Comments on: Plan B should be part of your plan.

By: jessica

jessica — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 21:56:13 +0000

I’ve not taken EC (though would have had a less stressful January if I had – that turned out ok). So, having read that it is a good idea to have some around “just in case” and having had a recent “what if” experience I picked some up at our student health center for $25USD. Much to my chagrin it expires in July – which was 4 months from the date of purchase. If we’re really supposed to keep it in a sock drawer it’s going to need to have a longer shelf life than that….

By: rossignol

rossignol — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 21:42:51 +0000

@BeckySharper, thanks for the clarification! Those were possibilities that hadn’t even crossed my mind, which just goes to show how important EC is!

By: BeckySharper

BeckySharper — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:35:42 +0000

@rossignol: You talk about how oral contraceptives “can be rendered ineffective” with antibiotics or that some women are just “really really fertile”….how would EC help in those situations? Wouldn’t it be more responsible and easier on the body to use another backup method rather than resorting to EC?

Yes, it’s always best to use backup if you’re taking antibiotics (starting from the assumption, of course, that the sex is consensual). However, what if you’re taking them and using condoms and the condom breaks? No form of contraception—especially barrier methods—are 100% effective. EC may still be required. (That’s why it’s called Plan B…you may still need it even if you have a Plan A for contraception).

And wouldn’t the woman probably not know about the oral BC+antibiotics ineffectiveness or about being “really really fertile” unless it was too late (i.e. she found out she was pregnant), thus rendering the use of EC moot?

Possibly. Possibly not. She might find out about the antibiotics rendering the Pill ineffective after having sex but within the 72 hour window in which she can still take EC to prevent pregnancy. Maybe she knows it already and therefore knows a broken condom or slipped diaphragm means she needs EC.

By: Mackey

Mackey — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:13:38 +0000

I’m glad that EC is available over the counter here in Australia from $AUD 20 – $AUD50.. and from what I understand, the pharmacist needs to ask a couple of questions, and that’s it.

I haven’t needed to take EC before. But in saying that, I’m glad that it is available to those that need it – and I hope that it is given with out judgement or shaming.

A couple of years ago, during my undergrad, there was some action taken on campus to ensure that all of the chemists provided EC, because one was not necessarily providing it.

PhDork – I’m definately going to find if my local pharmacist, where I get all my prescriptions filled, provides EC without judgement or shaming. If they don’t, I will definately be changing.

By: engendro

engendro — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:01:24 +0000

I have taken de EC twice, the first time I had a huge headache, and suicide thoughts, it was very strange because I pass from happy but worry about the broken condom, to have the need of killing myself because my life was worthless. I had to remind myself that I feel this way because of the pill. I don’t know anybody with the same reaction.

The second time I took the pill and I went to climbing, no cramps and no headache, but my sweat smelled a lot, I suppose I was sweating the hormones but it was very weird. I have to take two showers in a row.

The first time I have to go to a doctor to get a prescription, but last year (with a lot of backlash from the right-wing) the law changed and I was able to go to the pharmacy and buy the pill without prescription.

And I live in Spain.

By: rossignol

rossignol — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 02:35:53 +0000

I have a couple of questions about things in the article. You talk about how oral contraceptives “can be rendered ineffective” with antibiotics or that some women are just “really really fertile”….how would EC help in those situations? Wouldn’t it be more responsible and easier on the body to use another backup method rather than resorting to EC? And wouldn’t the woman probably not know about the oral BC+antibiotics ineffectiveness or about being “really really fertile” unless it was too late (i.e. she found out she was pregnant), thus rendering the use of EC moot?

Anyway, I had just moved to Austin TX from Oregon, and the condom broke. I just thought, ok, I’ll go to the pharmacy and get Plan B, and then I realized I’M IN TEXAS. Luckily Austin’s a liberal place, and I was able to get it from my local pharmacy with no questions or judgment but for $45. I just felt a little bit of nausea and fatigue, but my period was like 5 days late – probably because I was worring.

Recently I was at CVS to pick up some other prescription, and the girl in front of me got some EC. The elderly man behind the counter smiled and told the girl that she could go online and print a coupon for $10 off if she ever needed it again! How sweet! I wish I had known that.

By: mischiefmanager

mischiefmanager — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 21:25:35 +0000

@Tall: *hugs*

@Jenn: He told you to use it but wouldn’t write for it? What a douche.

By: Jenn_smithson

Jenn_smithson — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:28:24 +0000

I’ve taken it several times, some of them for it’s intended use. I have had bouts of dysfunctional uterine bleeding throughout my early and mid-twenties. For some of these, I went to the doctor who told me he could prescribe something to stop the bleeding (re. Being on regular bc pills wasn’t helping) but even with insurance, the deductible and copay for that particular med was way too expensive for me. The doctor suggested thy Plan B might perform the same function. The first couple of times I took it, I had to drive an hour to visit the nearest Planned Parenthood because the same doctor who suggested it refused to prescribe it. Then it became available OTC and as much as I hate shopping there, I easily bought it at Wal Mart. They were keeping it behind the counter inthe pharmacy but I didn’t have a hard time buying it. I never really had any effects from it even when I took it to prevent pregnancy. And it was an absolute godsend those months when I just couldn’t stop bleeding (I once bled for 35 days straight before I became so fed up I took two packages of Plan B).

As mysteriously as it began, I no longer have bad months like that anymore so I haven’t had to use it for a while but I absolutely would in a heartbeat if that bleeding began again.

By: gryphongal

gryphongal — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:52:12 +0000

On the other side of the world (Singapore) the EC is prescription only and you have to see a doctor for it. There was no fuss/ judgement the 3 times I’ve had to obtain EC (from different doctors, male and female). One of the lady doctors suggested going on BC if I was going to have an active sex life, but that was it.

About USD20 for the 2-pill pack. I do wish it was available OTC here.

I understand that it is available OTC in other SE Asian countries e.g. Thailand and have friends stocking up on it OTC when visiting these countries.

By: Tall-in-Heels

Tall-in-Heels — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:15:05 +0000

It was 2008, the condom slipped off, Kansas (college town), Walgreens pharmacy, $40, zero fuss or judgment, no nausea, the cramps were on par with what is normal for my periods, but it was my perception that I started shedding hair like crazy for a few months after I took it. I was 36 and with the partner I would go on to marry. I felt like we should have been in a position to roll the dice, but knew we weren’t. After taking the first pill, I went and sat in the middle of a field at midnight and sobbed.