MORNING AFTER PILLS

[Duchess]

The fact that they gave out over 500 pills already, though, concerns me. That's a lot of young women that either aren't knowledgeable enough to know how to protect themselves, or don't care enough to try, or just figure they can get the pill from the school nurse.

I think with that particular stat we have to take into account the background of these young women. These are not upper middle class or even middle class kids. It appears they come from what I would call the ghetto.

[LuciferLynn]

Hm, you're right, you know. And its unfortunate. I can't remember who said it, but these women, most likely, were born into the welfare system and taking this pill helped them to not add yet another child born into the welafre system. Id like to say that perhaps needing it would cause some of them to wake up and get their shit together but in my experience, most of them don't give a shit and figure since the pill is readily available, they can fuck like rabbits. I wonder how many of those pills were given to the same girl?

[Ilyanna]

Id like to say that perhaps needing it would cause some of them to wake up and get their shit together but in my experience, most of them don't give a shit and figure since the pill is readily available, they can fuck like rabbits.

This is intriguing.
Let's just, for the sake of argument, leave the issue of ECP = abortion - yes or no' out of the equation, even if it is an integral part - what exactly is your problem with them using this kind of pill as opposed to using condoms or the standard pill? Is it that you would prefer them to have no sex at all? Do you think it is possible for a society to teach their youth abstinence until they are a certain age (which age?).
(Disclaimer: I am truly interested in your thoughts on this, not trying to make a point here )

[LuciferLynn]

I would prefer it if they didn't have sex at all, of course! However, I'm not naieve. I understand teenagers and that some of them are going to have sex no matter what their parents or anyone says. Somehow, to me, it seems like this medicine is a little like shutting the gate after the horse has gotten out. Someone should have been smart enough to keep the gate closed to begin with. I think what it is, I'm afraid girls are taking advantage of it. Being on the pill or using a condom is a responsibility of being sexually active. However, as duchess pointed out, these women mostly come from homes where being sexually active and protecting yourself against pregnancy isn't a common practice. Having the pill readily available to women who havent been taught much, if any, responsibility, for ANYTHING, makes me think they're saying "no big, I can go to the nurse and get that pill and not worry." As I said, if I had a daughter, id want to know if she took the pill so I could discuss it with her and talk about different birth control methods. I don't think this pill is intended for regular birth control use and I wonder how many young women are using it for that. Its an issue of responsibility for me.

[Ilyanna]

OK, so if I got it right, what you mean is that if you (general you) use a regular contraception method (meaning: one you have to get and/or take before sex), you have to invest conscious thought into what you are about to do, think of the consequences, choose the method, in short: take reponsibility for your actions, which is, of course, a very important factor of growing up.
The ECP, otoh, exonerates you from that to a great extent, so you pass a chance to learn to take care of yourself. Have I understood you correctly?

I admit I have never looked at it from that angle, and even without having pondered it, I can already say I think it's a very valid point.

As I said, if I had a daughter, id want to know if she took the pill so I could discuss it with her and talk about different birth control methods.

Yes, I feel the same way. I am fortunate to have two teenage nieces who are willing to openly discuss these matters with me, and I think it would break my heart if I had a daughter or son who wouldn't do the same.

[LuciferLynn]

Yes. When I chose to become sexually active, I went on the pill and insisted my boyfriend use condoms. I took resposnsibility for myself to protect myself against an unplanned pregnancy. I was more responsible than many of my friends at that age, but I'm not sure if I knew I could pop into the nurses office and get a pill if I would have been so careful about my decisions.

[HairOfTheDog]

HotD, thanks for posting the NY article.
As for your excellent explanation, I would like to add one thing if I may (it gets a bit technical/pharmacological, ymmv. If it's tl&dr for you, check the cliff's note at the end ):

I don't mind long posts when I care about a topic; read 'em all. It wasn't too technical - thanks for breaking it down. Interesting.

The FDA has be to so careful about labeling (understandably) that sometimes actions or side effects that have never happened in a very large sample are included on the label because it can't be absolutely proven that they couldn't happen, imo. Sounds like that was the case with Plan B and levonogestrel, but scientific studies over the years have ruled out inhibiting implantation as one of its potential actions.

If the science is definitive, the FDA will eventually catch up and revise the labels. For the pro-life activists, the chemical abortion argument might be a harder bone to let go of, imo, thus the claims that scientists unaffiliated with the manufacturer are operating under a pro-abortion agenda.

It's unfortunate that unplanned teenage pregnancy is such a big issue that the schools had to step in, but I applaud that they're facing the reality and taking action by offering condoms and female contraception (and hopefully sex ed).

[sally]

Pregnancy is not as instantaneous as most people think. Sperm can remain viable up to three days (sometimes longer) waiting patiently for ovulation to occur.

Sneaky little fuckers.

[Ilyanna]

I don't mind long posts when I care about a topic; read 'em all.

Same here, I love to get all kinds of new information, so as long as it seems to be from a credible source, I will read about any piece of data I can get (I draw the line at abstract mathematics, though, that stuff is just crazy ).

The FDA has be to so careful about labeling (understandably) that sometimes actions or side effects are listed that have never happened in a very large sample, but still remain on the label because it can't be absolutely proven that they couldn't happen, imo.

Pretty much, yeah. In my former job, I had the 'pleasure' to prepare the documents for the re-registration of a pharmaceutical product at the FDA. I can tell you, the bureaucracy is insane! It can take a year, if not more, to even change as much as the listing of the performed re-trials! Add that to the time you already needed to actually do said trials, and you know why sometimes, the FDA data just isn't as up to date as one would wish. Of course, it is important to rather be safe than sorry since even a miniscule mistake can have horrible consequenses, but it also means that not everything the FDA says is state of the art.

[Duchess]

Sneaky little fuckers.

No one knows that better than you...or your husband has super sperm.

[ramseycat]

Sneaky little fuckers.

No one knows that better than you...or your husband has super sperm.

[RJs-Ex]

From the original article:
According to the Board of Health, 7,000 girls under age 17 got pregnant last year throughout New York City and 90 percent were unplanned. Of those, 64 percent were aborted.

Based on this, 4032 abortions could've potentially been avoided had these girls been properly administered the MAP. Something to think about!

I don't think the students being given the MAP are using it for regular contraception. (Truthfully, I don't care if they are. It's not ideal, but much better than having even more unwanted babies.) Of course, there are always exceptions to generalizations no matter what the topic. It's not like the pills are in a candy dish just sitting there available to anyone who happens to wander by. The MAP is dispensed by a school nurse and accompanied by a lengthy explanation of how/why it's used, and encouragement to start using some regular form of birth control, which can also be dispensed by that same school nurse. I'm 100% for this program. I have a daughter and while yes, I'd want to be made aware if she was seeking the MAP, I'd much rather her get it without me knowing, than have her not get it at all.

[Duchess]

That is a tremendous amount of girls in one area. Not only that but they are 17 and younger. That's so young!

[Jimbone]

Whores.

j/k