Plan B

NHavenRN · Aug 24, 2006

numerous studies have shown that having access to plan B doesn't encourage "irresponsible" behavior, e.g. increasing frequency of unprotected sex. Further, there have been no studies which have shown any ill effect from repeated use of Plan B. What has been shown is that increased access to Plan B does decrease frequency of unintended pregnancy, dramatically. Only good things can come from increasing accessibility further, and its' about time it finally happened. so in my opinion: yay FDA!!!

RunnerRN, BSN, RN · Aug 24, 2006

I don't know about "every Sunday night" but I do think there is a big difference between studies and the real world. I'm sure there will be some retrospective study in a few years showing there was a change.

Just thinking back to myself at 18......stupid stupid stupid.

ortess1971 · Aug 24, 2006

I'd much rather have the 18 year old running to Walmart for plan B then having to go to planned parenthood for an abortion. I'd rather have the rape victim be able to have access to plan b without having to worry that some judgemental pharmacist will deny it and she'll be victimized twice...The FDA made the right decision, IMHO.

TazziRN, RN · Aug 24, 2006

Mixed feelings. I think it needs to be available to rape victims, and I think that girls who unintentionally get pregnant should have access to it also, but I'm afraid that it will be used as a method of birth control.

NHavenRN · Aug 24, 2006

Mixed feelings. I think it needs to be available to rape victims, and I think that girls who unintentionally get pregnant should have access to it also, but I'm afraid that it will be used as a method of birth control.

Not being critical, just curious: what do you mean by that? Women who find themselves pregnant unintentionally no longer have Plan B as an option. And only women who are trying to avoid an unintended pregnancy would use it.

Technically, yeah, it *is* a method of birth control - a way to control when and how one chooses to get pregnant and have children.

I sometimes work with women immediately following an abortion, and make sure every last woman who will take it leaves with Plan B....but I always wish there were a way for them to get more, easily and not only during clinic hours, after they've used that one dose that came from me.

I hope no one takes offense - I just really enjoy having these conversations, and I'm definitely not trying to be insulting! :)

skipaway · Aug 24, 2006

I'd rather have the rape victim be able to have access to plan b without having to worry that some judgemental pharmacist will deny it and she'll be victimized twice...
.

I can still see pharmacists refuse to give Plan B b/c of their beliefs. Plan B does not need a prescription, yet it will be kept behind the counter not over the counter. A person needs to ask for it, show ID, and then the pharmacist (not the counter person) will dispense it. If those pharmacists who have already refused to dispense birth control, the abortion pill and antibiotics (for post abortion patients) choose to, they probably can refuse to dispense Plan B.

hospitalstaph · Aug 24, 2006

Not being critical, just curious: what do you mean by that? Women who find themselves pregnant unintentionally no longer have Plan B as an option. And only women who are trying to avoid an unintended pregnancy would use it.
Technically, yeah, it *is* a method of birth control - a way to control when and how one chooses to get pregnant and have children.
I sometimes work with women immediately following an abortion, and make sure every last woman who will take it leaves with Plan B....but I always wish there were a way for them to get more, easily and not only during clinic hours, after they've used that one dose that came from me.
I hope no one takes offense - I just really enjoy having these conversations, and I'm definitely not trying to be insulting! :)

Oh your comments are not insulting! I have many reservations about this. I am Catholic and I do feel that abortion is not acceptable, but I also struggle with seeing children suffer everyday with parents that are not prepared to raise them and don't want them. I have my moral beliefs, but reality crosses with it everytime! I truly wish that we could see mothers that give their babies up for adoption as wonderful and caring people, instead of tagged as irrespossible and cold.

This is a much bigger issue than "should plan B be available?"

T

AggieQT · Aug 24, 2006

I work in a pharmacy and every time a young girl comes in with tears in her eyes to have planb filled, my heart just aches. Im not so sure what the future will think about this decision but as a rape victim myself i think it is a good change. I gues I was one of the "lucky" ones that I didnt get pregnant but I know that I cried endlessly for weeks with worry. At the time I was 16 and was too scared to tell anyone what happened because I didnt really know what happened, I was druged and had no clue what happened, if i had concented in my drugged state or what so all i know is I wish I would have had the opportunity to in the very least take one less worry away with access to planB.

NHavenRN · Aug 24, 2006

Jezziemis, thank you so much for sharing your story. I sometimes wonder how prevalent rape actually is, since it's so underreported, not even to mention the countless women who feel pressured into having sex they don't want who, for whatever reason, don't feel strong enough to fight it. Thank goodness all women will now have the option of going to the pharmacy to simply ask for Plan B, no questions asked (except for age), no matter their circumstances.

hospitalstaph - I really appreciate where you're coming from! I was raised Catholic and while I had still always thought of myself as pro-choice, I have definitely struggled with my feelings regarding abortion. Having worked so closely with women who have, for whatever reason, chosen abortion as their best option for dealing with an unintended pregnancy has resolved in me that the best way to live out my beliefs on the matter is to do all I can to prevent those pregnancies from happening in the first place (though I do strongly support abortion remaining safe and legal for those women who choose it). I really believe that expanded access to Plan B can play a major role in making that happen.

Upon re-reading...sorry if that sounded a little preachy! :mad:

Altra, BSN, RN · Aug 25, 2006

Mixed feelings. I think it needs to be available to rape victims, and I think that girls who unintentionally get pregnant should have access to it also, but I'm afraid that it will be used as a method of birth control.

Agree. Very mixed feelings about this.

vamedic4, EMT-P · Aug 25, 2006

I'd much rather have the 18 year old running to Walmart for plan B then having to go to planned parenthood for an abortion. I'd rather have the rape victim be able to have access to plan b without having to worry that some judgemental pharmacist will deny it and she'll be victimized twice...The FDA made the right decision, IMHO.

:yeahthat:

This is a no brainer.

But I wonder...what ever happened to just saying NO??? As a (formerly) young male, I can tell you that there's only ONE thing on a guy's mind anyway...and it's not her eyes.

Just my $.02

vamedic4

studying again