Lovelyish

I believe that a hotel I was staying at when I went to band camp in junior high had condoms in the vending machines in the middle of the hall.

I’d rather they start selling condoms than Plan B. I mean, Plan B may help terminate an unwanted pregnancy if one happened to occur. And I’ve taken Plan B before, so I understand its benefits both physically and emotionally/psychologically. But it’s not going to erase any potential STI’s that you get from having sex without a condom. 

LOL “a survey of the student body”…

Shouldn’t a post like this be on Datingish, which covers anything to do with relationships, instead of Lovelyish, which covers fashion?

But yes, I think birth control vending machines are a good idea. They need one that vends lube and condoms right beside that one though.

Roommate: Where are you going?

Me: To get a pepsi, chips & plan b out the vending machines!

No but seriously, I think it’s a great idea. This gives people an anonymous way to handle their business. You shouldnt be ashamed of having sex or a possible mishap afterwards but so many pharmacists & stores are making it difficult & embarrassing so having a place to get it safely without stigma will help. Hopefully this can be available in all schools & maybe other places.

There shouldnt be many issues over this since if you’re in college, you’re atleast 17.

@ashleynicole - Condoms are usually given out free or extremely cheap on college campuses. Usually at the health center or they have vending machines in the bathroom. At my school, there’s a big bucket of them for the taking in the program chair’s office. The only drawback on condoms is sizing. Even if you had access to them, you may not get the right size & have sex anyway which would result in a mishap needing emergency contraception. There’s also laytex (SP?) allergies but that’s a different subject to get into.

They’re like soda too, you can find them everywhere. LOL I was in a lady’s boutique store & they were selling condoms in girly packaging (for double the usual price) because they were “flavored for her pleasure” & ultraslim. o.O The things people do to make money.

Fantastic idea.

Great idea.

@ashleynicole - Prevent, not terminate. Terminate would mean the pregnancy would have to already exist. Plan B will not terminate an already existing pregnancy.

Also, the machine contains condoms as well.

@ashleynicole - I would like it if they would stress condom use more as well. STI’s are a problem and I don’t think that many people take that seriously.

However, I’ve also had to go into a pharmacy to get Plan B for someone I knew because they were too embarrassed. I think having it out in the open like this may make some people more comfortable with the access they have to it. I hope that if someone has to use Plan B, they will realize that they should consider other forms of birth control. I know I did.

@Saridactyl@xanga - Ah right, forgot that Even so, I do still think it would be better to offer condoms than Plan B exclusively – although based on the comments made here it seems that you guys have vending machines for both! I can understand if it’s a one night stand or you were drunk or it “just happened,” as I’ve been there. But definitely I think that a larger variety of condoms would be a better way to go, because like I said it’s going to be the only way to protect against STI’s. If a woman is going to be relying on Plan B more than condoms, then she should really be taking BCP.

So that’s my concern, that women would start relying on Plan B more than condoms just because they could say “hey, we don’t have a condom, but who cares because I can get some Plan B around the corner!” At the pharmacy where I bought my packet years ago, I had to actually talk to a pharmacist for a while about it and was given forms and pamphlets. And it wasn’t just because of my age but I do believe it’s something that is practised all over Canada when getting Plan B. 

@Saridactyl@xanga - Yeah, exactly. You hear about preventing unwanted pregnancy far more, but STI’s can be just as stressful (if not more) and harmful than unwanted pregnancy. 

I understand that viewpoint of having it more accessible, especially for those embarrassed. But I do think that having that contact with a health professional when buying it is something that can be beneficial. I was also embarrassed to buy it, but I don’t think I’d have been any less embarrassed to do so out of a vending machine. Hell, I was embarrassed about buying tampons my first time. Plan B was also damn expensive. I think it was around $40CAD! I’d assume vending machines would allow for the cost to be far more reasonable, so that’s definitely a huge upside. I think that if they make sure to have a lot of information about contraceptives and about ways in which to contact health professionals to talk about these matters then this vending machine initiative will have a better impact. I mean, I’m not at all morally opposed to any of this, but I think that communication with a doctor or pharmacist, or anyone really, is more beneficial than just getting it from the vending machine. 

Woooooo my college made national headlines! Seriously, this is all everyone is talking about today. This is why our slogan is ,”Ship Happens”

Ha! I think this is great. At $25 a pop of course no one is going to be saying, “screw the pill or condoms, I’ll just grab a Plan B with breakfast.” And the walk of shame to the machine itself is pretty daunting. I think abuse is pretty unlikely, and being able to do this without seeing a pharmacist is great, too. Power to the people.

@Dare2BDiferentt@xanga - We just recently started specifically covering fashion. Lovelyish is simply for topics we think our mostly-female audience can relate to. We cross-post a lot between blogs, too.

This is a fantastic idea!

I think it’s a good idea, a good intention but i feel like students are going to abuse it now that it’s so accessible . 

I think its a great idea, especially for condoms. I feel these things would be used more if there were an easier and more discreet way to get them.

okay, you could argue that “we shouldn’t be so embarrassed about sex!” but we are, so shut up and stock that vending machine with condoms! hahaha

I go to Shippensburg University, it has been here for years and our students do not abuse it. Most of the girls at my university didn’t even know about it until today. But it is a great idea!

the only problem i have with the vending machine is invasion of privacy. people are going to see you purchase and take out plan b from the machine! otherwise it’s a good idea because it’s easily accessible.

@ashleynicole - I agree with you. They do have condoms available, but if they break, which we all know can happen, it’s a good idea to take emergency contraception. 

The only problem I have with this is what if someone is younger and uses it? Don’t you have to have a prescription if you’re under 17? I don’t know if it’s sending the right message. Plan B is something to use in emergencies, not just something to dispose out of a vending machine for regular use. But damn, $25? it’s like $50 where I live!

@x_papergirl@xanga - Plan B doesn’t need a prescription, you just buy it. But it’s not like buying Skittles or something, you get a talking to from the pharmacist/doctor about it. Birth control needs a prescription. And yeah it’s super pricey here!

@pretty_inx_plaid@xanga - Perhaps placing them in bathrooms would be more private, since you can always wait for everyone to vacate the bathroom (as there are always peak times for public peeing!) but it’s not as easy to do so in hallways.

@ashleynicole - If they put them in the bathroom they couldn’t control who had access to them. They’re in the health center becaause students have to sign in to enter and it guarentees that everyone who purchases it is 17 or older. Anyone can walk into the bathrooms.

@ashleynicole - Plan B only prevents pregnancy.  It will not terminate an existing pregnancy.  And nowhere here did it say that it would prevent STDs.  That’s what condoms are for, which are already generally distributed for free either through the school pharmacies or the health departments.

@the_rocking_of_socks@xanga - Which is exactly why I said that I don’t feel that this initiative is wholly beneficial, as it could result in more people opting out of using condoms because of the availability of this drug. Which obviously won’t happen with everyone, but it very much can and probably does happen. And this is why I also stressed introducing more condom promotion because it is the only way (outside of abstinence) to prevent STIs. I’m fairly certain that those choosing to buy Plan B aren’t doing so because they want to be double safe on top of having used a condom the night before, hence no STI protection

@Love_never_fails - Didn’t know that, I just assumed it would be in a vending machine next to the Pepsi! And in the states, do you have to be 17 years or older to purchase Plan B anywhere? Or are we just talking about in colleges? Because if you can only purchase it at 17, then I think that is something that should be changed in the states. 
But with singing in to purchase it, I think that kind of invalidates the entire “more privacy, less embarrassment” argument. In fact, I’d almost rather purchase it from a random pharmacy than from my own campus because there’d be far less chance of running into someone I’d see over and over again. I think I’d rather see it being sold in vending machines that would allow for total privacy, or at least anonymity. 

The only big problem with this is that people might start using it as a regular form of birth control, but at $25 for the two pills that would be stupid…so I guess that would discourage that problem.   

When I bought it from a pharmacy, it was $50. Now I’m jealous. 

@ashleynicole - Again, Plan B only PREVENTS pregnancy.  It DOES NOT TERMINATE an existing one.  Therefore, it wouldn’t do these students much good to buy them when they’ve missed a period because by then it’s already too late.  And at $25 a pop, it’s doubtful they’ll be replacing condoms anytime soon.  

@ashleynicole - Yes you have to be 17 to purchase it without an adult in the US. Idk why the law is like that it just is. You dont write down why you’re at the health center because I think that would violate patient confidentiality. So unless someone saw you buy it, it would probably be pretty private.

Embarrassing…. safe, and why didn’t we put condoms in vending machines a long time ago?!?!?! The main reason we don’t buy condoms is because they are expensive and embarrassing to purchase at the store!

Awesome idea.

@the_rocking_of_socks@xanga - I did not say it terminates pregnancy other than in my first comment where I was mistaken with my terminology. As I’ve mentioned already, I’ve stated that I feel that such an initiative could be abused by those who feel that they’d rather just skip the condoms and buy Plan B in order to not get pregnant the next day because they don’t want to “kill the mood” or any other reason. And that including far more promotion for condom use, the only way of minimizing chances of getting an STI other than abstinence, would be a fantastic option. 

@Love_never_fails - That’s kind of ridiculous. I bought mine when I was barely 15. But to be honest, I don’t think many young women even use the stuff: I know of at least 6-7 women under the age of 20 who became pregnant either during or just after high school. Which is definitely a shame. If they aren’t even bothering to be safe and use condoms, then Plan B probably needs to be made cheaper as opposed to just being sold in more places. At 40-50 dollars for a few pills, who would blame them?

@ashleynicole – and I’ll ask you again, what college student has $25 to drop everytime they don’t want to “kill the mood”? Your “concerns” are speculative at best, and very unlikely. And if someone really is dumb enough to use it like you seem to think they will, then whatever consequences that arise are on them. To be in college and not understand how proper birth control works is stupid and irresponsible, but the school should not be expected to babysit the few idiots and ignore the needs of many others.

How does the matchine know if you are 17 or older?? I know kids under 17 are having sex and whats to stop them from going and getting that pill and being so young they may think its ok to have sex because they can go and get that pill anytime they want. Or having someone older go and get it for them.

I’m not sure why Plan B is controversial, since all it does is prevent pregnancy, NOT terminate one.

I think it’s a great idea, if it’s not subsidized. Very clever business idea.

@BabyNoel@xanga - Ok so you OBVIOULSY did not read the article. The machine is located in our health center which is only accessible to students of the university. All students are 17 years old or older. You must sign in with the receptionist with student ID. Therefore, no one who is under the age of 17 can access the pills. Maybe read something the next time you try to put your two cents in so you don’t make yourself look stupid.

@WaitingToShrug@xanga - While Shippensburg is a state university, state funds are not used to purchase the pills and the university isn’t profiting off the sales. The cost is covered by students purchasing the pills.

@Love_never_fails - Yes, that’s what the post said. That’s why I think this is a good idea. I was saying that if it were subsidized, I would not think it’s a good idea.

I wish we had one of those in my college. It would be much easier to keep my personal life personal. The only place I know of that sells condoms here is walmart. There is a 70% chance that on of the cashiers is in one of my classes. Its weird when someone who you have to see at lest once a week knows who you are having sex with and how often you do it, as well as the kind of condoms you buy.

I think it’s a good idea.

This is such a great idea – this needs to catch on at more colleges. Again I am with the other commenters who say that it is incredibly unlikely that this would become a consistant form of birth control – college students are NOT going to spend $25 every time they have sex.

My issue with this is that it makes it significantly easier for a rapist to acquire, and administer to the person (woman) they raped. This is the reason you have to get a prescription where I go to school. I think it discourages women who have been raped from seeking medical attention, ESPECIALLY if the rape was committed by a “friend” or close acquaintance. I haven’t exactly developed a stance on this yet, but just wanted to share this thought.