Thursday, August 24, 2006

It's about damned time...

The FDA has approved the morning-after pill (Plan B) to be available without a prescription for women 18 years of age or older!

A bitch is thrilled…so thrilled that my ass isn’t even going to bitch about the drama I just endured to remove that ticker thing from my template.

Shudder.

To my sisters and brothers in the struggle…go on with your bad selves!

Way to demonstrate that the people can advocate and achieve change…

12 comments:

Eliza524 said...

I started emailing the FDA after I saw the ad on your page and when I read that it had been approved on Yahoo news, I had to look at your page again and see if you knew. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

It's great that it can be gotten immediately, and that availability is no longer at the discretion of doctors and pharmacists without moral judgment entering into it. But I've always had a preventative prescription that I kept in case of emergencies, and because it was by prescription it was covered by my health insurance. Now I'll have to pay full price for it, which isn't so great.

Then again, there are so many people who don't have health insurance who would greatly benefit from over-the-counter access to EC because they wouldn't have to pay for a doctor's visit to get it!

TwinsGoddess said...

Hooray!

Anonymous said...

I'm so happy... I made need a morning after pill.. : )

~Macarena~ said...

It will physically stay behind the counter, though. Idiot pharmacists can still refuse to dispense it.

Anonymous said...

ABB, I am an RN working out of a family medicine office. This past weekend, a patient showed up early at our Sunday clinic, ostensibly for "abdominal pain."

When I got her back to the exam room, I got the real story: the night before, during intercourse, the condom broke. She was in a panic and kept exclaiming how stupid and irresponsible she was (a load of bullshit; she is in a monogamous relationship and is HIV-and STI- and came straightaway to the office). I gently corrected her and assured her that she had nothing to worry about, having done all that she could.

I told the MD what was going on and after seeing the patient, came out and said that we had to call a pharmacy in Tampa (I live in Tallahassee) to get the Plan B pill. We couldn't find the directory and a short panic ensued. Fortunately, we found it, and I called it in.

The patient left and will come back and have a pregnancy test. I hate the fact that she had to wait till we opened our doors that morning and that she will be on pins and needles till her period comes.

She is a 39 year old woman. I have seen girls only a third of that age give birth--and some even younger than that--just 11 years old. (I am thinking of your mentee as I write this.)

I am pleased to know--and relieved--that the Plan B pill will be available OTC to those who need it.

No one should have wait as long as my patient did, nor should they be condemned if they need to use it. I have seen women who use the Pill, condoms, Depo-Provera, and other contraceptive devices become pregnant, so that argument of so-called "irresponsibility" doesn't fly with me. I have seen too much and know too much to presume otherwise.

Anyway, thank you for your blog and keep it coming. It's wonderful to read at the end of a long day!

Hammer said...

ABB, I too am happy for the 'victory' here. Unfortunately, my cynicism wins out and I realize that the stance of the WHite House, though usually working against things like the morning after pill and stem cells, is changing in the light of future elections.

The last thing we want is for Republicans to look moderate. If good things come out of this administration during these last couple of Bush years, Americans will forget the torture of the previous term. Though we are happy when things like this go down, we have to remember who will take the credit. . .those fuck-like-bunnies to breed more conservative children assholes are only 'saving face' by lightening up on birth control and stem cell initiatives.

Even though the FDA is in place to protect Americans, we know the organization serves the agenda of the current white house administration.

But, I too am happy for this progress. . .however tainted!

HammerChe

Ms. Confessions said...

Glad to a Federal Agency is doing their job!!

christine mtm said...

how many women have i known who could have used it before..?

i lost track a long time ago.

this is a good day. (and i sympathize with you about the counter... i gotta get one of those off my blog too... i hate working with the template!)

Spring, Ph.D. said...

I'm happy to see this, too, but it also took me back to a time when my kids and were on Medicaid. Every time a needed medication became over the counter, Medicaid would no longer pay for it, and I wouldn't be able to pay the over the counter price on my income, so we'd have to go without. Although it seems a victory on the surface, for low income folks who rely on Medicaid (or even middle income folks who rely on medical insurance to cover costs), it's typically not a victory financially -- it just becomes yet another thing they know they will not have access to.

Anonymous said...

Our Side Won

Anonymous said...

I am happy about this because it gives people an option. As others pointed out the access might be hampered by economics and conservative pharamacists but at least there is a chance people can get to this if they need it.

I teach at a college and have been doing what I can working with our local PP (60 miles away) and an enlightened local PA to help women who need emergency contraception. This will make it a bit easier.

Thank you for being a wonderful writer and helping me keep up on issues regarding women and families.

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