Why haven't the ACLU and/or women's rights groups taken this intentional war against women's rights to choose to court? Every day that goes by someone is forced into difficult and unnecessary corners!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

We need federal legislation to make plan B available in every state under similar rules. Where it is easier for men to get, sexism rules and legislators are fools!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

"Sorry, young lady. You're too young to not get pregnant."

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

An intelligent conversation about Plan B needs to recognize that to many, the most important question is whether Plan B causes abortion. The article states: According to Not-2-late.com, Plan B does not end a pre-existing pregnancy. It usually works to delay ovulation -- the release of the egg from the ovaries.

But Susan Willis writes on the US Catholic Bishop website: Scientific literature “lists eleven possible modes of action for emergency contraception, seven of which can be abortifacient, that is, designed to prevent the implantation or survival of the embryo.” She continues "The article concedes that Plan B inhibits “implantation of a fertilized egg.” But how deceptive to speak of a “fertilized egg” when it’s a week-old human embryo who’s attempting to implant! Preventing implantation causes the embryo to starve to death, a death that is just as final as that produced by an abortion weeks later. There’s no confusion among scientists and doctors on this."

We need to refer to the science that refutes these claims, if it exists, or otherwise be clear that our difference with those who oppose Plan B is that we put a different value on a week-old human embryo.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Plan B is technically available "over the counter," but in fact it's going to be mainly kept behind the counter. Because of the FDA's age restriction, it can only be sold at pharmacies, many of which are not open 24-hours a day. A pharmacist must be on duty to dispense it.

Then there's still the problem that came up when Plan B was prescription-only, which was pharmacists claiming a right to refuse to dispense it.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

So, we're supposed to be nice and do what we're told and obey the law and assorted other people including the government while they all run our lives. (my)PLAN B - Walk into the pharmacy and say in a loud voice, "Where are the F------G Morning After Pills. I want one now!" Don't wait to be humiliated. Stop the 'walk of shame'. March in there and demand what's yours. You'll get over it and so will they. Nice is just fine, stupid is not. Thanks, ANNA

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

CVS has tired in some locations to claim that demand will be low, so the pharmacy will only stock a few plan B's. Unfortunately for them, they are claiming low demand for cities of millions....they need some pressue in order to keep adequate amounts of plan B on the shelves. Just one more way in which the right wing nuts are abridging our rights.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

"Embarrassment may play a role in purchasing condoms, too, which are under lock and key in some drug stores throughout the country."

I guess I haven't becomed completely inured to the shenanigans of right wing religious zealots. This shocks.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Can you imagine every male 12 and older being fitted with a seminal regulating device? Or being charged $50+ for every emission, nocturnal or otherwise? What would be the next "Catcher in the Rye"?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

....pro-choicers, start buying 'em and stockpiling 'em. You can be a man or a post-menopausal woman or whatever. Buy them and give them to a woman or girl who needs them. I sure could have used one of those pills in 1966.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

As a proudly-snipped guy and father of a daughter, I like that idea of stockpiling. Is there a limit on how many can be bought by one person within a 24 hour period like Claritin D (because we allergy sufferers are all convicted meth-chemists per the DEA, right?)? Is it $45 for one dose? Would it be illegal for stockpilers to dispense it later? If so, how might one work around that?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

OK, did a search on not-2-late.com for EC pharmacy participants. None within 5 miles of my SOCal zipcode. So I do a little phone calling and when two of the eleven pharmacies will even talk to me I get the following responses:

Pharmacy A (national chain): "Plan-B is too controversial. We're not getting involved in politics so we don't plan to carry it."

Pharmacy B (also a national chain): "70% of this town is evangelical Christian. We're in a democracy so majority rules." When asked what that had to do with carrying Plan-B, "No comment."

I called Planned Parenthood—a frequent corner for "prayer vigils" every Sunday—who invited me to come down for an appointment (they're too afraid to talk over the phone about it).

So there we have it, fundamentalism, fear and politics-is-so-personal-we-must-avoid-it all in one neat little town in southern Cal. Heaven help the sexual active population of our town. Guess there's always a good drive to L.A., eh?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I have been watching the medicare fiasco from the sane side
of the border, particularly the drug plan disaster. When the bird flu scare was at it height and the U. S. Govt. bought millions of doses at $100 each, I went into my local drug store and asked them the cost of a single dose. $40, Canadian, at the time worth $30 US. The reason, very simple,
since the government lands up paying a large share of the
cost of all drugs, they keep a lid on the price and this government does not want to bankroll Pfizer's executive pension fund. I just phoned my neighbourhood drugstore about plan B. If you have a precription, $27.57 plus prescription fee, normaly about $10. $37.57 without prescription. Canadian, so take off 10%. I you are on welfare,
the government pays all but the first $2 of your drug bill. The effect of this is very easy to see. Canadian teen pregnancy rate per 100,000 : 20. U.S. rate : 49.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Good job with this article Alternet. THIS is the kind of serious journalism that women come to this site looking for. Hope to read more. BTW, drugstore.com has plan B (no perscription, overnight delivery) and Princeton has a great website that helps women find the closest local provider of Plan B:
http://ec.princeton.edu/providers/
Including information for those under 18 (how to get it) and information sheets. This is a GREAT website, definately check it out.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

If you are a woman, with health insurance, (since otherwise it would be damn expensive), I HIGHLY recommend that you look into an IUD. It won't be perfect for everyone (I had to argue with my obgyn for year before she agreed to let me get one) but I tell you, for me, it RULES. Mine is good for 10 years, no more monthly trips to the pharmacy, no more worries about missed pills or hormone issues, one $15 copay and for the next 10 years I am covered (which is good, because if I left my job/health insurance, I'd have to spend $50 a month on BC). Check it out and see if one is good for you, if your insurance covers it, get one!! I calculated that over the course of 10 years, I have saved at least $3,600 in birth control costs (assuming I have health insurance the whole time and only had to pay the $30 a month that it costs through my insurance plan- if I go without insurance during that time, I would save even more, not to mention missing out on frustration and waiting times at pharmacies). It is the most population form of contraception in the developing word- and if it's good for 1 billion women worldwide, it's gotta be good for some of us American women! Just a thought....

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

These kids know there going to get pregnet! Why make it simple? So they never have values! I think any kind of pill to avoid getting pregnet could be avoided by waiting for the right person..If your not ready to commit keep it under raps. We teach our kids from TV that's it's OK to have sex..Teach them to not want sex but make Love to someone and make them wait a sutible time to make some what sure there going to be around for awhile..But with people going in and out of marriges faster than I can wear out a cheap pair of shoe's is telling them if it doesn't work then I'll get child support.
Pill's are not going to cure our problems..We need to teach our kids morals and values.Not just set them in front of a TV or video game..

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

NARAL has a petition going to encourage national pharmacy chains to stock and sell Plan B. You can sign it at: http://prochoiceaction.org/campaign/ec_pharm

Not only is it a good public health choice for them, it is also a good business choice. If you know a place that sells it, tell all your friends. If you know that a specific pharmacy or chain absolutely refuses to sell it, tell everyone you know. Religious fundamentalists aren't the only ones who can organize a boycott!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Leave it to a woman's publication to come up with all kinds of what-ifs that really have little bearing in the real world.
I guess no one considered the fact that the morning after pill is supposed to be only one part of a number of preventive acts: 1) engage in birth control. 2)have enough common sense to know your body so that you have a good idea as to when you are fertile. 3) be engaged in a meaningful relationship so that in the event that it does come to deciding what to do if you do become pregnant, you are at least somewhat prepared and have some sort of gameplan.
Of course none of this is ever considered by most of these facist radical feminists . According to them this is another conspiracy by "MEN" to undermine their repoductive rights and henceforth their own autonomy.
God, when are these Freaks going to give it a rest!!!!!
Why does every point they make sound like a bad daytime Soap!! Are their lives so boring that they need to inject more drama?
Can you imagine as boring a pathetic life where one has to actually call around to see if you can get a pill that you really don't need--just to make a point? Perhaps you may want to invest your energies in finding a real job and in doing so you may even find a life!
Gee, maybe if you can't afford a one time fee of $45.00 for
a stupid decision--and thereby prevent even greater hardship, perhaps you may want to consider keeping your legs crossed?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I read alternet on occasion and rarely post comments on any website. This post is in response to the comment posted earlier and listed below my comment. First of all, the comment does not address this issue at hand. You obviously feel the need to suggest that an article published by women is irrelevant. Ah, planted that seed of doubt for the reader.

I have used the morning after pill on one occasion. I used it not because of my own lack of responsibility, but as a secondary precaution because I do not rely on birth control pills alone and the male involved couldn't manage to use the condom properly. And the morning after pill is part of the 'game plan' as you call it. I think that people should use other forms of birth control, and this one in the event that the others fail or you are raped. I can assure you that I do not enjoy 'drama' in my life and was quite upset at the prospect of resorting to this level of birth control.

You assume that the persons calling the pharmacies don't need this pill. They may have needed it or may need it in the future. I had difficulty obtaining it, and had to see my physician. I think it is highly likely that if Viagra were so difficult to obtain, men might be concerned about where they could purchase it.

As for a real job, I've worked in the male dominated coal industry and I certainly have a 'real' job. So do you assume all women concerned with women's health issues don't have real jobs? What about female physicians, nurses, school teachers....

And perhaps all men should keep their pants on. Then no one would ever need the morning after pill and women would not find themselves having to worry about the situation at all.

My final comment: I personally believe that sex should be the component of a relationship that is healthy and supportive and I do not think that sex with random partners is safe-mentally or physically. However, people are raped, birth control does fail, and I DO NOT think I have the right to judge others to such an extent that I am going to tell them their concerns with their personal health are unimportant or that they should not have sex if they choose to do so.

"Leave it to a woman's publication to come up with all kinds of what-ifs that really have little bearing in the real world.
I guess no one considered the fact that the morning after pill is supposed to be only one part of a number of preventive acts: 1) engage in birth control. 2)have enough common sense to know your body so that you have a good idea as to when you are fertile. 3) be engaged in a meaningful relationship so that in the event that it does come to deciding what to do if you do become pregnant, you are at least somewhat prepared and have some sort of gameplan.
Of course none of this is ever considered by most of these facist radical feminists . According to them this is another conspiracy by "MEN" to undermine their repoductive rights and henceforth their own autonomy.
God, when are these Freaks going to give it a rest!!!!!
Why does every point they make sound like a bad daytime Soap!! Are their lives so boring that they need to inject more drama?
Can you imagine as boring a pathetic life where one has to actually call around to see if you can get a pill that you really don't need--just to make a point? Perhaps you may want to invest your energies in finding a real job and in doing so you may even find a life!
Gee, maybe if you can't afford a one time fee of $45.00 for
a stupid decision--and thereby prevent even greater hardship, perhaps you may want to consider keeping your legs crossed?"

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Direct your advertising at MEN. Play up that just carrying a condom in your wallet is not enough, maybe even do a joint promotion with a condom maker and sell them as a "TWOFER" with a discount...

If men start to carry them, have them in their medicine cabinet or their bedside table both partners benefit and the grip of the pharmacy is loosened.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

there's PLAN B!!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]