by miss magnolia 
The drug Plan B – also known as the morning after pill – will now be available to individuals who are 17 and over to purchase without a prescription. There's a huge debate from both the pro-lifers and pro-choicers on whether or not this is right.
I believe in life and life at conception, but I don't see how Plan B has anything to do with abortion. The drug in effect is not killing a baby. It is preventing a sperm from fertilizing an egg. I guess I just may not understand the pro-life argument for raising the age for Plan B purchasers because to me, it prevents a person from getting pregnant who then later will have to decide on whether or not to abort that child. Isn't it better that we prevent those kinds of abortions before a child is even created?
Of course it's true that people should not be sleeping together if they are not ready to raise a child, but we also need to be realistic here. People are going to do that regardless and if we can prevent pregnancies and abortions, I don't see a problem with allowing teens 17 and up to purchase the drug.
Perhaps it's the lesser of two evils that I'm arguing here because I would rather see someone take Plan B before getting pregnant, rather than later choosing to abort the child. In any event, I actually don't believe that Plan B is an evil thing. I think it prevents the mother from making the decision to abort in the first place.
At the same time, Plan B should not be used in place of a birth control. I don't know the long-term effects of the drug and I don't think most people consider that when they are in the situation of having to purchase it in the first place. There is no evidence linking an increase in sexual activity with the Plan B drug so until someone comes up with solid statistical analysis of a link, Plan B seems to be the better solution in preventing unnecessary abortions.
What do you think about Plan B aka the morning after pill?
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Comments (112)
I'd rather see a 17 year old take the pill then to birth an unwanted baby.
Plan B shouldn't be used in place of a contraceptive.
Hi, I know you said that you believe pregnancy begins at conception and so do I. In doing a little research on Plan B, I have found that it is very similar to birth control pills in that it doesn't always work just by preventing ovulation. It actually works in three ways - 1. prevent ovulation, but since that doesn't always work, 2. prevent fertilization but since that doesn't always work, 3. change the lining of the uterus so that if the conceived egg does get there, it can't implant. And #3 is an abortificiant action. No, plan b does not alway cause an abortion, but sometimes, it does because sometimes # 1 and 2 fail and #3 has to work to take the already conceived baby and make sure that it can't implant. This in effect does terminate a pregnancy.
Here is a link showing that plan b uses all three of these actions.
http://www.go2planb.com/plan-b-pharmacists/how-plan-b-works.aspx
Anyway, if you look up any hormonal birth control, you'll find that the third action is there as well and that birth control can be an abortiacient. (This is why I will not use hormonal birth control.) We just don't know when it prevents pregnancy and when it terminates one.
Hope this helps people to understand why so many pro-lifers are against Plan B.
I think it's a better option than an unemployed teenager with a baby.
I do not like it or find it beneficial. It's not a birth control method.
Christians do not advocate evil in any form, as you are. If it happens, it happens but you do not make excuses to make it happen.
@alaskamommy@xanga - Glad you wrote this, if you hadn't I would have.
I also just want to say that the title of this blog is not factual and should be changed.
@sunshinekl@xanga - How is implantation failure synonymous with abortion? It's completely possible for a fertilized egg to just not implant in the uterus, and no one would ever know. Take it from someone with a problematic uterine environment - the natural lining of my uterus, before, during, and after taking hormonal birth control, is naturally less-than-ideal for zygote implantation. Does that mean I'm constantly aborting my unborn children? I certainly hope not, because I would love to have children.
I don't understand how everyone considers implantation failure abortion. It's essentially a failed pregnancy. It happens so frequently by NATURE, let alone inducing it with a drug. I can understand the pro-life argument to a point, but two cells? I'd much rather see the "abortion" of a two-celled organism than a partially formed child a few weeks later...I am pro-choice, but I think I agree with the author of this post that in this instance, it's really about the "lesser of two evils". Who's to say how often Plan B causes implantation failure? Or if that's ever what actually happens? It's possible, sure...but no one knows. In saying that, I realize that more research definitely needs to be done, but regardless, I would much rather a seventeen year old be able to take a pill and put her mind at ease, rather than deal with a pregnancy and whether or not to terminate it.
I didn't intend for this to be such a long comment, sorry for rambling.
they should not allow kids to buy any drugs... besides, i believ plan B pill is some sort of chemo drug... get rid it now and fast and suffer long and hard later...
im not gonna lie ive used this pill before. Im 16 in ontario and ive known about it before it started having commercials we learned about it in school. Plus its just on shelves and anyone can buy it here. Secound if u take it within 72 hours it stops the sperm from even reaching the egg. the earlyer the faster and better results. dosent mess up your period or anything
personally, for me the issue of this pill brings up the question of the purpose of sex. sure, it'll decrease the "problem" of teenage moms and abortions, but it's not stopping the "source" of the problem...sex before marriage, sex before you're ready to live with the possible, "natural" results...this just feels like another attempt to find a loophole to fulfill our needs and our wants...[shrugs] just my two cents.
@whitetrashpoet@xanga - First let me say that I am so sorry that you have a hard time getting pregnant. I understand how difficult that is, I have a hard time getting pregnant also.
To answer your question: I believe that life begins at conception, so when the egg is fertilized by the sperm. I also believe that it is not up to us to decide whether that life should continue or not. It's one thing to intentionally take something that creates an environment that does not allow that life to continue. It's a completely different thing if there is something naturally occurring within the body that causes this to happen.
I believe that God is the author of life and therefore the only One who should control it. I do not believe choosing the lesser of two evils as being a RIGHT decision. It may be an easier decision but that doesn't, in my opinion, make it right.
Just like you said, no one knows how often Plan B is actually an abortifacient. But I can't consider it as a positive when there is a possibility, even a tiny one, that it is actually a negative.
I agree with you...it's like when you're stuck between a rock and hard place you gotta do what's best which is to take birth control instead of having a kid you can't support or getting an abortion especially with someone who is a minor I think you'd rather prevent it before it gets out of control. If plan b is like abortion than you can say that about any form of birth control..you could say a condom stop sperm from fertilizing an egg...it's the same thing it's just it forms a barrier whereas plan b (which is only a higher dose of the hormones found in regular birth control pills) prevents it by controlling ovulation so that you are less fertile.
and I've used the pill a few times....sad to say but I'm not going to sit here and say I haven't and judge others who have...but it really doesn't make you want to have sex more...well I don't know about teenagers but for me it did the total opposite. I actually avoid it now that I don't want to have any more sitting in planned parenthood or the clinic trying to pee in a cup and then having your body all screwed up because of the hormones...not a pretty experience.
@sunshinekl@xanga - Good point of view. It does make sense - to be truly pro-life it'd be fairly hypocritical to support it. I just think that it's a good resource for young girls - but I do genuinely wish there was more information about it! I didn't even realize that until I commented here...a lot about western medicine bothers me (the HPV vaccine, etc) and I never thought twice about Plan B, to be perfectly honest. Now I need to do some research!
Also - I'm sorry you have a hard time getting pregnant as well; I'm not trying at this point, but when my husband and I start trying it's going to be a very difficult process. But, I also want to adopt, so however things turn out I'll be fine.
@whitetrashpoet@xanga - Unfortunately there is so much that we don't understand about medicine and people tend to trust that if it's approved by the FDA then it's ok to use. But the truth is that there are no longer term studies on the use of Plan B, birth control pills, or the HPV vaccine. The best thing we can do is do the research ourselves and not just trust what we are told about anything.
I pray that when you decide to have children that God will bless you whether it's biologically or with a baby of the heart through adoption. My husband and I also want to adopt. We do have 1 son but we consider him a miracle and don't know if we will have any more biologically. If we don't have another one in the next couple of years then we will start the adoption process.
Thanks for the discussion, it's nice to be able to talk with someone who doesn't attack me for my view point.
I pesonally believe all it will do is encourage more younsters to have sex. They'll figure "well if I get pregnant, there is plan B."
And to me, yes it is still aborting IF they are pregnant. The funny thing is they may actually take it in fear of being pregnant and yet NOT even be pregnant. As I said, I think the sexual activity with multiply in leaps and bounds for sure with this.
@sunshinekl@xanga - I love discussing, and I'm pleased to have a good discussion on Revelife - I commented on and off a long time ago, but I prefer debate to attacks and finally stopped commenting after senseless attacking.
Thanks for being able to calmly state and argue your viewpoint! And good luck with your future child(ren), whether they be biological or adopted - both are wonderful :)
You never see the same pro-lifers protesting the iraq war, etc.
"The drug in effect is not killing a baby. It is preventing a sperm from fertilizing an egg."
Exactly. I don't understand why non-medical professionals insist otherwise, honestly.
Plan B has saved my butt a few times over. I'm all for it.
To those who say "Oh, it's just going to encourage those horny kids to have sex more":
SHUT. UP.
People are going to have sex whether there's birth control or not. Having Plan B available is a fantastic form of relief, if something happens- the condom breaks, or you had sex in a very unplanned fashion.
@JUSTAVAPORHERE@xanga -
"I think the sexual activity with multiply in leaps and bounds for sure with this."
I'm going to have to disagree with you on this one. Contraceptives aren't cheap, and most teenagers may not be able to afford multiple trips to the store for Plan B. Besides, the same people who would have reckless, unprotected sex are likely to keep doing so no matter what new product is out.
@Shy___Away@xanga -
"Plan B has saved my butt a few times over. I'm all for it."
Word to that. I know some girls who may not have graduated college and had the great lives they have now if it weren't for Plan B. Luckily, I never needed to use it. The side effects aren't so great, I hear.
@LiberalArmyWife@xanga - The side effects are pretty much random bleeding, super-nausea, and I, at least get super grouchy. It's not my favorite, and it IS NOT cheap, but somehow, I think I prefer that over carrying a baby
"I believe in life and life at conception, but I don't see how Plan B
has anything to do with abortion. The drug in effect is not killing a
baby. It is preventing a sperm from fertilizing an egg."
Sadly incorrect. It kills the child if the egg is fertilized. That's why its not called "plan a."