UPDATE: Girls Under Age 17 Still Need Prescription For Morning After Pill

UPDATED: FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, M.D., has released a statement, saying that she believes that Plan B One-Step should be allowed for all females of child-bearing age to purchase.

"I agree with the Center that there is adequate and reasonable, well-supported, and science-based evidence that Plan B One-Step is safe and effective and should be approved for nonprescription use for all females of child-bearing potential," she said in the statement.

However, Hamburg also said in the statement that the Secretary of Health and Human Services does not agree with the FDA's conclusions, and that the secretary wants Hamburg to "issue a complete response letter, "which means that the supplement for nonprescription use in females under the age of 17 is not approved."

Therefore, Hamburg said in the statement, Plan B One-Step is right now still available for females of all ages, but girls under age 17 must have a prescription from their doctor to purchase it.

* * *

Shampoo, check. Garbages bags, check. Plan B, check.

If the federal government approves a request from Plan B's manufacturer, the emergency contraception that prevents pregnancy up to 72 hours after sexual intercourse may soon be available to consumers over-the-counter.

Instead of having to ask a pharmacist for the product, Plan B will be placed on shelves alongside other contraceptives, such as condoms and spermicides. Even more significantly, there will be no age limit to buy the emergency contraception without a prescription.

Currently, you can only purchase Plan B without a prescription if you are at least 17 years old.

Despite claims to the contrary, Plan B and the "abortion pill" are not the same thing. Plan B works by preventing pregnancy. It cannot end a pregnancy.

From Plan B's website:

Plan B One-Step® is your backup plan—emergency contraception in just one pill. The sooner you take it, the better it works. When taken as directed—within 72 hours (3 days) after contraceptive failure or unprotected sex—approximately 7 out of 8 women who would have gotten pregnant will not become pregnant after taking Plan B One-Step®.

Plan B One-Step® is not RU-486 (the abortion pill)—it won’t work if you’re already pregnant, and it won’t affect an existing pregnancy.

Some conservative groups are opposed to the change, arguing that Plan B may be misused by teens, and that a mandatory doctor's visit to get a prescription will help screen for sexual exploitation.

For advocates of increased access to contraceptive methods, bringing Plan B out from behind the pharmacist's counter would be a big success.

As Rep. Diana DeGette and Rep. Louise Slaughter argue in a recent blog post:

If the FDA approves this step, it will reflect the proven science of an important contraceptive innovation for American women. Access to reliable and safe contraception is a fundamental component of basic health care. Yet, directly in conflict with that science, many ideologues are once again trying to stand in the way of this advancement for women's health care.

The FDA should issue its decision on Wednesday.

Comments

[Dana Bast]

11:44 PM on 12/08/2011

I have read every post and some seem logical but others. a 16 year old girl who had sex and then mommy went and got the day after pill. It should remain by prescription only, and rape. I do not know where the companies are getting their info, but the school that I just pulled my daughter out of has 2 5th grade, 3 7th grade and 3 8th grade,mothers They have a club to not be virgins. Teach them about the affects of being teenage mothers, what the costs will be, my nephew is 15 and is a father,but he was sleeping at the girls house all the time. Its not 15 and 16 year old teens having sex, its 10 yrs plus, teach your kids , abstinence is great but not realistic..The PTO discuss how to get money, it should be parents and teachers discussing sex involving their kids. They also have the pregnancy club started by girls, they need love so to have a baby they will get it. I agree give a guy a choice between a rubber and shoving a pill down a girls throat they will chooose the pill every time. Sex at a ball game under the bleachers is now the past time, and the parents just drop their 10-14 year old off . Trust is one thing ! Stupidity is another. A condom or a baby, Parents you decide!

[maciage111]

04:58 PM on 12/08/2011

The real problem is a lack of comprehensive sex education. Schools and parents that only promote abstinence are neglecting to realize that it isn't going to stop it from happening; it isn't going to kill their curiosity, dull their hormones, or keep their pants magically zipped. Parents should certainly encourage their teens to wait until they're a little older for sex, but if they decide to do it anyway, they should know what to do to be safe. And let's face it--teens whose parents maintain a hardline abstinence only stance are not going to approach them with sexual health concerns, and they may even avoid seeing a healthcare professional for fear of their parents finding out--from a phone call confirming an appointment or results, or a bill or EOB.

Too many teens don't know of all of the contraceptive options available to them, too many don't understand how Plan B/other emergency contraceptives work, and intentionally engage in unprotected sex because "there's always the morning after pill", completely neglecting the risk of STDs. I think that for the sake of these teens, Plan B should always be available to them if they need it--but they also MUST have all of the information, including the risks associated with taking the pill and the importance of follow-up care. Maybe not a prescription, but at least mandatory counsel at a family planning clinic when obtaining the pill, or with a pharmacist.

[maribelles]

12:57 PM on 12/08/2011

As one who fiercely advocates health freedoms, this could very well be a dangerous drug if it is just freely dispensed like candy in a drugstore. The effects of these drugs on the body could be abusive and cause difficult side effects- I agree that this should be controlled, and perhaps only considered as a very last resort (frankly there are safe herbs which would work better if we had a truly enlightened society who knew how to use them...) but more importantly, the discussion should be about EDUCATING our girls and boys about fertility, anatomy/physiology, responsibility, reproduction, Fertility Awareness Method for conception control, and other responsible pathways.

[john1513]

12:30 PM on 12/08/2011

http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/archive/ldn/2006/sep/06090701

However, note also that the drug maker admits that Plan B “may inhibit implantation by altering the endometrium [i.e. the lining of the womb].” In other words, Plan B may cause a newly-conceived embryo to die (and be expelled) because it cannot implant itself in the lining of the womb. For this reason, some South American courts have found the Plan B drug to violate an unborn child’s constitutionally-guaranteed right to life.

In light of the manufacturer’s own admission, its other statements above may at first seem to be flat-out lies. But careful analysis reveals them to be deeply misleading rather than flatly false. Although many people (e.g. the legal philosopher Ronald Dworkin) use the word “fetus” to refer to an unborn child at any stage of development, in medicine a developing human life is usually called an “embryo” rather than a “fetus” prior to implantation in the mother’s womb. The statement that Plan B does not “harm an unborn fetus” is true if we use this technical medical definition of “fetus,” even though it may be misleading for those of us who don’t distinguish fetuses from embryos.

[3RawBob]

11:20 AM on 12/08/2011

Scoreboard:
Politics----2
Science__0

I assume Obama directed her to delay the decision until after the election because he did not want the suburban older whites to coalesce around the birth control and abortion issue. Obama needs these votes, and hopes to attract them with his tax cut proposal.
He is betting that the pro-choice people have nowhere to turn, and unfortunately he is correct.

Obama also wants to play nice with the Catholic Bishops, hoping they will not skewer him from the pulpit. He gives them millions from the Faith Based slush fund, but they still detest him.

[john1513]

12:22 PM on 12/08/2011

Ethics ----1
Politics --0

[jachavez]

08:32 PM on 12/07/2011

A sensitive issue for certain, but we don't need babies making babies. We need more sex education and, I believe, more importantly a more open dialogue with our children about sex.
http://realesttalkblog.blogspot.com

[john1513]

12:23 PM on 12/08/2011

Big Pharma says we need more babies making babies and taking pills.

[Hannah Knise]

05:47 PM on 12/07/2011

While we would all love for it to be available to everyone who needs it you do have to take in the consideration with any medications and your child. On the off chance your child could be allergic to any of the ingredients in it I do agree it should be by prescription up until a certain age. I think we would solve alot of problems if kids had a more open dialect with their parents. I do not think the problem is age rather your child being able to come to you with matters like these.

[pullecop]

03:42 PM on 12/07/2011

"which means that the supplement for nonprescription use" -- This is 1984-esque propaganda if there ever was any. The "morning after pill" is a very powerful drug -- it is not a "supplement" by any stretch of the imagination. Whether it should be readily available or not is a totally other issue. But to frame it as if it were just like a vitamin supplement is a very, very dangerous lie -- and betrays, once again, that FDA "commissioners" are just puppets of Big Pharma -- albeit, very well paid puppets. Definitely mark them down in the 1%.

[wllharrington]

03:36 PM on 12/07/2011

How many young giirls do not know a 17 year old or older who will purchase the pill for them. Just like under age teens have those of age purchase alcohol for them.

[kbrown2225]

03:13 PM on 12/07/2011

And the right wing continues their attempt to control women's bodies.

[ruthieannm]

04:28 PM on 12/07/2011

Are you implying that Liberals have no values or morals?

[kbrown2225]

04:32 PM on 12/07/2011

No I am stating that the right wing in this country is obsessed with controlling women's reproductive rights.

[brynk336]

02:54 PM on 12/07/2011

I have to agree with the decision here. I am unwaveringly pro-choice, have participated in clinic defenses, rallies, and continually irritate my Republican representative with emails on this issue.

However, I believe that placing Plan B on the shelf next to other contraceptive choices is the wrong move right now. We lack comprehensive sex education in this country--teens do not know how to use these methods properly and consistently. If Plan B is sitting next to condoms, my fear is that teens will reach for Plan B and bypass the condoms completely, therefore exposing themselves to STIs and possibly pregnancy if the Plan B isn't used correctly or just plain fails. Plan B is also a drug. Teens should know that although side affects are rare, they do exist.

That being said, teens under 17 should still absolutely have access to this drug. I just believe they need to speak with a qualified adult first--MD, ARNP, or pharmacist. This is for their safety and for education. If we had REAL, comprehensive, required reproductive education in schools, I would feel differently about the level of access.

[superspiffy]

03:01 PM on 12/07/2011

But in the time that it could take for that teen to talk to the qualified adult, the useful time for Plan B to be taken will be gone. In order to be useful, it needs to be taken ASAP. It's not a case where the delay is not going to affect the efficacy. It becomes less effective the farther out you wait. I think it's unreasonable to ask a teen in that situation to delay necessary treatment.

While proper sex ed is essential, not giving teens access to a beneficial medication simply because some have not received the education to properly understand the risks is putting the (likely) greater number of educated teens at a disadvantage.

[Combat Marine]

04:15 PM on 12/07/2011

Easy, talk to mom. "Mom, I know you don't want me to, but I'm having sex and need you to go buy these for me."

Or, older sister, or, older brother, friend from school, pay a bum $5 to do it. I was getting beer at age 13 about every weekend. That was when the drinking age was 21.

Might try a condome and be safe from STD or foam. It worked for my wife and I.

[brynk336]

05:38 PM on 12/07/2011

I think teens should still have access to it, it should just be kept where it is kept currently--behind the pharmacist's counter. I'm a 30 year old woman and I have to ask a pharmacist to give me this pill--I don't think that is unreasonable, it is a drug and it can have side affects. I don't think there should be an age barrier to obtaining it, but I don't believe it should be kept on the shelf.

[cbsguards]

02:49 PM on 12/07/2011

This is a great idea once again we need to let the people make these descion not the goverment. The GOP will be against this because they see it as birth contro and yet have a baby as a teen and watch how your live is ruined but the GOP like you now

[Karissa36]

02:16 PM on 12/07/2011

If this was on the shelf next to the condoms, which one do you think teenage boys would choose?

[Randy1949]

10:49 PM on 12/08/2011

The condoms. Multiple condoms for $20 or $30 for one pill? Do the math.

[True-man]

03:11 AM on 12/09/2011

I agree, Randy. Moreover, condoms offer protection against STDs. The pills do not.

[Karissa36]

12:05 PM on 12/09/2011

Using the rhythm method for a few months until it fails, then buying the pill. Do the math on that one. Then factor in that condoms are embarrassing to purchase, might be discovered by parents, no one really likes to use them, and teens are naturally risk-takers.

Is it so hard to imagine teenage boys pressuring their girlfriends not to use condoms, when a back-up plan is right there on the shelf in front of them?

[Stl Heat]

02:02 PM on 12/07/2011

IDK im kind of on the fence about this. Do we want our daughters to be able to prevent an unplanned pregnancy? yes. Would this pill being available to girls under 17 make them feel/think that its ok to have unprotected sex when the only concern is pregnancy? Would the pill being available close open relationships between mother and daughter about sex and pregnancy? Huh I just dont know.

[Sharon Hanson]

01:04 PM on 12/07/2011

I realize there are some good employees at the FDA, Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, M.D. is one of them.