# No more prescriptions needed for the 'morning after pill'? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 12, 2002, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-prescriptions-needed-for-the-morning-after-pill/128173 "2002-09-12T22:55:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-prescriptions-needed-for-the-morning-after-pill/128173/1 "2002-09-12T22:55:55Z")
[http://www.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/09/12/morning.after.pill.otsc/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/09/12/morning.after.pill.otsc/index.html) Should the ‘morning after pill’ be available over the counter? The FDA is considering making it so. The article suggests that it may actually _prevent_ abortions by preventing ovulation if you take it early enough. And not having to get a prescription for it would make it easier to take it early after having unprotected sex. Is it a good idea to make it available over the counter? ---
**Author:** ![jane\_says](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jane\_says](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jane_says)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-prescriptions-needed-for-the-morning-after-pill/128173/2 "2002-09-12T23:13:45Z")
I just took a friend of mine to get the morning-after pill. I was amazed by the whole process. She’d had sex with an old boyfriend who was in town for a few weeks and the condom broke. Her regular doctor couldn’t see her, and his office directed her to the health department. She’d never been there before, so they asked her to fill out some paperwork, weighed her, and asked a few questions. Within fifteen minutes, we were out the door with a box of pills and a receipt for a hepatitis shot. How easy is that? I couldn’t help but think how much of the crazy abortion puzzle could be solved this way. No fetus to mourn for, no protesters, and no guilt for her. Just a lecture from me about not having sex with men who are too stupid to operate a birth control device. BTW, I am pro-life. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-prescriptions-needed-for-the-morning-after-pill/128173/3 "2002-09-12T23:25:32Z")
One vote here for “yes”. We sell condoms and foam OTC to prevent pregnancies, why not morning-after pills? I think it’s just silly to consider it as an “abortion”. It prevents a pregnancy, not terminates it. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-prescriptions-needed-for-the-morning-after-pill/128173/4 "2002-09-13T00:02:18Z")
Seems reasonable, though weren’t there serious side effects that require a doctors visit just to be safe? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-prescriptions-needed-for-the-morning-after-pill/128173/5 "2002-09-13T00:51:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Apos \* > \*\*Seems reasonable, though weren’t there serious side effects that require a doctors visit just to be safe? \*\* It’s all relative risk. The side-effects of the morning after pill are far, far fewer and less dangerous than the side-effects of unintended pregnancy. Overall, the risk of the morning-after pill is probably about the same as the risk of taking aspirin. QtM, MD ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-prescriptions-needed-for-the-morning-after-pill/128173/6 "2002-09-13T02:25:28Z")
My understanding is that the Morning After Pill contains a megadose of estrogen and/or progesterone. Essentially, it’s several weeks’ worth of the same stuff that’s in regular birth control pills, crammed into a single dose. If the morning-after pill becomes available over-the-counter, then regular, non-morning-after birth control pills should be available over-the-counter too. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-prescriptions-needed-for-the-morning-after-pill/128173/7 "2002-09-13T03:22:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tracer \* > \*\*My understanding is that the Morning After Pill contains a megadose of estrogen and/or progesterone. Essentially, it’s several weeks’ worth of the same stuff that’s in regular birth control pills, crammed into a single dose. > > If the morning-after pill becomes available over-the-counter, then regular, non-morning-after birth control pills should be available over-the-counter too. \*\* It’s not quite so straightforward. Episodic use of high-dose estrogens doesn’t require regular monitoring by Pap smear and pelvic exam as surveillance for cancer during long-term estrogen therapy does. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-prescriptions-needed-for-the-morning-after-pill/128173/8 "2002-09-13T09:57:19Z")
Here in the UK, its available already. I don’t know much about the long term implications, but its certainly, IMO, a good thing, and prevents embarrasing visits to your GP. AFAIK, there aren’t any serious side-effects, unless you’re already pregnant - hence why you normally had to see a GP or nurse to get it prescribed. ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-prescriptions-needed-for-the-morning-after-pill/128173/9 "2002-09-13T10:26:36Z")
Are there any problems associated with continual use? It’s possible some people could see this as a form of contraception. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-prescriptions-needed-for-the-morning-after-pill/128173/10 "2002-09-13T15:36:48Z")
I think in Washington state and Virginia it is already available without a prescription. I haven’t heard anything negative about it so far (but that may have a lot to do with the propoganda that I’m more likely to be exposed to.) If the FDA does allow it, will it really matter in many parts of the country, as Wal-Mart won’t carry it? ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-prescriptions-needed-for-the-morning-after-pill/128173/11 "2002-09-13T16:17:25Z")
Qagdop, are there other contraindications? Like ones for birth control pills or other hormonal contraception, such as history of stroke, blood clots, etc.? If so, does anyone think desperate women are likely to lie to a health professional or do something else stupid/risk their health out of desperation? If so, should there be some form of oversight, if not necessarily the need for a visit to an M.D.? I think it’s a great concept, but I also think there are a lot of people who take stupid risks with their health, too. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-prescriptions-needed-for-the-morning-after-pill/128173/12 "2002-09-13T19:19:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\*Episodic use of high-dose estrogens doesn’t require regular monitoring by Pap smear and pelvic exam as surveillance for cancer during long-term estrogen therapy does. \*\* Unless you get lazy and start using the morning-after pill as a _routine_ form of birth control, at which point it essentially _becomes_ long-term estrogen therapy. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-prescriptions-needed-for-the-morning-after-pill/128173/13 "2002-09-13T20:09:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tracer \* > \*\* > Unless you get lazy and start using the morning-after pill as a _routine_ form of birth control, at which point it essentially _becomes_ long-term estrogen therapy. \*\* Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t emergency contraception cause tremendous nausea, etc.? i.e., taking it is not a terribly pleasant experience. That alone should make habitual use less likely. Not that some people still wouldn’t use it habitually, but I don’t think its effects are as transparent as, say, taking an aspirin or a multivitamin. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Lao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dr.Lao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Lao)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-prescriptions-needed-for-the-morning-after-pill/128173/14 "2002-09-13T20:24:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose \* > \*\*One vote here for “yes”. We sell condoms and foam OTC to prevent pregnancies, why not morning-after pills? I think it’s just silly to consider it as an “abortion”. It prevents a pregnancy, not terminates it. \*\* Well, that depends when you define the beginning of pregnancy. If pregnancy begins at conception, the goal of MAPs is to end pregnancy. If pregnancy begins at implantation, the goal of MAPs is to prevent pregnancy. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-prescriptions-needed-for-the-morning-after-pill/128173/15 "2002-09-13T20:30:33Z")
> [@](#): > > Unless you get lazy and start using the morning-after pill as a routine form of birth control, at which point it essentially becomes long-term estrogen therapy. The side effects are usually serious enough as to make this outcome rather unlikely. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2002, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-prescriptions-needed-for-the-morning-after-pill/128173/16 "2002-09-14T01:16:41Z")
**Eva** , the risk of blood clot or other complication of BCP is so low for a short burst of hormone like the MAP (morning after pill) gives, that again the benefits far, far outweigh the risk. The BCP is generally not recommended for smokers after 40 and people with a history of blood clots because they’d be taking it almost constantly for months or years. Allergy to the ingredients in the MAP would be the biggest contra-indication, but that can be said for _any_ OTC med. And yes, the side-effects of nausea tend to discourage regular use.