Tag Archives: emergency contraception

Brilliant Idea: PA College Dispensing Plan B From Vending Machines

Jessica WakemanFebruary 7, 2012 //
I Took Plan B
Our writer took the morning-after-pill to thwart unwanted pregnancy. Read More »
Should Men Pay?
Should men help pay for the Pill? Read More »
Vending Machines
pregnancy test photo
Switzerland put pregnancy tests in vending machines. Read More »

Taking the morning-after pill in a timely fashion has been one of the biggest hurdles to overcome when it comes to reproductive rights. Emergency contraception (which prevents ovulation so an egg cannot be fertilized, as well as thins the lining of the uterus so a fertilized egg cannot be implanted) is most effective if taken within five days of unprotected sex — but the sooner the better. Even though EC, in theory, became more accessible when the FDA announced it could be sold over-the-counter to women age 17 and up, that did not play out in reality. Women who live in rural areas, as well as women who live anyplace where a pharmacist can cite a so-called conscience clause and tell her “no, not dispensing that!”, still have to do a lot of frantic scrambling at an already stressful time.

But one college in Pennsylvania has a brilliant idea on how to make EC more accessible when it is needed most: Shippensburg University  in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, put a vending machine filled with Plan B in the health center. Keep reading »

Mitt Romney Calls Morning After Pills “Abortive Pills”

Jessica WakemanFebruary 7, 2012 //
I Took Plan B
Our writer took the morning-after-pill to thwart unwanted pregnancy. Read More »
Bachmann Stupidity
Michele Bachmann photo
Sorry, Michele, "the morning-after abortion pill" doesn't exist. Read More »
2012 Election
All of The Frisky's posts about the 2012 election. Read More »
Mitt Romney photo

Fact checking time! Mitt Romney hit the campaign trail in Colorado last night and referred to emergency contraception/the morning-after pill as “abortive pills.” This could be because he or his team genuinely doesn’t understand that emergency contraception (Plan B) and the abortion pill (RU-486) are two completely different pills. Or it could be because he’s irresponsibly trying to totally conflate the two for political gain, which I am sure would shock — shock! — you coming from an anti-abortion politician.  (Is Mitt anti-abortion this week? I can never keep track!)

Let’s recap, very briefly: The morning-after pill prevents a pregnancy by stopping a woman’s ovaries from releasing eggs — which could be fertilized by the sperm and go implant in the uterus — as well as thinning the lining of a woman’s uterus so a fertilized egg cannot implant.  The RU-486 abortion pill, on the other hand, ends an existing pregnancy — as in, the fertilized egg has already implanted in the uterus and a fetus is growing. (I explain it all in more detail in this post.)

See? Two different things, Mitt. Keep reading »

Today’s Lady News: CVS Refuses Emergency Contraception To Man, Suggests He’s A Rapist

Jessica WakemanJanuary 11, 2012 //
  • A Texas man is suing a CVS pharmacy after it refused to sell him the morning-after pill, which he was purchasing for his wife. Jason Melbourne drove to four pharmacies until he found one which sold Plan B emergency contraception, but the pharmacist refused to sell it, pointing to the fine print that said he must be over age 17. He pointed out he is over age 17. The pharmacist then said she needed to see the ID of Melbourne’s wife (who was at home caring for the couple’s two children). A male pharmacy technician then intervened, presumably trying to help, and said they wouldn’t sell Plan B to men because men might be giving it to “rape victims.” Hoo boy. Now Jason Melbourne has enlisted the ACLU to help him fight against this BS. I know for a fact that pharmacies in general let you pick up prescriptions in loved one’s names. There is no reason the morning-after pill should be any different. [Think Progress]  Keep reading »

Girl Talk: I Took Plan B

Caitlin ThorntonDecember 8, 2011 //
Birth Control Facts
Did you know any of the 10 bizarro facts on this chart? Read More »
EC On Drugstore Shelves?
FDA considers putting the morning-after pill on drugstore shelves. Read More »
Should Men Pay?
Should men help pay for the Pill? Read More »

Typically before heading into the office, I make a pit stop to get coffee. Yesterday I had to swing into the pharmacy instead—to get Plan B.

As I walked through the drugstore doors, I recalled the news from the day before: The FDA was considering allowing the emergency “morning after” pill to sell on drugstore shelves, to anyone, without a prescription. I envisioned myself snaking through the aisles and grabbing the box, stashing it in my bag at self-checkout, and resuming my life, waiting for my next period just a little less anxiously. But, as many suspected, only hours after my trip to pick up the controversial contraceptive, I’d learn that Plan B would stay behind the counter, and my daydream scenario would remain a fantasy for many women, not just myself. Keep reading »

Gov’t Overrules FDA, Forbids Morning-After Pill From Going On Shelves

Jessica WakemanDecember 7, 2011 //
EC On Drugstore Shelves?
FDA considers putting the morning-after pill on drugstore shelves. Read More »
Should Men Pay?
Should men help pay for the Pill? Read More »
Birth Control Facts
Did you know any of the 10 bizarro facts on this chart? Read More »

I knew I shouldn’t get my hopes up: the Secretary of  Health and Human Services (a woman!) has overruled the FDA’s recommendation to allow the morning-after pill to be sold on drugstore shelves without a prescription. If Plan B is taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, it is almost 90 percent effective in preventing a pregnancy. The sooner emergency contraception is taken after unprotected sex, the more effective it is. Keep reading »

FDA Considers Putting The Morning-After Pill On Drugstore Shelves

Jessica WakemanDecember 6, 2011 //
Birth Control Facts
Did you know any of the 10 bizarro facts on this chart? Read More »
Should Men Pay?
Should men help pay for the Pill? Read More »
IUD Side Effects
A first person experience with the IUD. Read More »

Conservatives losing their marbles to start in five … four … three … two … one: the FDA has until tomorrow to decide whether the morning-after pill Plan B will be available on drugstore shelves (as opposed to behind the counter) without a prescription for anyone of any age. If taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, Plan B is almost 90 percent effective in preventing a pregnancy. The sooner Plan B is taken after unprotected sex, the more effective it is. Keep reading »

Today’s Lady News: iPhone’s Siri Won’t Help You Find The Morning-After Pill

Jessica WakemanNovember 29, 2011 //
  • Siri on the iPhone won’t tell you where to find the morning-after pill, but it will help you find Viagra. [Reproductive Health Reality Check]
  • Plus, 10 things Siri on iPhone will help you get instead of an abortion, like escorts. [Raw Story]
  • Ohio’s State Senate president, a Republican, said his party plans to advance a “fetal heartbeat bill” that will seek to criminalize abortion at any point after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which could be as early as six weeks. [The Daily Beast] Keep reading »

Today’s Lady News: Plan B For Girls 17 And Under?

Jessica WakemanFebruary 11, 2011 //
  • The makers of the Plan B morning-after pill plan to ask the FDA to allow for the emergency contraception to be sold without a prescription for young women under age 17. Plan B is available without a prescription for women ages 17 and older. [Reuters]
  • Black and Latina women are less likely than white women to have a live birth after a fertility treatment by 38 and 13 percent, respectively. [Fox News]
  • The Afghan government is writing new rules which would make it even harder for abused women and girls to find refuge in women’s shelters: women would have to justify their reason for needing shelter to an eight-person government panel, which would decide if she should go to the shelter, go to jail, or return home. [New York Times]

Keep reading »

What Is Ella, The Morning-After Pill That The FDA Just Approved?

Jessica WakemanAugust 16, 2010 //

Woot, woot! On Friday afternoon, the FDA approved ella, a new emergency contraceptive that can be taken five days after unprotected sex, for prescription-only sales. If the condom breaks, you are a victim of sexual assault, or any number of numerous situations where you’re doing the “No babies! No babies!” dance, you now have more morning-after pill options than ever before.

What do you need to know about ella — and Plan B, the existing emergency contraception? All the deets are after the jump. Keep reading »

Men Explain Birth Control!

Jessica WakemanMarch 4, 2010 //

Blogger Amanda Hess of The Sexist took her video camera around D.C. and asked a bunch of dudes to explain how different types of women-controlled birth control work, including the Pill, the patch, diaphragms, and Nuva-ring. Some guys get an A+ for looking adorable while trying … while others don’t know what the eff they’re talking about. (Like the guy who says the birth control pill is the same thing as emergency contraception. No sex for you until you straighten that one out, bucko!) And an A++ for the guy wearing flannel and glasses who uses the phrase “sexual congress” with a straight face. Whoever he’s schtupping is a lucky woman.

Hey, dudes who read The Frisky, can you do any better? (And no looking up the answers on other web sites and cheating.) [The Sexist] Keep reading »

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