The April edition of Cosmopolitan magazine featured a small blurb about how Plan B, also known as “the morning-after pill”, is becoming more easily accessible. Plan B is an emergency contraceptive pill, and when taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex or birth control failure, it has an 88% chance of preventing pregnancy. It is the only pill of its kind that is FDA-approved. As its commercials warn, Plan B only works to prevent ovulation and possible fertilization; it does not terminate an existing pregnancy and should not be referred to as “the abortion pill.”
In recent years, high schools in New York City began dispensing free birth control and Plan B pills to students who wanted them. Although parents were notified of the new program and given the option to opt their children out of receiving contraception from their schools, those who didn’t essentially gave their high-schoolers free reign to make their own decisions about sex and protection. Students could go to the school nurse and receive a pregnancy test or take the morning-after pill without ever notifying their parents.
And in a Pennsylvania university, a vending machine stocked with Plan B popped up in the health care center. While Cosmo says, “We hope this seal of approval means more machines coming your way,” not everyone feels that way. Strict religious groups were offended by the arrival of the machine and went into uproar. (It is also important to note that this is an extreme case. Don’t expect to see a Plan B vending machine at Quinnipiac anytime soon!)
Do events like these encourage sex and make young adults more susceptible to making irresponsible decisions about their sexual health?
Opponents of Plan B would say so. They aren’t necessarily angered by its existence, but they are bothered by its ever-increasing accessibility, especially when it comes to young women. People are concerned that the morning-after pill may be targeting the wrong audience, sending the message that having casual, unprotected sex with no regard for birth control is OK because there is a magic pill to erase all mistakes. The fact that it is being offered to some high school students is encouraging them to practice unsafe sexual behaviors, rather than safe ones. Those in opposition of the pill claim those young women who rely on it will stop using other safe sex methods, such as taking birth control and using condoms.
Originally, a Brooklyn judge ordered the FDA to make Plan B available to all women, regardless of age. Many parents feared that the judge’s proposal would skew younger girls’ perceptions of sex and open them up to the possibility of overdosing on the drug. But on April 30, the FDA ignored the judge’s orders and instead passed a new law that will make the pill available over-the-counter to girls who are 15 and older.
Regardless of how easy or difficult it is to get ahold of the morning-after pill, it is important to practice safe sexual behaviors, whether your Facebook status is “single,” “it’s complicated,” or “in a relationship.” This includes visiting your doctor regularly, reporting any changes in your period, regularly taking some form of birth control (there are many), and getting tested for STDs. Along with taking care of yourself, it is equally important to be sure that any sexual partners you may have are also cautious about sex. Don’t be afraid to ask if he has been tested or suggest using a condom. If you take all of these precautions every time you have sex, you are protecting yourself in the best way possible. Remember that Plan B is not a substitute for birth control or condoms, nor is it an excuse to act irresponsibly about sex. It’s best to take care of yourself in the moment rather than after the fact, when you may regret your actions big time.
But if you happen to make a stupid mistake one night and don’t practice safe sex, rest assured that Plan B is available over-the-counter at any local drugstore near you. Plan B is just that: a plan B to use when plan A fails. Some women’s magazines have even suggested buying one or two Plan B pill packs and keeping them in the medicine cabinet just in case. This will save you time and worry in the event that you need to take it. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry!