In the ongoing spirit of bringing the world in an accessible and entertaining way, I decided today to blog about birth control. It's high time, I say! Ladies of Toronto and Canada, this ones for you.
And, the boys cringe.
Topic of the Day: The Morning After Pill or Plan B
As of 2005, the Morning After Pill (.75mg of Levonorgestrel) was approved for over the counter sales. Though Canada is the 34th country to approve Plan B OTC it continues to divide the public. Thankfully, in Canada, it is only debated and women's reproductive right continues to prevail.
What is it?
The Morning After Pill which is available OTC here in Canada is Plan B. Plan B is two particularly high dosages of the progestin only hormone, Levonorgestre, delivered orally 12 hours apart.
What does it do?
Plan B acts both to prevent ovulation or fertilisation and possibly post-fertilisation implantation of a blastocyst (embryo). Phew! What a lot of talk!
Well frankly you must take the pill as soon as humanly possible. It is still effective 72 hours after sex, however, the effectiveness is greatly diminished. So take it fast, not slow.
Where can I find it?
Drug stores across Canada and Clinics.
Is it easy to get?
Yes, walk in to the pharmacists counter. Suck up your courage, admit you had sex, accept everyone's doing it too and say "Can I have the Morning After Pill, please"? The pharmacist will take you aside and in 1 minute explain the side effects, will produce a little blue box and charge you $33 for it.
Planned Parenthood Clinics sell Plan B for less, how much? I don't know, I haven't called them yet. But, keep an eye out on this space, the information will come.
Side Effects?
Nausea, headaches, cramping... although, some women don't experience a single side effect, others experience them all. In the end, it's a small price to pay for peace of mind.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Girly Stuff: Morning After Pill
Posted by
KarmaCake
11/12/2006 12:14:00 PM
@karmacakedotca
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I'm a big proponent of birth control but I'm not so sure that offering that particular pill over the counter is the best idea. If you can muster the courage to ask a pharmasist for it in a crowded and not so private place like a drug store, you shouldn't have trouble going to a walk in clinic or hospital and asking for it in a private and confidential environment from a doctor. Health care is free in this country and the side effects of that little pill can be quite serious. They can also be scary if you've never experienced them before (I speak from personal experience). These are, after all, hormones. And if someone takes them continuously, they could be risking their health. If you can't get regular birth control pills over the counter I(and rightfully so) because of the health reprocussions, why is this any safer? It's a higher dose of the same hormones and anyone can access them. We should place more emphasis on accessible medical care for young girls. Not accessible pharmaceuticals.