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Awesome. As if we aren’t paranoid enough already about getting pregnant, Pfizer recalled over 1 million birth control packets on Tuesday. Hi, stop having sex immediately! Thanks. I mean, this isn’t a battery that could fry your cell phone kind of recall. This is a ‘Hey, we may have just fried your life/career/bank account’ kind of recall. Excuse my lack of eloquence, but a baby would be slightly less than a miracle right now.

If you take Lo/Ovral norgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets, you may want to consider emergency contraception (if applicable), and you should definitely start taking advantage of National Condom Month from here on out.  If emergency contraception is necessary, you have 72 hours after unprotected sex to get Plan B One Step. If you are over the age of 17, you can purchase this without a prescription. Check out PlanBOneStep.com to download a coupon for the product. There is still time if you are worried!

When I started writing this column back in February the across the United States, many states were reevaluating their legislation around reproductive health. We’re nearing the end of the year and yet issues surrounding reproductive health are continuing to pop up. Access to abortion, distribution of Plan B, and issues around birth control are still coming up across they country.

In New Jersey, students at Ramapo College are petitioning around the access to Plan B on their campus. They believe there should be less restrictions on how it is accessed to ensure students are able to gain access to the pill within the recommended 72 hours. Our friends at Jezebel then took a look at how easy it is to access Plan B on different college campuses.

Access to Plan B is not limited to these New Jersey students. The Centre for Reproductive Rights is challenging a decision made by Health and Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius that forces people under 17 to gain a prescription to get Plan B over the counter.  The Food and Drug Administration had recommended the drug be made available over the counter to those even under 17. The FDA has provided evidence that girls as young as 12 could properly use Plan B.

While you might argue against the use of Plan B, for many women it is a way to prevent a pregnancy when they were being careful. It is an emergency contraceptive, not an abortion pill, meaning it doesn’t terminate a preexisting pregnancy, but prevents either fertilization; a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus; or stops the egg from releasing.

Yes there are concerns that Plan B would encourage people to have unprotected sex. But a Journal of the American Medical Association study showed that women who had access to Plan B over-the-counter were no more likely to have unprotected sex.

Having an outsider perspective on the issue has me wondering one thing. If so many Americans are against government intervention in so many ways, why are they so keen to have someone else make a decision about women’s bodies?

Leah is in the last semester of her Bachelor of Journalism at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada. She spent her summer interning at a radio station in Ghana and researching the state of maternal health on her days off. You can follow her on Twitter @ElleandBee. 

Recently Ben & Jerry’s released an ice cream flavor called “Schweddy Balls”, based off a Saturday Night Live sketch. I thought it was hilarious. Parents thought it was awful. A parent group is protesting the flavor because they think it’s vulgar. Well guess what, parent group? If you are going to prevent your kid from eating ice cream because it has a vulgar name, then your kid is totally going to go wild when they go off to college.

So here are some ice cream flavors for wild college students.

1. Walk of Shame Surprise

This flavor would be packaged in a sparkly black carton, much like the dress you walked home in this morning. The ice cream would be made with stale beer and shame. Tons of shame.

2. Exam Cram

You spent this whole week partying when you should have been studying for your chem exam. Good thing Exam Cram is made with Red Bull, 5-Hour Energy and NoDoz pills.

3. Freshman 15

This is a mixture of Big Macs, leftover pizza, beer, Chinese takeout and Ramen noodles. Eat up, size up.

4. Plan-B Brittle

So you had a little too much fun last night and forgot to ask if he had a condom. So what? All you need is a spoonful of Plan-B Brittle in the morning. Each spoonful has one Plan-B pill, and it even tastes like peanut butter!

5. Procrastination Party

This flavor would be filled with reminders that you have a full DVR and a full newsfeed since you haven’t checked your Facebook since 10 minutes ago. Studying can wait.

6. Keg Stand

This flavor is a mixture of beer and water, and it’s only good if you eat it upside down.

Like taking vitamins, using a condom is one of those things we don’t do because we like to, but because we’re told over and over again that it will keep our bodies safe and healthy. We don’t all agree that doing charity will get us into heaven, or that recycling will save us from global warming, but we all hold the belief that using a condom ensures safe sex. This is why I was in absolute denial the other night when the condom broke during sexy time. I’d felt like I was doing something self-charitable by using protection, but I ended up getting screwed in a different sense of the word than I’d hoped for. Though the breakage happened during the middle of sex and not the grand finale, premature ejaculation is one of my greatest fears — so I decided I’d go to CVS the next day to pick up some Plan B.

’d never taken emergency contraceptives before, so I had no idea what was in store for me. I only knew that I was about to become $49.99 poorer. I had my friend come with me for moral support, and together we drove twenty minutes to the farthest CVS in my internal GPS. The car ride was rowdy and fun as I divulged all the details about how good the sex had been before the condom broke, but as soon as we pulled into the parking lot my confidence left me. My legs wobbled as I walked across the asphalt, which I jokingly attributed to getting pounded the night before, but was actually due to my pounding pulse. The automatic doors swooshed open hitting me with cool air and the cold reality of what I was there to do.

We took a detour through the cosmetics aisle so we could sneakily scan the vicinity for old teachers, friends of my parents, and parents of my friends. Once it was determined that the coast was clear, we hauled ass to the Family Planning aisle. There were no emergency contraceptives to be found, only dozens of boxes of condoms. Trojans, Lifestyles, Durex, lambskin, ribbed, ultra thin, spermicidal, all capable of breaking. We’d once had a good relationship, but now they were nothing more than rubber placebos to me. I was angry at every single one of the boxes, it was their fault I was even here. Now I had to spend fifty bucks because they couldn’t do their job. “I think we have to get it from the pharmacy counter,” my friend said. The Family Planning aisle is nerve-wracking  but at least you can conceal yourself by hiding behind the aisles. The pharmacy counter is like swimming in open water.

There were two men and one woman working at the pharmacy counter. We hung back by the condoms until the woman was available, then made the bold steps up to her register.

“Hi there, how can I help you?” Her name tag read Marilyn and I swear she had the warmest smile I’ve ever seen. She appeared to be in her early 50’s and was petite with dark hair. Behind her round frame glasses were kind eyes that matched her kind smile.

I lowered my voice to promote discretion, “Hi, um, I was wondering if I could get the uh, morning after pill?”

Marilyn immediately got the picture. She lowered her voice to equal the decibel I’d been speaking at and with a small wink said “Oh yes, just one minute.” With that, I exhaled for what felt like the first time since I’d been in the store. Marilyn came back a few moments later with a box of Plan B. Her voice still in a whisper she asked me for my ID and method of payment. I took out my license and debit card but retracted my hand in panic, asking “This won’t show up on my bank statement, right?”

“No, no,” my guardian angel of contraceptives assured me, “only the amount you spend will show up, not the name of the purchase.” She gave me another one of her comforting smiles as she swiped my card and bagged the box. I didn’t even care about the $50 price anymore, I just wanted to jump over the counter and hug her. My sense of trust had been so violated when the condom broke, but Marilyn was proof that there was still good in the world.

She handed me the bag and still in her whisper said, “take care, now.” I hadn’t even taken the pill yet and I already felt better. I was out of my denial and had come to accept the fact that in life plan A doesn’t always work out, and sometimes we need to resort to plan B.

Question for La Tuff? Answers may be available at TuffyLuv@collegecandy.com. While supplies last. Void where prohibited.

Dear Tuffy Luv,

My boyfriend and I have been dating for almost five months, and until recently, it has been amazing.  About a month and a half ago I began taking the pill – Loestrin 24 Fe – out of necessity.  The condom broke a few times and I had to take Plan B.  At first I was pleased with it.  My skin’s clearer, my hair (which had thinned in recent years) is thicker, and I haven’t had any weight gain.  There’s only one side effect.  But it’s a BIG one. I’ve been an emotional wreck. I’m crying on and off frequently and not am as talkative/friendly/outgoing.  In general, just not myself.

I know my boyfriend (and also my bff/roommate) sees a big difference and it’s definitely put a strain on things.  I get unreasonably upset if we have to cancel plans or can’t hang out.  I’ll get teary during a phone conversation and have no explanation for what’s wrong.  We used to have so much fun together but my change in personality has put a damper on things most of the time.  I’ve tried explaining my situation, and I know he tries to be understanding, but he just doesn’t know how to deal with me.  I don’t know what to do anymore.  Should I forgo the pill and go back to condoms or wait it out and see if the side effects subside?  I can’t imagine another pill having the same positive effects and no negative side effects.  Any advice is much appreciated, as the clock’s a-ticking and I don’t know how much longer he’ll be willing to put up with my shenanigans.

Please Help!!
BC Bitch

Dear BC Non-Bitch,

Before we talk about Lo-Lo and/or other birth control pills, let’s just quickly address your little condom issue.

Girl, why does the condom keep breaking? This is not good. Something is going wrong, yes?

Lots of people think they know how to use a condom but then find it’s often not staying on or that it’s ripping. If this is the case–YA DOIN IT WRONG. No big deal, though: Learning to use a condom effectively is simple. Check out this article from Planned Parenthood to make sure you’re using condoms correctly.

And, please, kids, let’s give a round of applause for BC Non-Bitch! She absolutely did the right thing: she used condoms (YES!!! You go, girl!!!) and then, when they failed, she sought out Plan B! Proud of you!!!

Okay, now let’s get to this birth control pill business. Loestrin 24 Fe is low-dosage and has a lot of nice little benefits, like the stuff you’ve noticed. According to the company’s Patient Prescribing Information, Loestrin 24 Fe can, in fact, cause both “nervousness” and “depression.” This is true of all birth control pills, because of the hormones involved, but different people have different levels of success with different pills.

The way I see it, you have three options:

(1) Wait until the end of the third month of taking it to see if your body will adjust. Tuffy does NOT recommend this option. That is a looooong time to wait, given the circumstances.

(2) Switch back to condoms. This, of course, would be after you and your boyf BOTH re-learn to use them, just to be safe. [By the way, you should STILL be using condoms if you're on birth control! You still want to be protected from diseases, right?!?!?!]

(3) Go back to your doctor and explain your symptoms. This is the option Tuffy highly recommends. You may just need a different pill.

Again, though, please use condoms in addition to any future birth control pill you take. The pill only prevents babies from being made; the condoms prevent the clap.

Also of note–be sure to never smoke while on any birth control pill. It’s very dangerous for your heart and overall health.

Good luck, girl!

Hearts & Skulls,

Tuffy Luv

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A Plan B for Plan B.

Q:

A: You are so not alone in having concerns about abortion, honey. Obviously, it’s always better when you can plan a pregnancy, make sure your body is in optimal condition, choose the perfect partner, and time it brilliantly so that pregnancy and parenting fits into your life. But alas, life doesn’t always work this way. You’re smart to be asking the right questions.

First, let me say that I’m delighted you’re asking before you find yourself with an unwanted pregnancy. For those of you who are being careful and taking birth control precautions to protect you against unplanned pregnancy, please don’t forget the morning after pill. You can get Plan B over the counter in some states or by prescription anywhere, and it’s pretty effective for those broken condoms, skipped pills, or sexual encounters that just happen when a passionate moment you weren’t expecting strikes.  So don’t forget Plan B. The sooner you use it, the better, but it’s effective up to 72 hours after the “accident.”  Not a bad idea to keep Plan B on hand in your bathroom- just in case.

Assuming birth control efforts fail, and you find yourself faced with the choice of an abortion, there are some important things to know. First off- not to get all political on you- but as an OB/GYN, founder of www.owningpink.com (a gutsy guide to getting your mojo back) and an avid supporter of women’s rights, I have to say this. Remember, you have the right to choose. It is your body, your life, your pregnancy. ‘Nuff said.  

If you choose to abort a pregnancy and decide early enough, you’ll have a choice between surgical abortion and medical abortion.  What can you expect from a surgical abortion? The procedure, when done in the first trimester, is the exact same procedure we do when someone miscarries but the baby doesn’t pass. Basically, the doctor dilates open the cervix with blunt-tipped dilators, inserts a suction catheter that’s attached to a sucking machine, and vacuums out the uterus.  The whole thing takes about 5 minutes at the most, if all goes smoothly.  Not that it isn’t totally traumatic emotionally (and for most women and even the doctors performing these procedures, it is).  But the procedure itself isn’t that big a deal.

What are the risks? The biggest risk is perforation of the uterus. Because the procedure is blind (we can’t see inside the uterus), the doctor is poking sharp objects somewhere she can’t see. So there’s always a risk that the sharp object could poke through the uterus and possibly damage something on the other side, like the bladder or the bowel (not good, but very rare).  There’s also a risk of bleeding, infection, and missing the pregnancy, which can require a second surgery.

What about medical abortion? For this procedure, medications like mifepristone (RU-486) and misoprostol are given to help you pass the baby on your own. Usually, you go in for the medication, then follow up a few days later to make sure it passed. If it didn’t, another dose of medication may be given, or your doctor may choose to proceed with surgical abortion. What are the risks?  The biggest risks are hemorrhage, infection, and retained products of conception, requiring surgery to remove what doesn’t come out.  The upside is that no sharp objects are poked blindly in dark places, so there’s no risk of perforation of the uterus, and the cervix doesn’t have to be manually dilated, which can put you at risk of complications down the road.

So what about that? Does having an abortion affect getting pregnant later? Almost never. Uncomplicated abortions rarely affect future fertility or pregnancy. But if you suffer a complication or undergo multiple surgical abortions, you may have a small risk of trouble down the road.  The biggest concern when your cervix is manipulated surgically is something called “incompetent cervix,” which means the cervix can be weakened, leading to pregnancy loss, usually in the second trimester. Multiple surgeries on the cervix can also predispose you to preterm labor and delivering a preemie. The other risk is scarring of the uterus (Asherman’s syndrome) and scarring of the cervix (cervical stenosis), which can lead to infertility or pregnancy loss.  Medical abortion has fewer of these long-term risks.

So yes, you have reason to be concerned about the effects of abortion. But these effects are very rare. Nevertheless, abortion should never be used as birth control. There are much better ways to protect yourself.  And the risks are something to keep in mind when you find yourself with an unplanned pregnancy and you’re making your choice.

So please, take care of yourself. Protect yourself with birth control. Have Plan B in the bathroom, just in case. But if you find yourself choosing to have an abortion, find a skilled, compassionate doctor, forgive yourself, surrender to the choice, release your fear, and let go.

[Dr. Lissa Rankin is an OB/GYN and founder of Owning Pink. If you have something you'd like to ask, send it over and we'll pass it along. No question is too big or too small, so ask away!]

So you bring home a (somewhat) nice guy one night and decide to get your freak on. Two horny willing participants? Check. Place to do the deed? Check. Condom? Check. Congratulations, you’ve done the responsible thing.

Things get heated up, and you’re too busy blissing out to notice anything, until your man-of-the-night pulls out and says “Um, I don’t know where the condom is…” (actual quote from a friend of mine). Yep, that thin latex bugger slipped off, exposing you to both his swimmers and any potential diseases he might have. Now what?

1) Breathe. Don’t panic. Accidents happen.

2) Find the damn thing. Check the bed, the sheets, the wall? If those locations turn up nothing, take a trip to the bathroom and check out yourself. Yes, there. Sounds gross, but chances are, that’s where it’s ended up.

3) Make sure you’re on the pill. While, of course, it’s not going to protect you 100% from getting knocked-up, it will help ease your nerves. Still freaking out? Continue to step 4…

4) Take a trip to your local pharmacy and pick up some handy-dandy Plan-B. It’s available over the counter in most places, so you should be able to pick it up at any Walgreens or CVS. Follow the directions (or ask a pharmacist) and you will be on your way to ensuring your belly stays baby free.

5) As most STIs don’t show symptoms for weeks, your only real option here is to wait it out. Of course, having the awkward “So.. have you been checked?” talk wouldn’t hurt. Best course of action is to go get yourself checked out, symptoms or not. It’s the best way to get some peace of mind.

6) Celebrate. Then pray that little guys stays put the next time around.