This isn't really directly related to this thread, but I think you've gotta realize that the way other people "treat their bodies" may be different from the way you treat yours, but that doesn't mean they are doing something foolish. To others, sex may be a wonderful, sacred thing, but something that they want to share with a lot of people. I don't think that means they respect their bodies any less.

Uncognitive

Brooklyn, NY

May 2003

DEC 17, 2003 08:44 AM

Sure my body is a temple, but that doesn't mean I can't ransack said temple like a Visigoth and leave it a smoldering pile of rubble, right?

Back on topic: About fucking time. More methods of birth control and emergency contraception is a good thing.

Finch

SUICIDEGIRL

Thailand

DEC 17, 2003 08:55 AM

LeeLeeThePanda said:
What happened to the body being sacred? Treat it like a temple, because it is.

i agree with morgan up there and what she said about sex being sacred.

the "your body is a temple, treat it that way" argument rings true to me--i've heard it so many times in regards to tattoos and piercings. I do believe that my body is a temple--and my temple needs to be decorated. It's the same way with sex. To you, treating your body as a temple might mean abstinence until marriage. To others, it might mean celebrating sexually with different people rather often. Sex was used as celebration in many older religions, (i so wish i could tell you which ones right now...but i haven't been to bed in 36 hours or so and that's definitely affecting my line of thought.) anyway...rant over.

StrawberryGirl

I'm lost

December 2003

DEC 17, 2003 09:05 AM

YES YES YES!!!
Another battle won!

ProfessorPlum

Chicago, IL

October 2003

DEC 17, 2003 09:14 AM

I agree that this seems to be a very good idea, since the last thing we need in this world is more unwanted children, and an alternative to the risks and trauma of abortion is certainly beneficial. I'm just curious about the risks of this pill. What if a girl takes this pill after the point at which it's effective? If the egg does end up implanting itself in the uterus, could this end up causing abnormal development of the fetus? Because many girls who would be willing to take this pill to prevent pregnancy might not be willing to go so far as abortion. Unwanted children are one thing, but unwanted children who are also physically or mentally handicapped is a whole different story. Also, what effects would large doses or repeated or regular use of this have on a woman and her reproductive system? Could it cause developmental problems in children that she may have in the future?

I'm not in any way saying that this shouldn't happen. I think the choice should be out there. I'm just always wary of new pills and chemicals and other ways to interrupt the normal functions of the human body. As far as I can see, the positives certainly outweigh the negatives, but the negatives of drugs usually don't show up until ten or twenty years down the road. Hopefully this can be used responsibly and if anyone can give me answers to my questions or tell me where to find them, I'd appreciate it.

Flux

SUICIDEGIRL

Georgia, USA

DEC 17, 2003 11:20 AM

HeIsSoGay said:
What if a girl takes this pill after the point at which it's effective? If the egg does end up implanting itself in the uterus, could this end up causing abnormal development of the fetus?

nope. it won't harm a developing fetus in any way. it's merely hormonal.

Also, what effects would large doses or repeated or regular use of this have on a woman and her reproductive system? Could it cause developmental problems in children that she may have in the future?

Plan B and Preven are really just amped-up hormonal birth control. all that a heavy use would do is mess with mestruation and perhaps make her feel a bit queasy. it is actually quite safe.

As far as I can see, the positives certainly outweigh the negatives, but the negatives of drugs usually don't show up until ten or twenty years down the road.

ever heard of the FDA? do you realize the years of testing things like this have to go through?

AcidGrampa

Berkeley, CA

September 2003

DEC 17, 2003 11:54 AM

This rules.
And hopefully constitutes an end-run on all the cretinous anti-abortion arguments.

Jayden

SUICIDEGIRL

Oregon, USA

DEC 17, 2003 01:33 PM

goodlordyshorty said:
I saw on the news some girl died from taking the morning after pill yesterday.

Actually she took Mifeprex, which is an entirely different pill. It induces miscarrige, and she died from an infection after her miscarrige.

matt1ri

Brooklyn, NY

March 2003

DEC 17, 2003 03:06 PM

Its about time. Its not the cure all as far as social issues are concerned, but it is comforting to know its an option. Kind of like wearing swimmies when theres a lifeguard on duty, not necessary but the option is there.

TalonKarrde_x

Canada

November 2003

DEC 17, 2003 03:30 PM

There seems to be alot of confusion about what the morning-after pill is. And since I'm so OC about details, I just have to write a clarifying post.
The morning-after pill is not an abortion pill. I does not kill an un-born child. There is nothing to do with pro-life/pro-choice. It is simply a stong dose of the regular birth control pill which prevents conception, ie no baby is created.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

sqook

I'm lost

September 2002

DEC 17, 2003 03:43 PM

Flux said:
ever heard of the FDA? do you realize the years of testing things like this have to go through?

While I would generally agree with you (and I do agree with you on the issue that having this pill be widely accessible is a -good- thing), I still think that we don't really fathom the full physiological effects of pills like this. Regardless of how much FDA testing medicines like this have gone through, the thought still kind of freaks me out a bit. Tweaking the body's horomones is a rather delicate process, and it's hard to know what'll happen.

Then again, the worst that'll probably happen is getting cancer, and we're all bound to get that eventually at this point. =P

adjunct

Philadelphia, PA

July 2002

DEC 17, 2003 06:56 PM

Clara said:

Cash said:
awww........if this pill prevents you having to get an abortion what are all the closed-minded zealots gonna complain about?

They're obviously going to complain about this. Expect to see protests at your local CVS.

I was under the impression that, in the same way that anti-smoking activists aren't protesting outside 7-11's, the sheer ubiquity of an OTC morning after pill would defuse any organized attempts to protest places selling it. You can't really have a placard-carrying queue outside of every pharmacy in the country.

sketchy1

Dallas, TX

December 2003

DEC 17, 2003 07:49 PM

yay....