Here is the original ECP article I wrote for the newspaper last week. Bask in its educated tone. Join me and embrace the condom.
Emergency Contraception: For emergencies ONLY, damn it!
By: Sarah AASECT.org Bryant
Picture this: You get home from class. You are starving. Dinner has been on your mind for the past hour. You are jonesing for a turkey and swiss sandwich. No turkey? No swiss?! Plan B: trusty (always there for you) peanut butter.
In this situation, plan B is a good option. In a sexual situation, plan B is just an option... but not the best one.
Ladies and gentlemen, there are a plethora of ways to protect oneself from unwanted pregnancy (if you want a list, go to www.sexualityandu.ca for an assortment of trusty methods), but I must beg of you to utilize the methods that are intended for prolonged use when one is sexually active. What does this mean? NOT using emergency contraceptives JUST in case whenever you have sex!
I kid you not, I have overheard more than one conversation where a girl has casually exclaimed to a friend that she would just “grab a plan B” when she had the chance. What?!?! Or another that said “plan B is great because you don’t have to think about anything before sex”. Uh, WHAT?! You should always think about things before sex!
There is a beautiful pill out there called emergency contraception (EC), also known as the most common EC brand name, “Plan B” or the morning after pill. Hell, I’ve even heard of it being called the “oops” pill. Accurate. There is a reason the word ‘emergency’ is in front of ‘contraceptive’ in this case: it’s for emergencies only! Even the website, planb.ca states that “it [Plan B] is not your regular contraceptive. If you're even rarely or occasionally sexually active, find out about all available contraceptives and discuss them with your doctor.”
Plan B is a catchy name for an emergency contraceptive, but here’s the way I see it in terms of “plans of action”:
Plan A: Two types of effective and reliable birth control, condom + pill, for example
Plan B: just one type (just condom, just pill, just spermicide, etc.)
Plan C: No birth control? Abstain! Genital-hand contact/something that is not intercourse.
Plan D: EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION (Plan B pill) *(listen to 0:18-0:22 of video for the truth...)
Plan E: If you get to this point, I will smack you. Think before you act.
The EC pill is like a “don’t let it happen again”, not a “this is a reliable method of birth control”. Yea. So is prayer.
“Plan B” (morning after pill): The last option. The morning AFTER implies that you should “think ahead”! Not just a useful saying for exams, my friends!
If you are someone who consistently relies on EC, here are some handy tips to not be that person:
1. Educate yourself about the birth control pill/patch/ring - all reliable and highly effective forms of contraception.
2. Use a condom, for the love of Nancy!
3. Always use a condom? It always breaks? You might want to change brands, my friend.
4. Abstain.
5. Build bird feeders with your loves ones. (This option can be done in conjunction with #4).
There is no shame in using an emergency contraceptive. I applaud you for controlling the population, a.k.a. being calm and smart during a potentially risky situation. EC is there for a reason, and thank goodness for this abundance of safe sex options*. What I am saying, and will continue to advocate, is that EC should not be your preferred method of birth control. It can be the method one turns to when you are out of options and need a “Plan B”. Use your head.
Use plan A and stay safe, sexually speaking.
*Please be advised that the birth control pill and Plan B (see www.planb.ca for more details) do not protect against STIs. Always use a condom for maximum protection when being sexually active.
