How To Buy The Morning-After Pill
Fly to France. Walk into a pharmacy. Ask for it. Pay. Leave. Fly home.
The New York Times notes that the FDA ("F" is for...Fundamentalist-Influenced!) is still dragging its feet on approving the morning-after contraceptive pill for over-the-counter use. Why? Probably because fundamentalists don't really just want to prevent abortion, as they claim, but birth control of any kind. And because they have little, if any, respect for any books that aren't the bible (say, biology textbooks!), they don't understand why preventing a fertilized egg from implanting in a woman's uterus isn't on par with robbing a liquor store and murdering the clerk in cold blood.
Under federal guidelines, the agency was supposed to issue a decision by Friday. Instead, the F.D.A. told the manufacturer, Barr Pharmaceuticals, that it was still conducting its review. The agency said it hoped to act soon, but set no specific date for action.Yet, by now, there is no excuse for delay. No one questions that Plan B, which contains a concentrated dose of the progestin hormone found in daily birth control pills, is safe and effective. Moreover, by proposing to limit its availability over the counter to women over 16, Barr has removed as an issue the effect on adolescents, which the agency cited as a concern last May when, bowing to political pressure, it overrode scientific research and the overwhelming recommendation of two expert advisory panels to reject making Plan B available without a prescription to all women, regardless of age.
An internal memorandum by Dr. John Jenkins, director of the agency's own Office of New Drugs, suggests that the agency failed to follow proper procedure in making the decision. The memo, which is cited in a new lawsuit challenging the agency's May ruling, notes that drawing a distinction between different age groups is a departure from the agency's usual approach to contraceptive products.
Making Plan B available over the counter would prevent thousands of unintended pregnancies and thousands of abortions annually. It's time for the F.D.A. to allow women easy access to Plan B.
It's time, and it's been time, for a long time.
Hi Amy !
Yes, NORLEVO is available over the counter here. Moreover,
"NORLEVO est accessible gratuitement et sans ordonnance aux jeunes filles mineures. Demandez conseil à votre pharmacien." ("NORLEVO is available prescription-free to girls under the age of majority. Ask your pharmacist for advice."
at: http://www.doctissimo.fr/medicament-NORLEVO.htm
L'Amerloque
L'Amerloque at January 25, 2005 10:46 AM
Well, has the abortion rate in Europe gone down since the introduction of the morning after pill? I figure that most of the people that are too lazy, stupid, or cheap to use traditional means of birth control aren't going to use the morning after pill for the same reasons.
But the only near-valid criticism of these morning after pills that I've heard is that it may increase the rate of sexually transmitted diseases as people become lazy about using the pill or condoms. What has happened to the rates of STDs in Europe since the introduction of these pills?
nash at January 25, 2005 4:19 PM
Two Words: "Pull Out."
Cheaper, too.
RKN at January 25, 2005 5:45 PM
Pulling out doesn't work. That's why Catholics have so many kids.
LYT at January 26, 2005 6:26 AM
Two words: Tie my fucking tubes in a permanent knot, please.
Math was never Lena's strength at January 26, 2005 7:38 AM
"Pulling out doesn't work. That's why Catholics have so many kids."
And that's why Lena Cuisina endorses sodomy! It's a win-win for everyone involved!
Lena wants you to bend over ASAP at January 26, 2005 7:41 AM
Nash,
Condoms break. Pills are missed. People get drunk. A back up plan is a good thing.
arin at January 27, 2005 4:57 PM
By the way, Amy, this photo is fantastic. Very bold and pop arty. You'd have been a wicked graphic designer, if you hadn't chosen to be a wicked opinionated writer bitch!
Lena, Wickedly Jaded at January 28, 2005 7:20 AM
Why, thank you, dahlink!
Amy Alkon at January 28, 2005 7:49 AM