to think that the TV adverts for the morning-after pill are a bit inappropriate/misleading?

[InMyLittleHead]

Don't get me wrong, I support any woman's right to take the morning-after pill, and think that all women should be aware that it's an option for them.

But these adverts (apart from being pink and patronising) make no mention of the fact that the MA pill is actually a hefty dose of hormones and it isn't good for you to take it too frequently. The only warning (in small print at the bottom of the screen) is 'may not be 100% effective'. It just seems to market it as something you can take lightly and whenever you feel the need, like a paracetamol or something.

Surely a more appropriate way to inform young women about the MA pill is to hand out leaflets at school/university. At least then they could get proper information about what the MA pill actually is/is not. I find it a bit worrying that a girl could watch that advert and think that the MA pill is a replacement for using contraception at the time... AIBU?

[Mybox]

Shouldn't be advertised on tv

[ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight]

YANBU if the adverts market it as an alternative form of contraception. However YABU to object to adverts. It's a bit outdated to say that you shouldn't take it too often - it has evolved much in the last few years and won't do you any harm to take it more often than they used to advise. Girls are also getting pregnant at a terrible rate and anything that promotes responsibility IMO is a good thing. Taking the MAP is taking responsibility and if the adverts get some girls taking it when they would otherwise have crossed their fingers and hoped then I'm all for it. When you get the MAP don't they ask you about your contraception arrangements anymore?

[DailyMailNameChanger]

Kat2907, I suspect most people would not say that taking the MAP is being responsible - myself included, how can taking a huge dose of hormones after you have risked getting pg and after you have risked STDs HIV etc be being "responsible"???

I agree it should not be advertised on tv and certainly not in that pink and fluffy manner [blurgh]

[ErikaMaye]

I don't like the adverts. I don't think its suitable to be on the TV, advertised just like McDonalds and the Argos sale. Really annoys me.

[Morloth]

Is other birth control advertised on TV?

The advertising itself wouldn't bother me, but it needs to be truthful.

I have used the MAP. Am quite responsible thank you, we had a barrier method failure when I was breastfeeding and neither of us was interested in another child at that point.

[DailyMailNameChanger]

In a way it would bother me less if they also sdvertised condoms, femidoms, dental dams and the contraceptive pill on tv.

As it stands most girls will now grow up aware that MAP can make everything pink and fluffy for you so you need never worry again
Not, what I want them to know, which is that there are lots of forms of contraception each with their own pros and cons and the whole business should be taken seriously.

[DailyMailNameChanger]

Moloth, using MAP is not in itself irresponsible, using it as a choice for contraception is.

[ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight]

Dailymailnamechanger
because....if you have a risk of pregnancy that you don't want, and you take the MAP, you are taking responsibility for a pg not occuring. How is that complicated? Is it better to risk an unwanted pg?

Condoms are advertised, I don't think other methods are.

[MmeLindt]

I just had a look at the ad, as I have never seen it.

I don't think that it should be shown on TV.

The MAP is not 100% effective (as I know from personal experience) and showing it as an alternative contraceptive is misleading and dangerous.

Not to mention the fact that it does nothing to protect from STDs.

[ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight]

But you said that using the MAP is not taking responsibility. How do you know why people are using it? How do you know it's a choice for contraception? You don't, you are judging.

[InMyLittleHead]

kat - taking the MAP is obviously better than an unwanted pregnancy, but it's not the best contraception choice for your health is it? I wouldn't be surprised if some teenage girls were in fact not aware that the MAP doesn't protect you from STDs, and the advert does nothing to correct this view.

[DailyMailNameChanger]

Lol Kat2907, you said it is taking responsibility so you are assuming just as much as I appeared to be in that post (which I admit did not quite cover the full intent behind my words).

The advert makes it appear to be an alternative form of contraeption which it is not, using it as a form of contraception (rather than emergency contraception which it is supposed to be) is not responsible.

The advert therefore, IMO promotes irresponsible behaviour (in terms of contraception not having sex).

Also, not judging, talking from experience.

[ErikaMaye]

It is mentioned it sex education lessons that it doesn't protect you from STDs.

[DailyMailNameChanger]

Are condoms advertised????

I have never (that I can remember) seen an advert for condoms.

[MmeLindt]

IMO, the problem is that it sends the message that if your contraception fails (or you don't have a condom and still want to have sex) that it is ok, because the MAP will save you from pregnancy.

Which it might.

But it might not.

Is that a risk that you would like your teenage daughter to take?

[ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight]

Yes they are. There are a series of ads with young people getting fruity and names of STIs written on their underwear, ending in the line 'use a condom'.

[DailyMailNameChanger]

Nope, scratch that, they did do that campaign a little while ago didn't they where they re-ran a night out with and without condoms.

Erika, it is mentioned in sex ed that you can take MAP, therefore why the need for the ad?

Either it has to do it all properly or nothing at all - and by properly I mean going into the awful feeling when your usual contraception has failed, the fact that this still may end up in a baby, that it increases risk of miscarraige if the pg does continue and so on.

[ErikaMaye]

Why are we all presuming that its just teenage girls that will be using the MAP? Irks me somewhat.

[ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight]

Well it says not 100% effective on the ad, as well as stating that sexual health advice can be obtained from your GP or family planning clinic so I think it's quite clear.

I'd rather girls took it than didn't, and anything that gets that to happen is a good thing.

[InMyLittleHead]

I concentrated on the teenage issue in my original post because they, having less experience, are the most likely to be misled by this advert. Hopefully mature women would be more aware of the pros and cons of the MAP.

[ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight]

I'm not presuming that Erikamaye but I'm coming from the POV of working with vulneravble teenagers who often get pg with bad outcomes, and have staggeringly poor knowledge of contraception, so that's my priority.

[ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight]

it is mentioned in sex ed that you can take MAP, therefore why the need for the ad?

because sex ed doesn't work properly, because kids don't pay attention, because lots of kids bunk off or refuse to attend school, because they just aren't getting the message. Using alternative forms of disseminating information, such as TV, is effective.

[CMOTdibbler]

When you go to the Dr or pharmacy for it, you are briefed on the side effects, success rates, and your contraceptive choices discussed with you.

IMO, it's great that you can go and buy it quickly when you need it.

[InMyLittleHead]

kat - it does say that but in tiny writing at the bottom of the screen. I would say everyone knows of the existence of the morning after pill and roughly what it does (i.e. stops you getting pregnant, if you're lucky). So what's the point of an advert which says the same thing but cannot, due to its medium, give proper information on the matter?

[ErikaMaye]

And some of us attend every single lesson, get good grades, scholorships, are Prefects, and still fall pregnant.