2008 Woodie Awards
Emergency contraceptive to be accessible over the counter
Chelsea Growden
Issue date: 9/14/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Plan B, also called emergency contraception or the "morning after pill" will soon be available as an over the counter medication.
The FDA has announced that Plan B, which was once available by prescription only; now, with proof of identification, is going to be available without a prescription.
"[Plan B] [will now be] available without a prescription if you are over 18," Nunn said. "17 and under is still available by prescription only."
Plan B can be an aid in several different instances.
"If a condom breaks, someone is raped, if you get drunk and don't use [protection] get it within 72 hours," Nunn said.
Emergency contraception can be used effectively up to three days after unprotected sex and can reduce the chance of pregnancy by 75 percent.
There is some confusion and prejudice about Plan B.
"The thing is, is that it's not the abortion pill," Nunn said. "There is a lot of confusion about that."
RU-486 is called the "abortion pill" and is a chemical, non-surgical abortion. Plan B is an emergency contraceptive, not an abortion pill. Plan B works by either keeping the egg from being released so sperm cannot fertilize it, or it alters the lining in the uterus so the egg cannot attach, this is required in pregnancy.
Plan B isn't available over the counter yet.
"You can get Plan B, but as of now you still need a prescription," Miriam Horton, PharmD, employed at the Wal-Mart pharmacy, said. "They're hoping for the first of the year. You still have to get a prescription now because the company manufacturing it hasn't gotten it ready for over the counter yet. And because of federal laws, they can't just say 'here you go.'"
The FDA has announced that Plan B, which was once available by prescription only; now, with proof of identification, is going to be available without a prescription.
"[Plan B] [will now be] available without a prescription if you are over 18," Nunn said. "17 and under is still available by prescription only."
Plan B can be an aid in several different instances.
"If a condom breaks, someone is raped, if you get drunk and don't use [protection] get it within 72 hours," Nunn said.
Emergency contraception can be used effectively up to three days after unprotected sex and can reduce the chance of pregnancy by 75 percent.
There is some confusion and prejudice about Plan B.
"The thing is, is that it's not the abortion pill," Nunn said. "There is a lot of confusion about that."
RU-486 is called the "abortion pill" and is a chemical, non-surgical abortion. Plan B is an emergency contraceptive, not an abortion pill. Plan B works by either keeping the egg from being released so sperm cannot fertilize it, or it alters the lining in the uterus so the egg cannot attach, this is required in pregnancy.
Plan B isn't available over the counter yet.
"You can get Plan B, but as of now you still need a prescription," Miriam Horton, PharmD, employed at the Wal-Mart pharmacy, said. "They're hoping for the first of the year. You still have to get a prescription now because the company manufacturing it hasn't gotten it ready for over the counter yet. And because of federal laws, they can't just say 'here you go.'"
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