Health News / February 2007
Plan B
Things do not always go as planned. Women forget to take their pill, condoms break, or another birth control method can fail. Date rape, sexual assault or forced sex can put a woman at risk for pregnancy against all her wishes. However, last August, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Plan B®, a contraceptive drug, as an over-the-counter option for women aged 18 and older.
It contains the hormone levonorgestrel, the same ingredient found in many birth control pills, except with a larger dose than in a single birth control pill and the product has a different dosing regimen. Unlike many birth control pills, Plan B® does not contain any estrogen. When used as directed, two pills taken twelve hours apart, within three days of unprotected sex, will safely and effectively prevent pregnancy 89% of the time. The first pill should be taken as soon as possible, since the sooner it is taken, the more effective it has proved.
Emergency contraception is a backup method for preventing pregnancy and is not for routine use. Emergency contraceptives have no effect if a woman is already pregnant but they are a safe option for women who may become pregnant because of a torn condom, missed birth control pills or sexual assault.
Plan B® is not RU-486, commonly called the abortion pill. It does not cause spontaneous abortion, it will not work if a woman is already pregnant and it will not affect an existing pregnancy. It acts principally by preventing ovulation or fertilization by altering tubal transport of sperm and/or ova. In addition, it may inhibit implantation by altering the endometrium. It is not effective once the process of implantation has begun.
Although technically available “over the counter,” distribution is only through licensed drug wholesalers, retail operations with pharmacy services, and clinics with licensed health care practitioners. It cannot be dispensed without proof of age and is not available at convenience stores or other retail outlets. Like other birth control pills, Plan B® has previously been available to all women as a prescription drug and will still require a prescription for anyone under 18.
Although Barr Laboratories began shipping Plan B® to pharmacies nationwide in November, it can still be difficult to buy on a timely and affordable basis. Most National chains, including Rite-Aid, CVS, Walgreen’s, Target and Wal-Mart have it available, along with many Planned Parenthood and local health clinics, but some rural pharmacies do not keep it in stock.
Some advocates recommend planning for emergency contraception just to be on the safe side. Women may have trouble locating a pharmacy open on a holiday or some portions of the weekend. Many pharmacies are not open 24-hours a day and timing is critical in the drugs effectiveness. Because of its new non-prescription status, insurance companies are unlikely to provide coverage for the cost, which ranges from $30-$45.
For some women, there is often a psychological barrier in speaking about a contraceptive failure, which becomes relevant in smaller communities when women know the pharmacist behind the counter.
However, with photo identification, men may also purchase Plan B®. The cost of emergency contraception is small compared to responsibility for eighteen years of monthly child support.
There are no restrictions against any person 18 or older buying the product in advance for future use or against a person 18 or older buying multiple packages at one time.
Some women will experience non-serious side effects, like nausea, stomach pain, headache, dizziness, or breast tenderness from taking the two pills but Plan B® has no serious or lasting medical side effects and will not harm a developing baby if taken after pregnancy has occurred.
Emergency contraception should not be used as a regular birth control method. It simply doesn’t work as well as most other forms of birth control when they’re used consistently and correctly. Like other oral contraceptives, Plan B® doesn’t protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases. But, it can prevent a pregnancy after known or suspected contraceptive failure, unprotected sex, or sexual assault when taken within 72 hours or sooner. It gives women a second chance to protect themselves and their future.
Copyright © 2007 A Woman's View. All rights reserved.
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