Policy

Pediatricians Recommend Teens Get Advance Prescription for Plan B

To prepare for that "whoops" moment

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On the heels of a gynecologist group's recommendation to make birth control pills available over-the-counter and potentially available to teens without a prescription, another group of doctors has called for teenage girls to get a morning-after-pill prescription during their annual physical—just in case they might need it when a condom breaks.

As the mother of a 17-year-old girl, this latest recommendation by the American Academy of Pediatrics sets off some pretty strong warning bells. Should parents and doctors send teenage girls the message that it's okay to skip effective contraception if you have a Plan B?