Less emergency contraceptives given out than past Little 500s

While many recognize Little 500 week as a time to party, IU students have been increasing their attempts to stay safe during their sexual activities as well.\nAccording to the IU Health Center and Planned Parenthood of Bloomington, Little 500 week brings in an increase of prescriptions for emergency contraceptives. This has been an annual occurence for both facilities. Despite that history, none had an increase in prescriptions for emergency contraceptives during last week's festivities.\n"Following the Little 500 week, Planned Parenthood gave out the same amount of prescriptions of contraception Plan B pills than it normally would on any Monday and Tuesday," said Virginia Rogers of Planned Parenthood.\nAccording to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Web site, www.fda.gov, Plan B is a pill used after unprotected sex and as a backup method to birth control. Plan B can only be prescribed and is recommended to be taken one to two days after having unprotected sex.\nRogers said that between Monday and Tuesday, Planned Parenthood normally issues an average of 38 prescriptions of the contraception Plan B pills. Last week was no different, as the facility prescribed the same amount of contraception pills it normally would.\nThe IU Health Center had similar results.\n"Our pharmacist was ready for more business of emergency contraception, to give out packets for what she thought she would need," said Anne Reese, who is the director of Health and Wellness Education at the IU Health Center. "I think that it's important that students know that they can get emergency contraception from the Health Center."\nReese stated that the Health Center was surprised fewer people showed up for information on emergency contraception and prescriptions this year and does not know why fewer prescriptions were produced than in past years.\nGenerally, the Health Center also sees an increase of prescriptions for emergency contraceptives on Mondays and after Spring Break, Reese said.\nEven though this year did not attract as many students as the Health Center was expecting, Reese believes students are becoming more aware of their choices for contraception through tools such as the Internet, as well as their education.\n"That would be great to say that students are protecting themselves more, but I don't have any evidence about what happened this past weekend," Reese said. "It would be great to think that education is working."\nReese also said that Web sites, such as www.not-2-late.com, can give important information, such as locations where users can buy contraceptives and phone numbers where the providers can be reached.\n"It's really nice because you can find out what's available in your location," Reese said.