An FDA press release this week announces the over-the-counter availability of “Plan B”, also known as the “morning after pill”, for women 17 years of age and older. The FDA will accept, and not appeal, a March 23, 2009 a federal court order that lifts the Bush administration’s restrictions limiting over-the-counter sales of Plan B to women 18 and older. Plan B is emergency contraception that will not interfere with an established pregnancy. It works by delaying ovulation, preventing fertilization and implantation of fertilized eggs. In medical terms, pregnancy begins when a fertilized egg attaches itself to the wall of the uterus. If taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, it can reduce a woman’s chances of pregnancy by as much as 89 percent.
Tags: birth control, contraception, emergency contraception, morning after pill, OCP, Plan B, Pregnancy
Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
April 24th, 2009 at 1:14 am
Preventing unwanted pregnancy seems like such a no-brainer, but I’m glad that it’s finally available again. I do remember listening to a debate on NPR about pharmacists who refuse to give “morning after pill” prescriptions b/c they felt it violated their religious beliefs. The argument from one healthcare professional was that they have to care for the patient’s interests, not their own, and if they can’t overcome these ethical issues, they need to pursue a different profession.
April 24th, 2009 at 7:31 am
Only 3 states in the U.S. have age of consent @17 or lower. Can the FDA now be charged in aiding and abeiting under-age ie: Illegal sexual intercourse in the appropriate states? Think about it !
April 25th, 2009 at 7:00 am
I think that this is an excellent decision. This will eliminate
untold terminations and even the right to life should be realistic about the reality of when life begins.However much you disagree with young people engaging in sex its a fact of life and will continue – will you nil you. Since the stigma of pregnancy without marriage has gone and seems to be actively encouraged by
adults who appear to have relinquished any moral standards. Who is
aiding and abetting whom?
Bette144@aol.com
April 26th, 2009 at 7:11 am
get your fact strait only four states have a fixed 18 year old age of consent aloth many states like florida were the age is 16 only applys if the guy is under 24 and is 18 otherwise
and while it would be a wonderful world if all our kids waited to be adults before starting to fool around but that just not to case
http://www.ageofconsent.com/ageofconsent.htm
April 26th, 2009 at 11:46 am
My daughter has a stomach the size of a baby watermelon. She is only 2 years. Her stomach is so big that i can see her veins in her stomach can u please help me. Find out what is this coming from. In what should i do. I am VERY VERY SCARED. please help me
April 26th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
To keepu4me24@gmail.com: if you truly have concerns regarding your daughter, the best thing to do would be to seek a healthcare professional’s opinion. If you don’t have a doctor/nurse practitioner that you see regularly, the ER would be your best bet. Good luck.