Should Plan B be available over-the-counter to women under the age of 18?

Yes
No
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    8/21/2008 4:05:43 PM

    Great stuff. I agree with JZipp as well.

    8/21/2008 11:07:50 AM

     yeah, female adolescents is a little clinical...like your suggestion.

    8/21/2008 11:06:32 AM

     Sorry, i realise I'm not being clear:

    The issue should focus on under 18 teens who want access to emergency contraception but currently do not.  Plan B is accessible by OTC to any adult who wants it, but teens are still required to get a Rx--this is the crux of the debate as the  medical community sees no medical issue with under 18 (over 15) using the pill...but pro-life social and political communities do.

     

    8/21/2008 11:04:18 AM

    That's fair then... I guess I just don't love the term "female adolescents"... could we ask:

    Should Plan B be available over-the-counter to women under the age of 18?

    8/21/2008 11:00:37 AM

     FDA allows OTC of Plan B for anyone over 18, but not younger.

    8/21/2008 10:59:40 AM

     Not really, The FDA prohibits over the counter sales as do other pro-life groups.

    8/21/2008 10:54:23 AM

    I can see this being a good debate for the pro-choice / pro-life people... and obviously it's another part of the "birth control as abortion" discussion... however, all the sample evidence right now leans on the "yes" side...

    Also, I think we can just ask whether it should be an over-the-counter medication, rather then specifying "to female adolescents"... at least based on the sample evidence...

    8/21/2008 10:32:07 AM

    Why did the FDA keep Plan B a prescription drug for teens under 18?

    There are NO medical reasons to keep Plan B® as a prescription drug for teens under 18. Leading medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, agree that access to Plan B® should not be restricted by age.

     

    American Academy of Pediatrics says "Yes"

    "The evidence is clear - emergency contraception for adolescents is safe, effective and it has the potential to lower the number of unintended pregnancies in our society." Dr. Ouellette said. "Improving availability and over-the-counter access to emergency contraception must be extended to all sexually active adolescents, not just young adults."

    Canada recently moved Plan B to store shelves, allowing 18 & under to purchase

    The National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities decided Wednesday to support sales of the "morning-after pill" on drugstore shelves instead of from behind the counter. The national body advises Canada's provincial and territorial pharmacy regulatory authorities, each of which will have final say over the matter in their own jurisdiction.

    Farrukh Rehan, group product director for women's health at Paladin said that studies show that women under 18 who were given Plan B in advance continued using regular contraception and were not more promiscuous.

    "There are a number of studies that clearly indicate that women's sexual behavior does not change with the availability of Plan B, that there is no difference between women under or over 18 on this issue," he said.