17-Year-Olds Get Plan B!

Throughout our recently escaped Bush Administration, it seemed as though issues revolving around women's health were not based on science, but on morality. It was throughout this administration that we found ourselves working our asses off for emergency contraception to be an over-the-counter drug, with no prescription necessary.

And then we got it, and it was good. But what about the teenagers? After Plan B (the morning-after pill, emergency contraception, call it what you will) became over-the-counter, teenagers became the exception and still required prescription and parental consent before being administered the drug.

As of yesterday, this has changed. 17-year-olds are now able to get emergency contraception without parental consent.

Here's my issue, essentially: What a weird age. When studies are showing that emergency contraception is safe for women of all ages, why are we continuing to limit women? It feels a little bit HRC and ENDA for me. If we are working to get it passed and available for all women, then shouldn't it be for ALL women, not just those limited few? Why 17? If we are talking about legalities, 17 isn't 18, so a 17-year-old woman is still a minor. And, in most states in the U.S., the age of parental consent for sexual activity is 16. So... I don't get it.

If an infant can go to the grocery store and purchase a box of condoms, why not Plan B?

But, mad props for the fight this far. It'll do a lot of good.