EC

I went to a rally yesterday for Emergency Contraception. There is an effort in the state of Illinois to make Emergency Contraception aka The Morning After Pill aka Plan B available over the counter. With EC the sooner you take it, the more effective it is. It is most effective in the first 2 days but is effective for up to 5 days after sex. It isn't harmful and it won't work if you are already pregnant. There was a recommendation made to the FDA to make EC available over the counter which was approved and then stopped by everyone's favorite President W.

Making EC available over the counter would give women access to contraception at night and on the weekends. Times when it is very difficult to get a hold of a doctor to write you a prescription.

A further impediment to access is that many pharmacies that do not stock and refuse to order EC for their customers. Perhaps they feel that such a thing would be too controversial. Walmart will sell you guns but they won't sell you EC. In our town, Meijer also does not stock or order EC, Target as well. And so we can add another to our list of reasons that the Walmartification of the world is a bad thing. This company rolls into town and puts many many local businesses out of business. And as the only game in town Walmart gets to dictate what you can and cannot buy and in a sense how you can live your life.