Question Posted Saturday February 25 2006, 2:20 pm
In health class yesterday a few people did a group presentation on whether or not emergency contraception should be available over the counter. I know it is in 5 or 6 states, but for the most part it's not in the US. The group concluded that it should be and it seemed like all 100 or so kids in the class agreed with them. I was kind of shocked because I disagreed. Emergency contraception can cause blood clots, heart attacks, all kinds of stuff. There are a few different kinds and I think that a doctor or other healh professional needs to perscribe them especially since they can be so dangerous. Yeah, it would be nice if they were more easily accessible, but wouldn't that just make it so that people relied on them? It's not a very effective form of contraception. If people are comfortable enough to be having sex, they need to be comfortable enough to be able to talk to someone about it if they end up needing emergency contraception for whatever reason. I had to get some once and yes, of course I was embarassed, but it was something that I just had to do. A consequence of what I did. I thought it was pretty darn easy. All I had to do was go into the health center and talk to someone about it. I hadn't even actually had sex, just a little....accident, but they gave me some anyways so I would feel better. I've seen so many people on here that don't know anything about emergency contaception. I think that we should be teaching kids about it and telling them how to get it, not making it so terribly easy to get. People will start abusing it if it's so readily available and I think that they will know even less about it. Another thing I see a lot of on here is people that know nothing about birth control pills yet they are on them! Am I the only one out there that believes that offering it over the counter is a bad idea? What does everyone think?
[ Answer this question ] Want to answer more questions in the Sexual Health and Reproduction category? Maybe give some free advice about: General Sex Questions? oodles_of_noodles answered Sunday March 12 2006, 7:04 pm: I somewhat agree. OTC emergency contraception might be misused. However, I'm sure that not only would there be an age limit, it would also be very embarrassing and costly to obtain. Sure, you can go out and have sex like a maniac and then rely on emergency contraception, but if it's, say, $40, (a reasonable price) most people that would abuse it would also realize that birth control or condoms would be cheaper. Taking it also makes you damn sick if you aren't already taking birth control. It might even be MORE embarrassing to buy emergency contraception over the counter, because not only would you have to buy it in front of large quantities of people, but everyone would know that you're irresponsible. Although it would make it easier in case of things like rape, where hours do count. There are all sorts of extenuating circumstances, and the fact is that sometimes you can't get to your doctor or clinic fast enough- they usually require appointments. And if you have to wait a day to get the contraception, your risk of pregnancy increases exponentially. So, bottom line, the people who would misuse it, who would probably be teenage girls, wouldn't have the money or guts to buy it OTC anyway. [ oodles_of_noodles's advice column | Ask oodles_of_noodles A Question ]
VainTaraLynn answered Monday February 27 2006, 6:32 am: I agree. I think if they know that there is something out there that will make everything better the next day they wont even care about what they are doing and they will run right out and have sex without a care in the world about getting pregnant. I dont think it should be an over the counter drug I think they should have to go and talk to their physicians about it and give a good reason as to why they want that certain drug like if it was a rape or something totally unwanted. Otherwise itu will just give the younger generation of kids the Okay to engage in premiscuious activity. without thinking twice. [ VainTaraLynn's advice column | Ask VainTaraLynn A Question ]
livinthesimplelife08 answered Sunday February 26 2006, 7:20 pm: Well I'm on the same side as you are... I think people should be able to get it... but not soo easily.. because people will start relying on it.. If you think your old enough to have sex then you have to be able to deal with the consequences!
mistykz answered Sunday February 26 2006, 1:09 pm: well, if its EMERGENCY contraception, then going and getting it prescribed isnt exactly the speediest way of doing it [ mistykz's advice column | Ask mistykz A Question ]
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