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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Re: Plan B in vending machines on college campuses
do they have condoms in vending machines? If not- i find it quite backwards.
i don't think it's a great idea to begin with - i think people buying it should have a pharmacist avail to ask questions, etc.... the idea of having meds just sitting there to buy without any chance of getting advice, info, etc, from a human... well, something doesn't sit right with that.
I've never asked a pharmacist anything whether it was OTC or prescription. Who are all these hypothetical people asking pharmacists questions? When CVS is backed up and the line is 15 deep, is anyone asking anything besides, "how long is this going to take?"?
Doesn't bother me.
i think it's important b/c there is a lot NOT known about this med.... so many people think it's an abortion pill - and the idea of young women taking it, thinking that is what it is... then feeling badly about it later, etc - I just think it's an odd thing to have in a vending machine.... next to cold meds, tylenol, etc... things that have been on the market for ages, and are not likely to cause confusion over anything.
but that's in my perfect world -- I ask pharmacists questions a lot... maybe it's b/c i'm in pharma- i'm more curious about stuff i'm taking than the average person.
we're talking about a heavier version of the pill, this is not RU-486.
i'm fine with it. as long as directions are prominently displayed then 2 thumbs up from me.
i am sick to death of everyone saying "oh, we should make sure a pharmacist can explain this to her." really? is it because i'm a girl that it's automatically assumed that i can't read directions????
I think it's a great idea. I think the people looking for the "morning after" pill aren't necessarily the ones who think it's an abortion pill. I think they're the ones who say "F--k, I had unprotected sex last night and I don't want to get PG!"
I wonder what Colleen (Clord) our board sex ed guru has to say about this?
I think the type of person who wants to ask a pharmacist questions won't be the ones getting this from a vending machine (for the simple fact that they can't ask questions).
For everyone else, having this available with condoms is a great idea. Keeping people from these things doesn't stop them from having sex.
I know it's not the abortion pill - but i know many people do NOT know the difference.
and no- most people do NOT read directions for sh!t... not b/c they can't - b/c they are lazy about it. I can't tell you how many posts ask questions about how to take BCP, how to take a pregnancy test, OPKs, etc... when they have clear directions.
I'm not against it- I am just not for it. someone on the P&Ce board mentioned it was located in a health center - not just random in some hallway.... that makes me much happier about it - so women at least HAVE an opporunity to ask some questions if they are unsure. Hell - if only to find out if they CAN take it - why have to buy it first to read the package- to then find out you can't take it b/c of other meds you are on, or some other health issue?
If they want to ask questions they can still go to a pharmacy.
I think it's great that it's available.
Aha! Of course I peeked in. = )
I think it's great! It's over the counter-- the more readily available, the better.
I wrote a very long answer, posted it, then realized that people outside of our nest world could take it and use it out of context. So that's all I will say right now! = )
Kari- it's ok that you don't know. Emergency contraception helps to prevent a pregnancy. Say a woman has sex, doesn't use a condom, or realizes they haven't taken their pill regularly and she thinks there is a chance the could become pregnant. Taking emergency contraception would significantly decrease her chances of becoming pregnant. EC is a higher dose of the hormones used in the pill and helps to prevent conception.
Here's a key reason why it's critical for EC to be available over the counter: it has a very short window of effectiveness. It's most effective if taken within the first 24 hours of intercourse. Women can take it later than that to decrease pregnancy risk, but it becomes less and less effective the later it is taken. It is not an abortion and won't have an effect on a pregnancy. EC has been approved by the FDA for over the counter use for women 17 and older.
This is much different from the abortion pill. There is a very rigid medical process that is followed with the abortion pill. A woman will meet with a doctor several times during the process
My main point about EC is that time is of the essence. We encourage young women to have it on hand just in case. By saying she needs to consult a medical professional to purchase an over the counter medication is only creating a barrier to access that may lead to an unintended pregnancy.
Gail, I am curious... do you think that other OTC medications should only be accessed in a pharmacy? Tylenol has been over the counter for as long as I can remember. People can cause damage to their liver if it's not taken as directed, yet most of us don't blink an eye on the fact that you can purchase that in a vending machine.
But I'm interested in the history of this drug. Was it first a Rx that ran out of patent life and finally got approved to be OTC? I'm just wondering why women can't get monthly BC over the counter but can get a high, one-time dose of EC over the counter. Thoughts?
this was my first thought as well. if someone is accessing these drugs so easily, are they following up with a dr to deal with these other issues.
my second thought however goes to a more immature place...in that in college, the guys i lived with were a bunch of morons...nicest guys in the world, but just stupid and i can totally see a friday or saturday night drunk dare to be to buy and take this just bc its there....
My thoughts are that EC is specifically for emergency use, it's not encouraged as a reliable method of birth control. Oral contraception is intended for long term use. There are various brands of pills with different hormone combinations, and not all women experience side effects in the same way. Finding the right pill for a woman is kind of a dance-- it's not one size fits all.
I have heard whispers of the pill going over the counter but it would probably be way down the line.
The Journey of Me
Vacation, 2011
I hear what you're saying, Trish. You know that I think these are conversations that should be had. But, we shouldn't our desire to educate folks create a barrier to access. We shouldn't assume that the person who wants to ask questions won't be able to do so. The 1800 Plan line would be an excellent resource (and no doubt listed in the box) for a person with questions. We also have to realize that people may already be well informed and just need to get the medication.
ETA: Those who aren't informed and just want the medication should be able to access it as well. Again, time is of the essence. The conversation about HIV and STI's is important, as is the conversation about preventing future pregnancies. But there is an immediate need, and frankly, my experience is a person in an emergency situation is not listening to all my fabulous counseling messages anyway. They want to get the issue addressed and get out the door.
i agree w/ you 100%. i don't ever want to limit access in an effort to force education (i've worked in enough marginalized communities to understand how short-sighted and harmful that would be). but...for me it's more about society than individuals. that providing better access is just one part of a larger, more comprehensive way we need to be addressing the sexual health needs of our communities. access to plan b is essential, but w/o empowering people with the tools they need to make the smartest sexual decisions possible, i still feel like we are not addressing the bigger social issues at play - like sexual silence, sexual violence, etc.
Not going to quote, because it's getting too long, lol. But, I absolutely agree with you. It's a frustrating world we live in and we have many stop gaps in place instead of addressing the real needs.
What drives me batty is that in terms of supporting a comprehensive approach to sexuality edcuation, it really is common ground for most of America.