the most boring entry about sex ever
I did a report today on ella, the new emergency contraceptive for when you need to not be pregnant, made by HRA Pharma (France). It was approved by the FDA on August 13, and will be distributed by Watson Pharmaceuticals in America... later this year.
Ella, or ellaOne in Europe, is a hormonal drug that prevents or delays ovulation, thus preventing pregnancy for up to five days after one act of unprotected sexual intercourse. Levonorgestrel (PlanB or PlanB One) is currently approved in the United States for up to three days after intercourse. Mifepristone is approved in China and Russia for up to five (??) days after intercourse, although it's used as an abortifacient in the United States.
The article I presented compared the two treatments (ella vs Plan B) in preventing pregnancies up to 5 days after unprotected sexual intercourse. While the results can not statistically prove that one is better than the other, ella is able to prevent pregnancies between 72 and 120 hours, which is an improvement over hoping and praying. It will probably not be made over the counter yet, because safety studies have not been done, although it seems to have the same adverse effect profile as levonorgestrel. However, the studies were enough to convince Europe to approve ella in 2009 and the FDA to approve it this year.
I'd like to clarify that it's technically illegal for a pharmacist in America to not provide a person with emergency contraception over the counter, as long as they show proof that they can get it without a prescription (picture ID showing the age the state requires.) The pharmacist can refuse to personally sell it if their state allows them to refuse, but even so, they have to get another pharmacist or technician to do the sale or call another pharmacy to sell it to the person. The reason being, it's over the counter, and should be made accessible within (easily circumvented) legal boundaries. That's why it's... over the counter...
If you have questions, feel free to ask. I have charts and graphs and tons of numbers and hypotheses. Maybe I can even answer your question!
Poll the Plan B - all answers screened
I thought the presentation went well, it was very enlightening to everyone, but I was told I talked too softly and too fast and overall presented poorly. And I'm like, you thought that was bad, I actually tried my best.
Ella, or ellaOne in Europe, is a hormonal drug that prevents or delays ovulation, thus preventing pregnancy for up to five days after one act of unprotected sexual intercourse. Levonorgestrel (PlanB or PlanB One) is currently approved in the United States for up to three days after intercourse. Mifepristone is approved in China and Russia for up to five (??) days after intercourse, although it's used as an abortifacient in the United States.
The article I presented compared the two treatments (ella vs Plan B) in preventing pregnancies up to 5 days after unprotected sexual intercourse. While the results can not statistically prove that one is better than the other, ella is able to prevent pregnancies between 72 and 120 hours, which is an improvement over hoping and praying. It will probably not be made over the counter yet, because safety studies have not been done, although it seems to have the same adverse effect profile as levonorgestrel. However, the studies were enough to convince Europe to approve ella in 2009 and the FDA to approve it this year.
I'd like to clarify that it's technically illegal for a pharmacist in America to not provide a person with emergency contraception over the counter, as long as they show proof that they can get it without a prescription (picture ID showing the age the state requires.) The pharmacist can refuse to personally sell it if their state allows them to refuse, but even so, they have to get another pharmacist or technician to do the sale or call another pharmacy to sell it to the person. The reason being, it's over the counter, and should be made accessible within (easily circumvented) legal boundaries. That's why it's... over the counter...
If you have questions, feel free to ask. I have charts and graphs and tons of numbers and hypotheses. Maybe I can even answer your question!
Poll the Plan B - all answers screened
I thought the presentation went well, it was very enlightening to everyone, but I was told I talked too softly and too fast and overall presented poorly. And I'm like, you thought that was bad, I actually tried my best.