Should girls under 17 be able to buy the morning after pill over the counter? (agree with topic)

Alexandra Valencia
Mrs. S Gray
English 1301
28th November 2016
Morning After Pill
Recently, the political class and scientists have been arguing whether a certain class of contraceptives should be purchased by girls under 17 years over the counter. However, what remains clear is that many teenagers are sexually active and at some point, they may need to use contraceptives. What is more, the topic of the use of contraceptives is an emotional matter that also involves parents and may have serious political implications. Even as the debate goes on, I think girls below 17 need to be permitted to purchase the contraceptive without prescription as it will allow teenagers to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
A few politicians who are opposed to the argument that girls below 17 be permitted to purchase the contraceptive without prescription say that these girls are still minors to be allowed to do so. They say that these girls risk serious health issues if they do not utilize the drug properly. Others say that allowing them to purchase the contraceptive may send the wrong message to teenagers who will perceive it to be right to engage in sex in their teenage years. According to some, the pill may have some adverse effects on the body of teenagers as they are still growing hence they should be barred from using it (Schulten 1).
However, the above claims have been countered by many who believe that girls of any age should access the morning-after pill over the counter. They say that studies by the FDA have shown that the use of the contraceptive was found to be safe for women of all ages.

Also, the morning after pill is said to be safer than other contraceptives that are readily available for acquisition without prescription. Scientists have also come out strongly opposing claims by politicians that the pill is dangerous for girls under 17. They further note that claims by politicians are founded on paternalism as opposed to scientific proof (Culp-Ressler 1).
It is also true that imposing age restrictions come with an extra burden on ladies as they will have to show proof of their age when they buy the pill. Some activists say that such restrictions cause stigma on women especially when it is not possible for some of them to access the pill. At times women above 17 years have been turned down by pharmacists on the basis that they did not have IDs on them. Equally, age restriction does not cater for undocumented immigrants. This will present an obstacle for some immigrant women who do not possess any document such as a driver’s license or passport even for those over 17 years old. Also, the fact that the court directed the FDA to do away with all age limits regarding the use of the contraceptive removes any fears that the contraceptive is harmful.
To sum it up, I concur with those who say that girls below 17 should be permitted to access the contraceptive over the counter. However, the issue calls for more research because those who oppose this move say that the morning pill may pose adverse health implications to teenagers if wrongly used. On the other hand, proponents believe the pill is safe, and no age restrictions should be imposed. Parents also need to weigh in on this issue because it directly affects them.
Works Cited
Culp-Ressler, Tara. “Why Limiting Over-The-Counter Plan B To Girls Over 15 Is Still An Ineffective Policy.” ThinkProgress, 1 May 3013, thinkprogress.org/why-limiting-over-the-counter-plan-b-to-girls-over-15-is-still-an-ineffective-policy-b332ef94e42#.5jo6iwia.
Schulten, Katherine. “Student Opinion | Should the Morning-After Pill Be Sold Over the Counter to Young Teens? – The New York Times.” The Learning Network, learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/should-the-morning-after-pill-be-sold-over-the-counter-to-people-under-17/?_r=0.