Contrary to popular misconception (no pun intended), the so-called "morning-after pill" is not an "abortion pill". Generally, it works the same way standard birth-control pills do: by preventing conception, not (generally) implantation.
Conception occurs when a sperm fuses with an egg to create a zygote, and this is the stage at which most pro-lifers believe life begins. Implantation occurs when a zygote implants itself in the tissue lining of the mother's uterus. Under normal circumstances, it's fairily common for conception to occur without being followed by a successful implantation, and the zygote is subsequently lost during the woman's period.
No one who accepts common birth-control pills (which occasionally do fail to prevent conception, but then succeed in preventing implantation) can reasonably object to the "morning-after pill" on the basis that it "causes abortions". That said, some conservative groups still object to the pill, ostensibly for health reasons.
It doesn't make sense to approve over-the-counter access to a high dose of this drug, when a lower-dose [birth control pills] cannot be obtained without a medical exam, physician oversight and prescription, said Wendy Wright, CWA's [Concerned Women for America] senior policy director.
That's a very reasonable argument, but it already seems silly to me that so many drugs are so heavily regulated. I'm not a doctor -- but I play one on TV -- and maybe birth-control pills do require physician supervision, but it seems unlikely to me considering how widespread their use is around the world. Most of the CWA's objections appear to be pretty feeble, and I'm not sure what their real motivation is. I suspect that since their donors are pro-life (and possibly ignorant of the details I mentioned above) the organization feels pressured to find some reason to object to the pills.
Nevertheless, I find myself agreeing with Planned Parenthood on this issue (amazing, I know).
"Wider access to emergency contraception will prevent hundreds of thousands of unintended pregnancies and abortions every year," said Planned Parenthood President Gloria Feldt. "There is no scientific basis for denying...over-the-counter availability," she added. ...The group also said its research indicates that widespread availability of EC could prevent 1.7 million unintended pregnancies and 800,000 abortions each year in the United States.
800,000 fewer abortions in America each year would be an astounding achievement, and well worth the minor potential health concerns raised by CWA.
I am a pro-lifer, but I totally agree with you on this one. This is NOT like RU-284, the "abortion pill." It sounds to me as if it works like a D&C in pill form, which is great for women who have been sexually assualted.
I am also a firm believer in sex education -- at as young an age as possible, with the message tailored to the age. In my opinion, it is unrealistic to teach nothing but abstinence, no matter what the Religious Right might think. The truth is, too many parents don't or won't take the responsibility to teach their children responsible sexual behaviour and anything that will prevent unwanted pregnancies -- short of abortion -- is a very good thing.
I'm a pro-lifer too, if that's not clear.
I think parents should be responsible for sex-education, not schools, and I do think that evidence shows that abstinence programs are more effective for reducing the risks of sexual activity than other types of programs.
I was lucky to pass Biology 101, so I won't argue the science of the thing myself, but at least one doctor disagrees with you on how exactly the pill works.
Well objecting to it on the basis of health is somewhat reasonable. I broke a condom while my wife was waiting for insurance paperwork to go through so we could get her on the pill, and the "morning after" really screwed her up physically _and_ mentally for about a week, amazing how psycho she got with her hormones all out of whack.
Curt: I'm not a doctor, I'm just telling you what I've read. As I said, standard birth-control pills also sometimes prevent implantation rather than conception. If one is acceptable, then both must be.
Puff: Maybe so, but that's a risk some people may find worth taking. People should be aware of the side-effects, but that's no reason alone to restrict the drug.
There are many reasons to oppose the morning after pill, including health and safety reasons as well as the fact that it sometimes acts as an abortifacient by preventing implantation. Many women would refuse to use the pill if this fact were made clear to them. Pharmacists should be given the right to refuse to sell it if their consciences object.
In the United Kingdom, the morning after pill is sold pharmacist-direct. Post-marketing surveillance there found a significant increase in the rate of ectopic pregnancies (6% as opposed to the usual rate of 2% or less). This is a serious health risk when young adolescents will have unsupervised access to the morning after pill if it is sold over-the-counter.
The most powerful arguments in favor of the morning after pill are claims that its use will prevent 50% or more of unintended pregnancies and thereby reduce the abortion rate.
This is not true as can be easily proven. In Sweden, where the morning after pill has been available over the counter since the late 1990s, teenage abortion rates have gone up from 17/1000 to 22.5/1000. In Washington State, the morning after pill has been available pharmacist-direct since 1998. Abortion rates there have not been cut in half. They are gently trending downward; however, the decrease coincides precisely with the nationwide decrease in abortion rates.
A study by Michael New proved that one of the major reasons for the reduction in abortions in the last few years has been the various laws restricting access to abortion enacted by various states (parental consent, waiting periods, etc.)
Finally, rates of Sexually Transmitted Diseases are skyrocketing wherever the morning after pill has been made available (Sweden and Washington State, for example).
Based upon experience of various states and countries already selling the morning after pill either pharmacist-direct or over-the-counter, it is most likely that if the morning after pill is made available over the counter in the U.S., there will be no reduction in unplanned pregnancies, a skyrocketing increase in STDs (especially among youth), and possible serious health risks which have not yet been studied, especially among adolescents.
This is a public health disaster of historic proportions in the making.
A complete research report on this issue has been published at Population Research Institute called "Under the Table."
Julie: Very interesting. Can I post your comment on the front page of the blog?
Certainly, Michael! I just stumbled across your site and I appreciate your work.
Please check out the full report on the Morning After Pill at www.pop.org under "Indepth Reports."