Plan B for Me? Maybe...

It seems like once again the FDA is in the hot seat. Yes, it's Plan B...again. But this time, it appears that an over the counter (OTC) emergency contraceptive may indeed be a reality (let's keep our fingers crossed).

At a recent confirmation hearing for Andrew von Eschenbach (acting head of the FDA), senators on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee decided to press the issue of OTC emergency contraception. In the past, the decision to make Plan B an OTC has been defeated because of political and non-scientific agendas. However, while the fight isn't completely over, some progress has been made. It seems that von Eschenbach may approve Plan B for women 18 and older.

Now, just to rant for a moment: For the most part, Plan B is referred to as the "Morning After Pill". But to tell you the truth, I really don't like that name. "Morning After" sounds demeaning. You know, like after a night of debauchery a woman arbitrarily decides that she made a mistake or a bad judgment call. Umm...no. Emergency contraception is indeed that, an emergency. Not just something that a woman uses because she didn't feel like being protected last night.

So maybe I'm just being picky. The truth is, I don't care what they call it as long as we all have access to it. Accidents happen, crime happens, and yes, sometimes we lack judgment. But no matter what happens, we certainly have a right to it.

There is great debate over the FDA's hesitancy to approve Plan B. Some people think that women (of all ages) are simply going to use this as a means of birth control. (Because a super high concentration of hormones seems so appealing, right?) Emergency contraception is not a cure all - for example, it doesn't protect against STDs, but if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, it can prevent pregnancy. And you know what, that's a definite start.

So we (those of us who have a uterus and ovaries and are 18 and old) may finally have an opportunity to access Plan B without a prescription. And if this happens, I for one, may just buy it simply because I can.

Comments

[Elisa Camahort]

Actually I think that's a great idea: every women should buy Plan B because they can!!

The politicization of women's health issues (like the current brouhaha over the HPV vaccine) is just disgusting.