? Essentially anything you ingest that they sell at the drugstore could have an adverse effect. So you're throwing away "helping teens not get pregnant" for "kids not dying to thing they already don't die to." Good job!

As a parent of a daughter and a son I don't feel the same way at all. Do they check IDs for kids buying cough syrup?

12/8/2011 5:00:46 PM

That was definitely a pretty dumb statement to support this.

He could have said something like it being important for young people to have an open dialog blah blah ...

12/8/2011 6:10:03 PM

Quote :

"Do they check IDs for kids buying cough syrup?"

They check IDs for adults buying some cough syrups.

[Edited on December 8, 2011 at 7:10 PM. Reason : Obama is a goddamned Republican, though.]

12/8/2011 7:10:24 PM

i am "pro-life" by most definitions. once something has brainwaves and a heartbeat, it IS ALIVE. no amount of sophistry or liberal robotic bullshit is going to convince me otherwise.

prior to that point of heartbeat and brainwaves though, hand out this shit out like candy. something that is not alive is just that, NOT ALIVE.

i know some people will insist that life begins even at beating off into a wad of tp, but we know that simply isnt true..

12/8/2011 7:26:50 PM

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/the-daily-need/did-politics-trump-science-in-the-obama-administrations-ruling-on-plan-b-for-teens/12608/

12/8/2011 7:59:07 PM

Quote :

""I really hope that no one would use this as a normal birth control method.""

If Plan B is still around 40 bucks a pop, I seriously doubt anyone's gonna use it as a normal birth control method.

12/8/2011 8:11:59 PM

From smc's link:

Quote :

"The AAP also found no evidence that the availability of emergency contraception increases rates of sexual activity, or the frequency of unprotected sex, among teens. Studies in which a treatment group was given an advanced provision of emergency contraception and a control group was given only education found that ”there were no differences in the frequency of unprotected sex between the groups,” according to the AAP."

Well, that solves it...if all teens are given education.

I would personally prefer that young women (and men) go to the doctor, but I do understand that's not always possible. Places where teens are isolated with no transportation or clinic nearby are especially troubling--I can't imagine what it would be like to have one gyno in town who serves your mother and everybody at your church...if your mom even has the money to go.

But, whatever, access to healthcare is a different issue...OTC MAP FOR ALL!

^If Obama didn't ban this, they would have made so much money off paranoid teenagers. LOL

12/8/2011 8:23:29 PM

all forms of birth control should be available for free in every grocery store checkout isle

12/8/2011 8:45:26 PM

Free drugs can only exist if the taker gives up all rights to sue the drug maker.

Free condoms, don't most hospitals/clinics/planned parenthoods give them out for free?

12/8/2011 8:51:40 PM

^I'm a proud patient of Planned Parenthood, and they don't give them out for free in Raleigh. They may have free ones you can specially request or if Medicaid or something covers it, but the ones on the counter have price tags.

By the way, I called them to find out about what age you had to be to go there (without a parent), and they said that the age of consent for medical care in North Carolina is 12 years-old. I don't know if that includes confidentiality/prescriptions so I'll call back tomorrow to find out.

[Edited on December 8, 2011 at 9:37 PM. Reason : ]

12/8/2011 9:24:12 PM

I called today...the age for medical care/confidentiality/prescriptions (without a parent) is 12 years-old in NC.

[Edited on December 9, 2011 at 4:02 PM. Reason : ]

12/9/2011 4:01:43 PM

Calm down people. It's not that bad. It's not like he is putting up legislation to ban the morning after pill.

Plus, parent should be involved. What's the research like on how policies like this work to inform the parents of what is going on?

12/12/2011 1:10:02 PM

Limiting the availability of sexual health medicine and information will not get parents more involved. It will just result in more unwanted pregnancies.

12/12/2011 2:05:36 PM

He's not limiting the availaility: IT's still available. Plus, he is playing the political game a bit, because he is SURE to catch fire for making it over the counter. I think that it is perfectly fine to yield here, because the real solution to this problem is to educate kids better about safe sex, which of course you can't do because of jeebus.

12/12/2011 6:40:06 PM

Yes, sometimes political games are okay when two or more lives are at stake. Wait, what?

12/12/2011 7:04:00 PM

Part of me thinks this was a planned strategy. They wanted the FDA to come out and rule that OTC morning after is fine (which really it is), but Obama could swoop in and stand up for "family values" to help court that demographic.

12/12/2011 7:06:34 PM

Quote :

"e you can't do because of jeebus."

We all know that a good parent who takes their kid to church every week will not have to worry about teen pregnancy.

12/12/2011 8:54:44 PM

I was not aware that Obama completely banned the Morning After Pill. damn, thank you for enlightening me, smc!

12/12/2011 10:21:20 PM

I'm all for plan B being available readily for all, but I can't say I honestly know how well the science is established for the safety administering to girls under 16 so I can't say whether Obama's explanation is bullshit or not.

12/13/2011 2:01:55 PM