Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

fda.gov

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

151–160 of 395 posts

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#151

Post by mberning »

stuckinhell wrote: post #134

As a woman, I fear most people don't understand how much hormonal birth control can increase blood clots, cancer risk, mood changes, and all sorts of side effects. There doesn't seem to be a free lunch when it comes to biological modifications. :(

I agree. What are the chances that a young person taking this for the first time will recognize the side effects and know that it is from this vs something else. I guess they can always go to the doctor after the fact, but in some cases the harm will have already been done.

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#152

Post by regularfry »

peytoncasper wrote: post #141
regularfry wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some people react very badly to hormonal contraceptives, to the degree that it makes a lot of sense to have them actively prescribed so the GP can watch for (or at least warn to watch for) side-effects. I know people who can't take them because they make them suicidal, of the "spontaneously walking into fast-moving traffic" sort. I don't know if that would happen with this type specifically, but there are reasons to…

Yeah, I was a bit shocked to see this. Not because it shouldn't be easily accessible, but because most women I've talked to about this has gone through some sort of dialing in process. Whether its for dosage or a different brand. Hormones are not easy.

I should point out that if this specific type is known to be safe... yeah, dish them out like tic-tacs. Fill your footwear of choice.

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#153

Post by cudgy »

SantalBlush wrote: post #126
mustacheemperor wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are the first commenter to relate anything like even a secondhand real life experience with oral birth control. This thread (edit: at the time I am posting this) is full of men with little real knowledge of this drug insisting on why it’s reasonable it took 50 years for this to be available OTC. I don’t think the contents of their explanations are likely to be accurate, but I think they still explain why it took…

This goes for other things on HN, too. If the topic doesn't involve programming, it's mostly just uninformed people talking shit.

Because, naturally, humans can only be informed about a single topic: their career. Therefore, programmers are only capable of being knowledgeable about programming. And doctors are only capable of being knowledgable about medicine. And plumbers are only informed about plumbing topics. Really?

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#154

Post by kodah »

tyre wrote: post #58
runako wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> but there may be risks, especially if folks don't take the medicine correctly. This describes every over-the-counter drug that has ever been sold. Keeping contraception prescription-only has always been about politics.

The FDA regulates both risks and efficacy. The efficacy of hormonal birth control plummets if not taken consistently, which for progestin-only pills (like this) includes the same time of day[0]. Talking to a doctor ensures that people really understand this. The downside of forgetting to take more advil in time is short-term pain. The downside of not understanding that your birth control isn't working is a child. As…

> Talking to a doctor ensures that people really understand this.

This seems antiquated at best. They could've approved some kind of app or process to streamline this. I'm sure it's not the only kind of medication this situation applies to.

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#155

Post by supazek »

anigbrowl wrote: post #119
hattmall wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The contingent of people who want abortion restrictions and those who want to ban daily preventative contraception is incredibly minimal. There is no serious mainstream movement whatsoever to ban this type of medicine. This type of hyperbolic proselytizing has no place in reasoned discussion.

You're assuming a fundamentally democratic decision-making process that doesn't exist in reality. It's entirely conceivable that a 5-4 Supreme Court majority could outlaw or restrict something that enjoys broad acceptance in the population at large, for example.

In what way would they ban something? I mean, what would that mechanism look like? Honest question. It seems that they would only be able to rule some legislation unconstitutional or to rule on a case to set a precedent.

FWIW I think the Supreme Court overall does an amazing job upholding the constitution. The Roe v Wade upset made sense from a legal perspective and they have a strong recent history of supporting citizens rights in the face of overreaching LE agencies.

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#156

Post by Eisenstein »

giantg2 wrote: post #40
not_the_fda wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Its more about needing the Dr appointment. A Dr appointment isn't cheap if you are poor and lack insurance, and many places have wait time of a year to get an appointment.

You can get birth control from places that don't require insurance like MinuteClinics and online for a cost of about $20 for the visit. I'm pretty sure the online option does not have long wait times.

Let's make people go to a clinic to get any medicine then. If it isn't such a hassle, you won't mind?

I have a feeling you might be the type of person to think government should get out of the way of most things. Why is it not such a big deal in this case?

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#157

Post by tiny_ta »

chillydawg wrote: post #112

The pill can have pretty severe mental health impacts on women. I think as long as these are clearly signposted so that women know what they might be getting themselves into, then fair enough. Also tons of other side effects, some of which are pretty severe if taken in combination with the correct (eg most unlucky) underlying health issues.

I was on birth control for 5 years and had some friends on it too. My very anecdotal data is that: while none of us faced any mental health changes, there were some physiological changes that I did not like.

You're right that there are women who maybe severely impacted mental-health wise. But I think the benefits outweigh this as the lack of ability to control one's reproductive life can also be debilitating, mentally. And I like to think that impact is not much worse than what alcohol, drugs, even cough syrup can do to one's mental health. At least birth control can be stopped and is not addictive.

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#158

Post by regus »

zackmorris wrote: post #124

This is a bigger deal than it might seem. When birth control pills arrived in the 1960s, they were seen as a tool of liberation that would free women from forced pregnancy. Then the pope came out against them in 1968: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/pill-po... That caused a population explosion everywhere, but especially Central and South America, which were predominantly Catholic. IMHO it all co…

From the article:

'The Pill, Humanae Vitae declared, "... Man, growing used to contraceptive practices, may lose respect for the woman and come to the point of considering her as a mere instrument of selfish enjoyment, and no longer as his respected and beloved companion."'

This statement seems pretty prophetic when you take a look at the dating scene today.

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#160

Post by supazek »

jjkeddo199 wrote: post #148

[flagged]

I forget which country has this policy, but basically your income tax is reduced by 25% for each child you claim. So, have 4 kids and no income tax. It seems like more effective policy to promote births rather than punish contraception.
Post reply on HN