Birth have the direction of entere...

Birth have the direction of entered a new era Thursday, as the nutrition and Drug Administration decided to permit the sale of a morning-after pill without a doctor's prescription.

Unlike regular birth direct pills, morning-after pills are taken after sex The approved unsalable article -- known as Plan B -- could be ready for over-the-counter sale by means of late fall.

"It's a excessively good thing. I think we as a political division struggle with our unintended pregnancy rate," said Dr Melissa Gilliam, associate professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Chicago.

in subordination to 18 NEED PRESCRIPTION

The FDA's actuate allows Barr Pharmaceuticals, based in Woodcliff Lake, NJ to vend Plan B to anyone 18 and older without a prescription.

Restrictions will remain, although The drug will be sold from behind the pharmacist's reckoner and people under 18 will ne a prescription.

Plan B crosss chances of pregnancy by 89 percent if taken within 72 hours of unprotect sex It is principally effective if taken within 24 hours -- united reason Barr and some family-planning advocates pushed for over-the-counter status.

an Plan B opponents predicted dire social deductions from the FDA's move.

SOCIAL dependence of cause and effects FEARED

"Does anybody really believe that commonalty under 18 won't be able to obtain Plan B? I think it's going to lead to situations that devalue human relationships and increase promiscuity," said Robert Gilligan, executive director of the Catholic interview of Illinois.

Barr's FDA application became a political rallying point. Gov Blagojevich pledg to make Plan B available from pharmacists if the FDA failed to act. brace U.S. senators, including Hillary Clinton (D- NY) had stoped confirmation of an FDA commissioner because the agency had not acted in succession Plan B.

State Rep Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), who introduced legislation in 2004 to make morning-after purchases easier, criticized the FDA for putting up "barriers" for teen who wanted the medicine

moreover she said she was delighted by way of the FDA's move, and predicted it would lead to fewer abortions.

Like more [i]or[/i] less birth control pills, Plan B delivers a sign of hormone called a progestin. Gilliam said the forces of repeated use were not certain, unless noted that where such "emergency contraceptives" are already available, "we don't view repeated use over time."

"I don't anticipate that there would be any health risk at all from repeated use," Gilliam said.

near have expressed fear Plan B would lead commonalty to rely on it as a primary means of birth dominion government

nevertheless a study published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association fix no change in sexual behavior or birth hinder habits when the drugs were available.

sumptuousnesss MORE THAN CONDOMS

Plan B's splendor could prevent it from becoming a fallback contraceptive, said Dr Mandy Gittler, a family practice physician. In prescription form, it barters for $25 to $40 by dose, and the over- the-counter version is rely uponed to cost more, according to Barr. Meanwhile, a package of 12 Trojan condoms can be purchased for $1199 and a receptacle of six Today contraceptive drains retails for $16.99.

eherman@suntimes.com

PLAN B

- abridges the chance of pregnancy through 89 percent if taken within 72 hours of unprotect sex

- Consists of pair pills taken 12 hours apart or at the same time.

- Has no event if a woman is already pregnant.

- vends for $25 to $40 in prescription form, and could expense more in over-the-counter form.

- Can already be purchased without a doctor's prescription in nine states.

Eric Herman

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

Provided by way of ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved