Should the morning-after pill be sold OTC

Having sex will be much easier when the morning-after pill is available on the shelves of the local CVS. Though the pill provides an alternative to abortions, granting easy access to it with no formal conversation about its repercussions will be harmful.

Women may currently obtain a prescription for the morning-after pill from a doctor or clinic. At Teen Connection, a clinic in Takoma Park, the pills are available for free, and come with counseling. In addition to helping teens evaluate potential side effects, clinics offer support to women in a challenging time. Young women can receive sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing, pap smears and other gynecological care for free. The morning-after pill is made for emergencies, and teenagers need to be aware that intercourse isn't risk-free. With a changed policy, the counseling that could tell them that will go unused.

Seeing a professional is most important in rape cases. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, in 2002, only 39 percent of victims reported their incident to the police, yet 75 percent needed medical attention. Victims need more than a pill to cure their problems; they need guidance from a supportive and knowledgeable source. CVS doesn't provide such personalized service.

In 1998, Planned Parenthood, the world's largest reproductive health care organization, saw an 84 percent increase in emergency contraception clients. More teens are using emergency contraception and are likely to become dependent on them as their only form of protection. Unfortunately, the pills do not protect against STDs. This false sense of security may lead to an increase in infected teens.

The proposed policy also neglects to recognize significant health concerns. Morning-after pills are essentially higher doses of the hormones used in birth control pills, which are prescription-only for health reasons. The over-the-counter policy could be an invitation to medical nightmares, with some teens using the pills repeatedly and keeping any complications a secret. Many scientists believe that with frequent use the pill can cause heart attacks and breast cancer, although the effects have not been well studied.

Many teens are uneducated about the morning-after pill, says Twana Shields of Teen Connection. They would be surprised to find that 50 percent of users become nauseated after taking the pills and that 20 percent vomit, according to Planned Parenthood. Uninformed girls will have only the directions on the box to help them differentiate between normal symptoms and serious side effects.

With a changed policy, women will be able to take hormones 50 times stronger than birth control pills, escape from pregnancy but not from STDs and not have to tell a soul. Keeping the morning-after pill prescription-only accounts for medical issues and provides important consultation with a health-care professional. The proposed policy leaves young girls in the aisle of CVS, confused and alone.