Students concerned with the possibility of an unwanted pregnancy after engaging in unprotected sex can now purchase Plan B without a prescription from Planned Parenthood in Muncie.
Plan B is a morning-after pill that prevents pregnancy if taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex. The pill suppresses ovulation and prevents fertilization, and it is similar to the way hormones found in birth control pills work. If a woman is already pregnant, however, the pill will not end the pregnancy or cause harm to the fetus.
Although the morning-after pill is not available at the Amelia T. Wood Health Center on Ball State University's campus, pharmacies in the Muncie area, including Wal-Mart, CVS and Walgreens, already have the product available without a prescription.
People age 18 and older who want to buy the pill will need to show a government ID when they purchase it. Depending on where the pill is obtained, it can cost $15 to $40 or more.
Liz Carroll, vice president of patient services for Planned Parenthood in Indianapolis, said the pill can actually be taken five days after unprotected sex but is more effective if taken within 72 hours.
"I think it's a good thing just because of emergency cases like rape or a condom breaking," Leah Shopp, sophomore finance major, said.
Carroll said Planned Parenthood encourages women to keep a supply of the pill in their medicine cabinets for "just in case" situations like a woman forgetting to take her birth control pill for a couple of days.
"I think it will increase promiscuity," Hillary Bailey, junior French education major, said. "In cases where there are accidents it's okay, but I think people should use condoms and birth control and be smart."
Planned Parenthood is encouraging women to obtain a regular method of birth control and does not encourage women to use Plan B as their primary method of preventing pregnancy, Carroll said.
It is not known whether demand for the pill will increase because it is now available over the counter.
"I personally think women will use it more because it's a back-up and extra protection," Sara Romanowski, junior public relations major, said. She did extensive research on Plan B for a journalism assignment.
Shopp disagreed, and said it will not affect many women's lives, because it there are other ways of preventing pregnancy.
"Just because it's out there doesn't make it a big deal," Shopp said. "People are used to using condoms and birth control."
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