Menard 1

McKenzey Menard
Mr. Thompson
English 1301.27
October 3, 2016
The Morning-After Pill
In this day and time, many people are beginning to have sex at a younger age which often
leads to pregnancy if youre not careful. A lot of young people turn to the morning-after pill in
order to terminate the pregnancy immediately but if you are under seventeen, you have to have a
prescription to get Ulipristal Acetate, one kind of emergency contraceptive. Another kind is Plan
B One-Step, which you do not need a prescription in order to buy it. I believe the morning-after
pill should be sold to people under seventeen without a prescription because it is their choice,
responsibility, and it introduces the consequences of having unprotected sex.
Anyone should have the choice of taking the pill, whether they are fifteen or twenty. If
someone feels that they are old enough to have sex, then they should be able to make the choice
to take the pill. Kathleen Sebelius, a health secretary, reported,If taken soon after unprotected
sex, the pill halves the chances of a pregnancy (Schulten). With that being said, it can be
dangerous to anyone who takes it too soon or often but it is still your choice to take it. All in all,
everyone should have the choice if they please.
Responsibility plays a huge roll in being able to buy the pill. I believe that someone who
is responsible enough to have sex, is responsible enough to make the decision whether to take the
pill or not. Margaret A. Hamburg, the F.D.A. commissioner, stated that fifteen-year olds, were
able to understand how Plan B One-Step works, how to use it properly, and that it does not
prevent the transmission of a sexually transmitted disease (Belluck). In other words, fifteen-year
olds are becoming more responsible and able to buy the pill.
One of the consequences of having unprotected sex at a young age is pregnancy. Studies
show, About 20 percent of adolescents have had sexual intercourse before their 15th birthday -and one in seven of the sexually experienced 14-year-old girls has been pregnant (Tamar

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Lewin). Most teenagers dont believe they can handle having a baby at that age, therefore, they
take the morning-after pill to prevent the baby from growing. Another consequence could be the
guilt someone might experience after taking the pill. Taking the morning-after pill is very similar
to having an abortion. Many people have guilt after getting one due to the fact that they
terminated their own baby. In conclusion, teenagers should not have unprotected sex because of
the consequences to follow.
Emergency contraceptives like the morning-after pill are not sold to people under
seventeen without a prescription. I think it should be sold over the counter to anyone under
seventeen because everyone has a choice, its their responsibility, and it shows them the
consequences of having unprotected sex. They will show someone how to be responsible when
having sex and also the consequences of not being careful. It will definitely benefit anyone who
takes the pill.

Works Cited
Belluck, Pam. "Drug Agency Lowers Age for Next-Day Birth Control." The New York Times
(2013): n. pag. Web. 05 Oct. 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/health/fdalowers-age-for-morning-after-pill.html>.
Lewin, Tamar. "1 in 5 Teenagers Has Sex Before 15, Study Finds." The New York Times (2003):
n. pag. Web. 12 Oct. 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/20/us/1-in-5-teenagershas-sex-before-15-study-finds.html>.
Schulten, Katherine. Should the Morning-After Pill Be Sold Over the Counter to People Under
17? The New York Times (2011): n. pag. Web. 05 Oct. 2016.

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<http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/should-the-morning-after-pill-be-soldover-the-counter-to-people-under-17.html>.