AU health center hopes students continue to get safe sex counseling.

By Julia Dahl

Observer photo by Cara Schayer
Plan B will be in drugstores by the
end of the year.

Getting emergency contraception at American University has never been very difficult.

“If a student calls and says she needs it, even if we’re very busy we’ll squeeze her in,” said Shannon Murphy, a nurse practitioner at the health center.

Last year, the American University Student Health Center dispensed more than 300 prescriptions for emergency contraception, which is known by its brand name, Plan B.

But now that the Food and Drug Administration has approved the drug for over-the-counter sale, AU students will be able to get Plan B at CVS or Rite-Aid without ever having to see a health care provider. According to a spokesperson for Barr Pharmaceuticals, the company that manufactures the product, Plan B will be available at pharmacies before the end of 2006.

Dan Bruey, director of the AU Student Health Center, said he hopes students will still come to the center if they need Plan B, if only so they can get a little information about safer sex.

Although there is no indication that Plan B is particularly harmful if taken regularly, Murphy said it shouldn’t be used as a primary form of birth control — hence the name, Plan B.

“You don’t want it to be like candy or Tylenol,” said Murphy. “If a woman is using it over and over, she’s probably at risk for STDs, too.”

Murphy, who held a Plan B information session at the Wellness Center last week, said she is thrilled that Plan B will now be easier for women to get, but wonders if the pharmacists at big chain drug stores will do any counseling or follow-up when they dispense the drug.

At AU, Plan B costs $20, plus $10 for a short visit.

Understanding Plan B

The sooner you take it, the more effective it is: If taken within 72 hours of having unprotected sex, Plan B is 89 percent effective in preventing a pregnancy. Plan B is actually two pills; you take one, then the second 12 hours later.

It is not an abortion pill: If you are already pregnant, Plan B will do nothing to alter that. Plan B typically works in one of three ways — either it stops the release of a woman’s egg from her ovary, prevents the uniting of sperm and egg, or prevents the egg from implanting into the lining of the uterus.

It probably won’t make you sick: The most common side effect is nausea; other reported side effects include fatigue, abdominal pain and headache. Plan B may alter your menstrual cycle slightly, however if your next period is more than one week late after taking it, see a doctor. If you vomit soon after taking Plan B, it will probably be ineffective, and you should see your doctor about trying it again or looking into other options.

It is not prophylactic: Taking Plan B before sex will not prevent a pregnancy. Use a condom or see the nurse about getting on birth control pills. These methods are the most reliable way to steer clear of an unwanted pregnancy.