Should Teen Girls Have A "Plan B?"

Seventeen year olds will soon have access to the "morning after pill" without a prescription.

The Food and Drug Administration says it will not appeal a federal judge's decision to ease age restrictions for the Plan B emergency contraception pill.

Early Show medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton talked to Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith about this controversial topic.

"Pros and cons, let's start with the good things. In a country that has one of the largest teenage pregnancy rates in the western world, we need to do everything we can to attack that issue, so that's on the good end.

"I say why stop at 17? It's not only 17-year-olds who get pregnant, so it possibly should be opened up to teenagers of all ages who need it," she said. "The real cautionary aspect of this is if you are at risk for unintended pregnancy, by definition you are you also at risk for infection and disease and obviously Plan B doesn't address that risk."

How does it work?

According to Ashton, there are several theories as to how the pill works: "It inhibits ovulation or the release of an egg. It also might impair the fertilization process and lastly, it might interfere with implantation several days down the road."

Are there some kinds of restrictions on this?

"When it became approved for over-the-counter use for 18 and over, doctors began to worry again that teenagers wouldn't have the medical follow-up or oversight they would need to manage because it's not 100-percent effective," she explained. "So it does need some follow-up."

Although the morning after pill is available over the counter, Ashton strongly suggests the individual should see a doctor.

"Absolutely," she said. "Because you need the workup for the STDs and you need someone to follow you through those steps."