Morning-After Pill Goes Over the Counter

[Skwim]

"The government is moving the morning-after pill over the counter but only those 15 and older can buy it -- an attempt to find middle ground just days before a court-imposed deadline to lift all age restrictions on the emergency contraceptive.

Today, Plan B One-Step

is sold behind pharmacy counters, and buyers must prove they're 17 or older to buy it without a prescription. Tuesday's decision by the Food and Drug Administration lowers the age limit and will allow the pill to sit on drugstore shelves next to spermicides or other women's health products and condoms -- but anyone who wants to buy it must prove their age at the cash register.
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Okay!

 

[Sunstone]

There is no reason but misguided morals to limit the pill to people 15 and over. Science has shown no ill effects to people 14 and younger.

 

[Skwim]

There is no reason but misguided morals to limit the pill to people 15 and over. Science has shown no ill effects to people 14 and younger.

I tend to agree, and would like to know their reasoning for setting an age limit. The only reason I can thing of is that the likelihood of adverse effects may be much greater in younger girls. Do you have a source for the claim that "Science has shown no ill effects to people 14 and younger"?

 

[Alceste]

If anything, it's more important to provide it to women under 15. The risks of an unplanned pregnancy are much greater the younger you are, as is the likelihood that your legal guardian caused the problem in the first place.

Age limits on any form of contraception are totally retarded, IMO.

 

[Sunstone]

Do you have a source for the claim that "Science has shown no ill effects to people 14 and younger"?

I heard that a year or two ago. I no longer recall the source. But I do think it's a pretty safe bet that if there was even one scientific study suggesting that taking the pill produced unusually adverse side effects in girls aged 14 or younger, that study would be all over the news today. Moreover, the sources I've found that list the pill's side effects in no case distinguish side effects by age.

 

[Alceste]

I heard that a year or two ago. I no longer recall the source. But I do think it's a pretty safe bet that if there was even one scientific study suggesting that taking the pill produced unusually adverse side effects in girls aged 14 or younger, that study would be all over the news today. Moreover, the sources I've found that list the pill's side effects in no case distinguish side effects by age.

Of course, there are lots of studies revealing that pregnancy below 14 is extremely risky.

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

Yeah I don't see the point of putting an age restriction on it. We don't want females that young to get pregnant right? I doubt a lot of girls 14 years and younger will know that much about the morning after pill and most likely wont have to money to buy one, unless with parents permission anyway.

 

[dawny0826]

"The government is moving the morning-after pill over the counter but only those 15 and older can buy it -- an attempt to find middle ground just days before a court-imposed deadline to lift all age restrictions on the emergency contraceptive.

Today, Plan B One-Step

is sold behind pharmacy counters, and buyers must prove they're 17 or older to buy it without a prescription. Tuesday's decision by the Food and Drug Administration lowers the age limit and will allow the pill to sit on drugstore shelves next to spermicides or other women's health products and condoms -- but anyone who wants to buy it must prove their age at the cash register.
source
​

Okay!

This, I'm happy about.

 

[dawny0826]

Yeah I don't see the point of putting an age restriction on it. We don't want females that young to get pregnant right? I doubt a lot of girls 14 years and younger will know that much about the morning after pill and most likely wont have to money to buy one, unless with parents permission anyway.

I think that age restriction is practical. Those under 18, are legally under the care of an adult, who has the right to know what their children are doing and using medicinally. And if something goes wrong and a minor is harmed as a result of using such emergency contraception, there's a liability aspect to consider.

This is safer for everyone involved.

A minor shouldn't administer such a drug to themselves without adult supervision. These drugs usually don't yield many symptoms, but, can cause dizziness, nausea and bleeding. Overdose is usually not life threatening but could result in heavier bleeding which could scare the hell of a young teenager.

 

[MysticSang'ha]

*sigh of relief*

A step in the right direction.

 

[Alceste]

I think that age restriction is practical. Those under 18, are legally under the care of an adult, who has the right to know what their children are doing and using medicinally. And if something goes wrong and a minor is harmed as a result of using such emergency contraception, there's a liability aspect to consider.

This is safer for everyone involved.

A minor shouldn't administer such a drug to themselves without adult supervision. These drugs usually don't yield many symptoms, but, can cause dizziness, nausea and bleeding. Overdose is usually not life threatening but could result in heavier bleeding which could scare the hell of a young teenager.

Bet you pregnancy has even scarier side effects.

I don't agree with needing parental authority. If a girl is getting pregnant that young, I think there's probably something wrong with her parents. Also, too many parents are religious nuts who would refuse permission. The risk of nausea and heavy bleeding does not warrant the risk of female children being forced to have children by abusive parents.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

The morning after pill is free at any age from a GP or clinic in the UK.
like many products, It may only be purchased from a chemist at 16 years
Parents/guardians are never told.

 

[Father Heathen]

Can we trust kiddies to properly self-administer? ..and if kids that young are in need of it then perhaps social services needs to pay their parents a visit.

 

[Skwim]

Question; do young teens these days have IDs that give their age or date of birth? If not, how would a clerk validate their age?

Can we trust kiddies to properly self-administer? ..and if kids that young are in need of it then perhaps social services needs to pay their parents a visit.

How is social services supposed to find out which parents to visit?

 

[MysticSang'ha]

Question; do young teens these days have IDs that give their age or date of birth? If not, how would a clerk validate their age?

There are some state-issued IDs that show proof of age and citizenship, and especially if any state allows for 15-year-olds to work part-time with parents permission. However, since that varies from state-to-state, and because issuing a state ID is not a requirement as a drivers license is to legally drive a car, it would be difficult to ensure all purchases made by minors are above minimum age requirement.

I'm not sure, but some high school IDs have date of births listed on them with the students pictures. Back in the '80s when I was in high school that was the case. My kids go to different high schools....one has his DOB listed on his, the other does not.

Again, because it isn't universal, it would be hard to track and set to store policy.

How is social services supposed to find out which parents to visit?

Good question.

 

[dawny0826]

Bet you pregnancy has even scarier side effects.

I don't agree with needing parental authority. If a girl is getting pregnant that young, I think there's probably something wrong with her parents. Also, too many parents are religious nuts who would refuse permission. The risk of nausea and heavy bleeding does not warrant the risk of female children being forced to have children by abusive parents.

Do you have children?

I have two daughters and I do give a damn as to what happens in their lives. Parental permission ensures that responsible parents like myself, have the ability to support our youth with these types of decisions.

You're not legally responsible for my girls nor did you carry them in your womb for nine months, to dedicate your life to rearing them into healthy, happy and productive people.

I'm totally in my daughters' business at all times and I'm a practical minded person. If either ever felt that this was their best recourse for a mistake they made, I have the legal right to support them and to be aware of this type of decision.

 

[Apex]

Quick question, I may have missed it, but is there anything to stop a girl from going to multiple different pharmacies getting multiple pills and taking them all at once in the hopes that it would be more effective?

 

[Skwim]

Quick question, I may have missed it, but is there anything to stop a girl from going to multiple different pharmacies getting multiple pills and taking them all at once in the hopes that it would be more effective?

As it appears, no more so than buying enough sleeping pills to overdose on, or any other OC drug.

 

[Alceste]

Quick question, I may have missed it, but is there anything to stop a girl from going to multiple different pharmacies getting multiple pills and taking them all at once in the hopes that it would be more effective?

That's where comprehensive sex education including accurate birth control information enters into the equation.

I think it's pretty hard to OD on the pill though. It's basically just hormones we produce naturally. Again, the risk of improper self-medication is not as high as the risk of serious physical or psychological damage or death from pregnancy for a very young girl.

 

[Alceste]

Do you have children?

I have two daughters and I do give a damn as to what happens in their lives. Parental permission ensures that responsible parents like myself, have the ability to support our youth with these types of decisions.

You're not legally responsible for my girls nor did you carry them in your womb for nine months, to dedicate your life to rearing them into healthy, happy and productive people.

I'm totally in my daughters' business at all times and I'm a practical minded person. If either ever felt that this was their best recourse for a mistake they made, I have the legal right to support them and to be aware of this type of decision.

I'm thinking of all the parents who would not be supportive, including the ones who caused the girl to become pregnant in the first place. If you were raped by your legal guardian, how would it feel to be required to get his permission to terminate a pregnancy?

Also, in a depressing number of cases, the mothers of abused girls decide they are lying about the abuse.

Edit: and in a case I just read about, it was the mother who got the girl pregnant because she was unable to adopt more kids or have them herself and she wanted another baby.