Plan B may reach counters

Plan B, otherwise known as the morning-after pill, may soon be available as an… Plan B, otherwise known as the morning-after pill, may soon be available as an over-the-counter drug. After much deliberation, the Food and Drug Administration is expected to announce its decision soon.

“I have heard they didn’t feel they had enough time to decide,” said Dr. Nancy Jasper, assistant professor of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University Presbyterian Hospital.

“The evidence in front of the FDA is overwhelmingly in favor of making it over-the-counter,” said Dr. Pamela Talley, interim senior physician at Pitt’s student health services. “Should this occur, our staff would continue to educate our patients about its appropriate use, and our pharmacy would certainly stock it.”

Jasper said she believes Plan B should be available at college student health centers. Plan B is currently available at Pitt’s student health center, by prescription only, for $22.

“When used as directed, [Plan B] helps to cut down unwanted pregnancies. It is 89 percent effective when used within 72 hours of the event.”

Jasper does not believe that having Plan B readily available to students will make them more likely to have unprotected sex.

“Studies across the board have shown that making contraception available to young adults does not encourage them to have sex,” Jasper said. “Plan B should be used when contraception is not available or has failed.”

The director of the student health center at Pitt at Greensburg, Patricia Lamantia, disagrees with Jasper.

“I will not make [Plan B] available to UPG students. I feel that it makes it too easy to have unprotected sex,” said Lamantia, who has the authority to determine what is available at the health center.

Lamantia hopes there will be certain regulations on Plan B if it becomes an over-the-counter drug.

“I would hope the FDA would put certain controls on it, i.e. under 16 needs a signature,” said Lamantia.

Jasper offers the Plan B prescription to patients in advance, so her patients have the prescription in case they need it.

“Allowing Plan B to become an over-the-counter drug might be good because it would probably cut down on unwanted pregnancies and abortions,” Pitt Senior Nick Byers said.

Jasper said that almost any woman can use Plan B. Many emergency contraceptive pills contain both estrogen and progestin, but Plan B contains only progestin. Women should check with their physicians if they have questions about the correct usage of Plan B.

Plan B can cause some uncomfortable side effects, however.

A Pitt student, who wished to remain anonymous, said she experienced severe stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting after taking Plan B. These side effects did not begin to subside until three days after taking the medicine.

“Plan B should be an over-the-counter drug because it would eliminate many more abortions and unwanted pregnancies,” said the student.