Hasn't the "morning after" pill been tested extensively?

[BushOut06]

I heard some whack-job on the radio saying the "Plan B morning after pill" hasn't been tested enough, that no studies had been done regarding its toxicity and repeated usage by women. I have to profess to some ignorance on this subject, but I was under the impression that the morning after pill had been labelled safe years ago, that it was only the religious right in this country that was preventing its release as an OTC remedy. What kind of rebuttal is there to this charge? I have a few neo-con types at work, I'm sure this is bound to come up sometime with them as well.

[Sal Minella]

1. It's been available OTC in Europe and other civilized countries for years.

[Tesha]

2. The Whack Jobs simply want it permanently blocked using any excuse. (NT)

[BushOut06]

7. That's what I thought...

And they'll use all the delay tactics they can.

I'm sure that if a woman used morning after contraceptives every single day, there might be adverse affects. But then again, it's not really meant for that type of use, is it? There are plenty of OTC drugs that I could misuse that would really fuck me up.

[EVDebs]

14. Contraception makes the Anti-Aboritionists irrelevent

Therefore, according to rightwingnut twisted logic, Plan B must go ! Bush's base becoming irrelevent ? ...Go Plan B, Go baby go !

[Tesha]

19. Actually, Plan B isn't much different than what was standard contraception

> I'm sure that if a woman used morning after contraceptives
> every single day, there might be adverse affects.

Actually, Plan B isn't much different than what was standard
contraception a few years ago. Remember,it's described as
basically being twice the daily dose of the *CURRENT* amount
of progesterone. And doses in daily contraception have come
way down over the years.

There are actually several trends in women's pharmacology that,
combined, should scare the shit out of the Jesus mongers:

o Ordinary contraception continues to prove to be safe and
effective (certainly safer than pregnancy, especially when
you factor-in the increased risk of domestic violence and
murder for pregnant women)

o Folks are finally admitting that the original design of
ordinary contraception, whereby artificial menstrual periods
are induced, is stupid, and the newer designs will all
*ELIMINATE PERIODS* as well as conception. Thus, the
curse of Eve, her punishment for "Original Sin", is now ended.

o Plan B provides back-up to other methods of contraception.

o RU486 provides safe, simple, medical backup to the backup.

Those clinic protesters will have less and less to protest about.

Tesha

[thepurpose]

3. That pill has been available in other countries for years. But if people

want to spout bullshit. There will be enough to believe it.

[jerry611]

4. They are trying to link it to RU-486

Plan B and RU-486 are not the same. Plan B basically blocks conception from taking place and is meant to be used if birth control fails. And it has been tested to be safe (unless the patient has an allergy).

RU-486 is an abortion pill that actually aborts the fetus. This pill has some controversal studies and there have been some documented cases in Europe where a few women have died after taking the pill.

[Erika]

8. Women are smart enough to know the risk with RU-486

The government needs to stay out of their private sex lives.

[Erika]

5. I don't have the actuarial facts

But I did hear a presentation where PP said there were more deaths due to allergic reactions to aspirin than there were to Plan B. The same presentation said Plan B had been over the counter in Europe for years and had been tested there extensively before it was ever allowed for use here.

Trying to stop the distribution of Plan B is nothing but a ploy of the far right-wing extremists, the same that would do away with birth control and set women's rights back 50 years to meet their interpretation of the Bible concerning women's "role" in society.

[I Have A Dream]

11. This Letter to the Editor is what it's really about...

Over-the-counter 'Plan B' is a hard pill to swallow

Just go out, have sex and forget about the consequences. That's basically the message being sent to the American public with the Food and Drug Administration's recent approval of over-the-counter sales of Plan B, better known as the "morning-after pill" ("Feds Widen Access to 'Pill,' " Aug. 25). What in the world are they thinking?

While it's true that Plan B is a medication that prevents conception, to my mind this form of "emergency contraception" is a moral equivalent of abortion: A couple engages in sexual intercourse, regrets the action and the woman takes steps to stop a pregnancy after the fact.

Ease of purchase and less embarrassment will further encourage more women to consider this method. This will likely account for an increase not only in casual sex but unprotected sex as well. As a result, we can expect to see elevated levels of sexually transmitted diseases including the incurable HVP (warts), HSV (herpes) and even HIV and AIDS.

In fact, just about the only glimmer of rational thought is that women under the age of 18 will not be allowed to buy the pills over the counter. It's good to see that at least a few of those responsible for approving these decisions at the FDA haven't completely lost their minds.


JASON GREINER
Mt. Washington

http://www.pittsburghpostgazette.com/pg/06240/716845-110.stm

[Erika]

15. The author sure has a low opinion of women

Why doesn't he spend his time and effort in teaching abstinence to the males.

[Tesha]

23. That would be against dog's will. (NT)

[Tesha]

22. Tragically for the letter author and amateur scaremonger...

> As a result, we can expect to see elevated levels of sexually
> transmitted diseases including the incurable HVP (warts), ...

Tragically for the letter author and amateur scaremonger, there's
no a vaccine available for several of the most dangerous forms of
HPV. But he's probably against the vaccine, too. :puke:

Tesha

[prole_for_peace]

31. "ease of purchase and less embarrassment..."

plan b isn't FREE!! and i'm sure it won't be just a few bucks. i doubt many women will use it often. regular birth control will probably be cheaper.

[azurnoir]

6. Toxicity?

If it were toxic it would not have made it this far. There should be no "build-up" in the body because the pills are hormones that are naturally produced in the human body. As for repeated use the name is Plan B and the side effects can be unpleasant.

[BushOut06]

9. Here's the argument I heard

If the Plan B drug is capable of preventing insemination up to 72 hours after sex, then it must be toxic.

As I stated in #7, I'm sure that if you took it every single day for a prolonged period of time, there might be some rather negative effects. On the other hand, there are plenty of OTC drugs that can be fatal if misused.

[wakeme2008]

10. Plan B is just a very high dosage of the standard birth control pills

In fact there is a backup version of Plan B based on a woman's normal BC pills, google for the dosages

[uppityperson]

28. here you go. Been used for 30+ yrs I know of, in USA

http://www.fwhc.org/birth-control/ecinfo.htm

[EVDebs]

12. These nutcases are ANTI- Contraception

Why do they hate contraception ?

[Tesha]

24. *ANYTHING* that enables women to control reproduction...

> These nutcases are ANTI-Contraception
> Why do they hate contraception?

*ANYTHING* that enables women to control reproduction (and
their own sexuality) is bad.

Don't you know? White fundamentalist mostly-Christian Males
should have dominion over all women's lives. :puke:

Tesha

[Warpy]

13. It's been more tested than any other drug on the market

and has been found safe and effective and with few of the side effects seen with long term hormonal birth control use.

That's what they've got against it. Some mere woman may undo the holy work of their golden rods and it makes them crazy.

Funny how lying became such a Christian virtue over the last 5 years.

[filer]

16. The Fundies are trying to be helpful.

They just want to protect women from themselves. Fear of pregnancy will deter casual sex (God forbid). After all, there is only one reason for intercourse, and that's procreation. Right?

[AtomicKitten]

17. I transcribed a surgery report today (D&E)

on a woman who took it and it didn't work.

That was disappointing, for both of us, but mostly for her.

[AtomicKitten]

20. just transcribed a second D&E for failed Plan B

not good

[Warren DeMontague]

18. Who gives a shit? Tell them that right now, people are RAMPANTLY FUCKING

because of it! Wheeeeeeeeeee!

:woohoo: :party: :woohoo:

That's the thing that they're really upset about, after all.

[Avalux]

21. It's progesterone, which has been around for years and years

one of the ingredients in birth control pills. Plan B contains a much higher dose, and works to inhibit ovulation, the sperm fertilizing the egg and/or implantation of a fertilized egg. It's safe, unless of course someone decides to overdose, which would be the case with any medication.

The guy you heard on the radio is full of crap, and obviously was trying to confuse people.

[Tesha]

25. I'm pretty sure progesterone has been around for millions of years. ;-)

> It's progesterone, which has been around for years and years

I'm pretty sure progesterone has been around for millions of years. ;)
It's the artificial use of it as a contraceptive that's only been
around for 40+ years.

Tesha

[Avalux]

26. Yeah, true.

;-) Maybe should have clarified "in pharmaceutical form" :hi:

[Tesha]

27. :-)

:hi:

[Scout1071]

29. It's been available in the US for many, many years.

It's now going to be available over-the-counter.

There appear to be zero longterm effects. You know what it is? The pill. It's basically a large dose of the same hormones that induce a woman's period.

I'm sure people with medical backgrounds can provide a much clearer definition.

[uppityperson]

30. link here to comperable amounts of varied types bcp/oc

http://www.fwhc.org/birth-control/ecinfo.htm
Been around for at least 30 yrs I know of.