Planned Parenthood "Plan B"

Tucked away in the Clock Tower Plaza is a business that provides women with a second chance. Fifty-two-thousand Plan B tablets, an emergency contraceptive, were sold last year in the State of Utah said Kathy Burke, Assistant Medical Director of Planned Parenthood Association of Utah.

The emergency contraceptive is a backup for preventing unplanned pregnancy, but it is not for routine use said Burke. Plan B works like any form of birth control stopping the release of an egg from the ovary; however, it contains a larger dose of the hormone levonorgestrel than the average birth control pill.

A student at Utah State whom we will call (Mary) said “You know it’s bad when you find Plan B boxes everywhere in your house.” It is a common routine to make an early morning visit to Planned Parenthood with my roommates to get (the morning after pill)” said Mary.

Another USU student who wishes to remain anonymous said, “I hate going to get Plan B, it’s embarrassing, so I make my boyfriend get it.” A handful of USU students admitted they did not want to be seen getting Plan B, especially in a predominantly LDS community.

Burke said taking Plan B is nothing to be ashamed of, “It’s better than crossing your fingers hoping your period will start”

According to Burke, Plan B should be used when one has had unprotected sex, had a condom break, or unexpected sex occurs. Mary said she only uses Plan B if the condom breaks and hates taking it because it makes her vomit.

Burke also strongly recommended repeat users should consider getting on birth control because Plan B is only 82-89% effective, whereas regular birth control is 99% effective.

Plan B can become expensive if it is used regularly. To help with this problem, Burke said many women can qualify for discounts or be put on a payment plan if they can not afford the $25 fee.

A USU student, whom we will call Jane, panicked when her partner told her his condom had broken during intercourse because she knew Planned Parenthood was closed on the weekend. In a rush, she drove down to Planned Parenthood’s Salt Lake location to buy the drug. Jane said she was unable to find the store before closing time. She ended up purchasing Plan B at “Walgreens” for $50.

When asked why Planned Parenthood was not open on the weekends, considering the fact that most sexual encounters take place then, Burke stated that Plan B works best within 72-hours of intercourse and by Monday one is still within that 72-hour period.

Burke did point out that Plan B does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases including AIDS like many other forms of birth control.

For those who use it, however, Plan B seems to provide much appreciated relief from the “oops” factor. Perhaps Jane summed it up best, “Thank God there is a Plan B when “Plan A” does not work… My parents would probably disown me if I got pregnant because of their religious views toward premarital sex.”