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PILL • COnTinUCD FR0IT11 “It is absolutely safe. There is no reason in the world that it can’t be OTC,” Boggs said, adding that he thinks the FDA refused to approve Plan B for over-the-counter use because of pressure from the White House and the religious right, an action he calls a “breach of standards.” It is probable that over-the counter access to Plan B could prevent 50,000 to 80,000 abortions each year, Boggs said. Although the health center does not keep records on the number of prescriptions written for Plan B, he said that it has prevented a significant number of unplanned pregnancies for USC students. “The number of girls that we see that have to have abortions has decreased tremendously in the past five years,” Boggs said. Twenty three percent of patients who take Plan B experience mild nausea and 5 percent experience vomiting, but Plan B is well tolerated by most t".. ... 1 .. people, he said. “The only bad thing is if you are allergic to the one hormone in it, levonorgestrel,” Boggs said, adding that he has never seen anyone allergic to it. Although Plan B varies in effectiveness depending on where a woman is in her menstrual cycle, Boggs said it will almost always prevent a pregnancy regardless of the timing. “Worst-case odds (of becoming pregnant despite taking the pill) are 2 percent, no matter where you are in your cycle,” he said. There are no health risks from taking Plan B repeatedly, Boggs said, but he does not recommend using it to replace birth control pills. “It is a little bit less effective than birth control — using it after intercourse time and time again is not as effective as using regular birth control,” Boggs said, adding that when a $30 pack of birth control pills is compared with a $23 morning after pill, he does not think easy access to the drug will increase its use because it is not in students’ financial interest. Boggs said it is important to offer Plan B to USC students, especially in the case of sexual assault or condom failure. “Plan B keeps students in school. People don’t have to choose between dropping out of school and having an abortion,” he said. Jenkins agrees that Plan B is a good option for those times when students find themselves in a sticky predicament. “So many college students are having sex whether or not they talk about it,” she said. “We can’t pretend that college students aren’t having sex without protection. A lot of students can’t afford to become pregnant right now. We don’t have a perfect campus. People are going to need that way out sometimes.” Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocknews@gwm.sc. edu GAMECOCK BASKETBAIiH -mst jmw Men's Basketball vs. Toldedo Sun., Nov 20 1:30 p.m. Women's Basketball yvlfPvs. High Point Fri., Nov 18 7 p.m. Ifyoy are under 21, it is,against the law to buy alcoholic beverages. AjIABC regulations enforced. jUrijlnr. sHBBpBHHBpHMHKS'Wf’SEIBjlHHHBVMHBiPPBflHHHHI fat ,W /' - if DON’T WASTE VftTTH TAT PTVTT 3£ U Jti JlJcLJLmJbmjm JL HERE >* • ■^pWMBBpik jgJgb jgHfek ; AOKE game room NOV. 17, 8005 9 PM-MIDNIGHT GOLDEN SPUR GAMEROOM