The University Health System Should Distribute the Morning After Pill

For over 50 years birth control has been available to women but only through prescription. There are many women that don’t have health insurance, aren’t able to go to a clinic, or are too young and don’t have parental permission, hindering those who want to receive a prescription for birth control. Most people can easily access male/female condoms at nearly any local store. You can even purchase a “morning after” pill, known as Plan B, without a prescription. So why not sell oral contraceptives to women over the counter? Selling birth control over the counter can better help provide many health benefits for women, decrease teen pregnancy and abortion rates, and even save taxpayers money.

Over the counter birth control pills have been a topic of discussion for many women. Some might say it would pose many risks such as not receiving medical checkups and not knowing the side effects of birth control pills. Others may see it as a helpful to women because of the convenience of accessing the pills and not having to take time to schedule appointments. Additionally, due to health care and insurance policies some women might not have an easy access to birth control pills but the cost should not be a factor. Although over the counter birth control would allow an easier access for women, there are reasons why a doctor’s visit and a prescription are required to receive birth control pills.

The current fight for keeping oral contraceptives as a prescription drug is due to all of the negatives that over the counter oral contraceptives would pose. The debate is not arguing that birth control pills are bad or should be harder to get to but rather the fact that if they were easier to get to that the negatives would outweigh the positive.

Some people feel that it should be the female’s responsibility to provide the contraception during sex because females have more options’ then men do. Females can choose from birth control pills, the birth

Over the last few decades the rates in teen pregnancy have been a debate; did they rise over the past few years or did they actually decline? Contrary to some doctors and politicians the numbers associated with teen pregnancy have decline over the last couple of years. Although there are still people out there who believe this to be an issue it’s made more of an issue than it actually is. The ads and commercials are set out to scare teen-agers into believing that were at an all time high for this issue, but realistically its actually the exact opposite. Teen pregnancy rates haven’t dropped on there over the course of the years. There are a few major factors that have contributed a great deal to this change. Those changes include but are not limited to: more resources being available to these teenagers to prevent themselves from becoming pregnant, society is more open to talking about this issue as well as the religion and culture change aspect of families today. Despite the beliefs of others, teen pregnancy rates are at an all time low for the first time in decades.

As of recently, the approval of the emergency contraceptive Plan B, for the use of girls as young as fifteen years old has stirred up quite some controversy (Belluck, 2013). Those who oppose it cite the diminishing moral values that this would impose on an already increasingly secular society. These individuals believe that having access to such a powerful substance would encourage young girls to engage in sexual promiscuity without any fear of repercussion (Belluck, 2013). However, proponents of this new law argue that giving full access to fifteen year old girls would discourage them from becoming pregnant at such an early age and gives them the opportunity to make wise decisions about their bodies. Aside from the two strongly opposing sides to this dilemma, the actual nature of the dilemma stems from the ease with which these young girls would be able to access the emergency contraceptive drug. Before the new law came into place, the emergency contraceptive was only available through the prescription of a doctor and could only be accessed through a pharmacist (Aleccia, 2013). With the new law, anyone fifteen or older would be able to access and purchase the drug over-the-counter. Granting such access to girls who may at times not be fully aware of the consequences of their actions is the nature of the dilemma.

The refusal of some health insurers to include contraceptives as a part of an insurance plan for women is one of the most contentious disagreements in the health insurance industry. Insurance plans today cover a variety of prescription drugs, however some still do not approve of prescription contraceptive drugs and devices. More than half of U.S. states insurance policies require that other prescription drugs along with the FDA approved contraceptive drugs and devices be included on their health care plans, as well as any related medical services. These services entitle, annual visits for womens recommended preventive care and services. Although depending on individual state policies, some states allow employers or insurers to refuse

Women’s rights have been under attack for more than one hundred years. One of the biggest battles that still remains today is the battle of pro-choice and pro-life. The topic of abortion seems to be one that will go on forever. Women face the risk that at some point the pro-life movement could make the choice of having an abortion impossible, regardless of the reasoning behind it. Making the Emergency Birth Control pill, or the “morning after pill” more easily accessible to women could help eliminate the need for abortions.

Last Tuesday, advisors to the Food and Drug administration voted to make the "morning-after" pill available over-the-counter (1). The FDA has not yet acted on this recommendation (1). The morning-after pill is the vernacular term for emergency contraception, specifically, two pills with the commercial name, "Plan B", which have the ability to inhibit and, depending on one's perspective, possibly to terminate unwanted pregnancies. The FDA approved the first version of the morning-after pill for prescription use in 1998 (1). The issue today is whether it should be available without a prescription.

"We shouldn't have to remind people that when it comes to a woman's health, no politician should get to decide what's best for you." This was quoted by President Obama while he was attending a Planned Parenthood convention. The issues with abortion and birth control are a big problem in the United States. A major issue that was constantly debated about was the "morning after" pill also known as the Plan B pill or scientifically called RU-486. Questions arose like “is it harmful?” and the big question is, “what should be the minimum age a women should be able to get it?” Some people believe that the pill is another form of abortion. A real abortion happens when the individual is “under construction”, meaning that it is not a human just yet. Plan B is a way of preventing pregnancy and is to be taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex. This is a safe way to prevent pregnancy and should therefore be allowed over the counter for women at

The morning-after pill being sold over the counter to people under 17 poses many advantages. The pill should be sold over the counter because it can stop unwanted pregnancies, prevent future abortions, and can give privacy.

The morning after pill needs to be available to females of all ages. It can help teenagers to avoid pregnancy at such a young age. “High Teen Pregnancies Blamed on Contraceptives” pointed out that, “Teen pregnancies are high due to low availability and accessibility to contraceptives or more,” (Nakabugo). Population rates would decrease if contraceptives were available to all women because it would have prevented any babies. With more accessibility and less restriction, teen pregnancies would plummet as will population. In “A Bitter Pill, Contraceptives in Egypt” they elaborated about how, “Hassan turned to the black market to get birth control, until those disappeared,” (A Bitter Pill, Contraceptives in Egypt). Hassan looked everywhere in her town for birth control and ceased to find any. Even the black market didn’t have any, suspicious? When contraceptives are made available and accessible to everywhere and everyone, then population and pregnancy rates will lower a lot.

How many pregnant teens have there been? Over the years more girls are becoming teen moms. In Oklahoma teen pregnancy has become a problem. Recently Oklahoma has had a pregnancy rate of 47.5% (Tulsa World). Not only is it an issue in Oklahoma but an issue in the United States as a whole. The lack of awareness and how to prevent pregnancy is a reason to blame for the increasing numbers. The more we don’t make people aware of the increasing teen pregnancy rate and how to prevent then the numbers will continue to rise into an astonishing amount. Helping teens know of the different ways to prevent pregnancy can make an enormous difference in teen pregnancy. The issues that have an effect on teen pregnancy rates have been to the use of

"Teen pregnancy in the United States: In 2015, a total of 229,715 babies were born to women aged 15-19 years old, for a birth rate of 22.3 per 1,000 women in this age group. This is another record for U.S. teens and a drop of 8% from 2014. Although reasons for the declines are not totally clear, evidence suggests these declines are due to more teens abstaining from sexual activity, and more teens who are sexually active using birth control than in previous years. Still, the U.S. teen pregnancy rate is substantially higher than in other western industrialized nations, and racial/ethnic and geographic disparities in teen birth rates persist (cdc.gov)." As teenagers (in the United States), we are peer pressured or tempted to try new things. Some teens tend to try out drugs, and alcohol. However, some are having unprotected sex in which, is leads to having babies. This is called, teenage pregnancy. This has caused the United States to create records based off of the statistics and facts given from, researchers across the United States. In order to help prevent teenage pregnancy in the United States, teenagers must understand why, having a baby now isn’t such a smart move on their part.

The problem with birth control today is obtaining it in the first place. For most teens getting birth control is an intimidating experience. Girls must have a complete gynecological exam, which most have never had. Girls must also speak with a doctor about wanting birth control. "Even if it's only a male going to the store to get condoms he has to put up with comments like, 'I'll have to charge you an entertainment tax.' A female goes in and she hears, 'Hey honey, you're not the one whose supposed to be buying these.' She gets embarrassed" (health clinic worker). When free condoms are offered to students, they are less embarrassed to receive them. Students with condoms are more likely to use them during sexual activity.