the Morning-After Pill...

[theyeti]

...looks like it's going to become available in US pharmacies.

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/Relationships/morning_after_pill_csm_031219.html

The move is supposed to reduce the over 3 million unwanted pregnancies in the US every year. Opponents say, however, that it will lead to even more teenagers having sex and an increased rate of STDs.

Then of course there's the issue over whether it's just a different form of abortion.

I'm on the fence. What do you think? Should it be sold over the counter? Is it a women's-rights issue?

[kezzer]

Thats a tough one. It will be good in some ways and bad in others. I don't know, I can't quite decide.

[Grimey]

I really don't know enough about it to make an informed decision, but that never stopped me from expressing an opinion on a matter.

Seems like it is just another way to get an abortion, so on that side I would say it is a bad idea.

I also thought there were issues with complications, but maybe I'm remembering something else.

[kezzer]

Grimey, I believe you are thinking of RU 187 or something like that, that is the abortion pill, this, from what I believe is a higher dosage birth control pill that prevents an egg from implanting. So it is more of a preventative measure than an after effect type thing.

[theyeti]

I think you're right kezzer.
Remember, before the morning-after pill was even allowed in any form by the FDA in the first place, there were tons and tons of studies on how it affected just about everyone. Now I'm watching CNN and some doofball is trying to say that there's no studies proving it's safe. Uh, where were you a few years ago?

Does anyone remember the videos in drivers ed with blood and guts and cars wrapped around trees and other gross stuff? I think they should use those kind of "scare tactics" in sex ed too.

I wonder how the chances of being killed while driving drunk compare to the chances of getting pregnant while using birth control. I bet they're pretty close.

[Grimey]

Don't think I'm remembering wrong - http://www.morningafterpill.org/mapinfo1.htm - Emergency contraception (also known as the morning-after pill) is a high dosage of the birth control pill. It is recommended to be used after sexual intercourse, over a period of 72 hours, to achieve the goal of preventing or ending pregnancy."Ending pregnancy" sounds like abortion to me.

[Grimey]

Another article contradicts, so who knows. Probably depends upon which side you are on. http://www.ippf.org/medical/bulletin/pdf/e0006.pdf

Apparently, according to this article, it prevents implantation after conception. http://womensissues.about.com/cs/reproductive/a/blmorningafter.htmOpponents of the morning after pill believe that selling it over the counter encourages irresponsible sexual behavior. Christian groups want a warning on the label to make users aware that it may prevent implantation after conception. Some pro-life groups have launched national campaigns claiming that the morning after pill and emergency contraception is an abortifacient. A few individual pharmacists have even refused to fill out prescriptions for the morning after pill.Another article - http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/birthcontro1/a/morningafterpil.htmThis emergency contraception method is different from another "morning after" pill used widely in Europe - known as RU486 or mifepristone. The FDA approved RU486 for use in the in United States in September 2000. Unlike emergency contraception, which acts before implantation of the fertilized egg, RU486 is an antiprogestin, which causes the uterine lining to shed after implantation. For this reason, RU 486 is sometimes referred to as an "abortion pill," although it can only be used up to six weeks after conception. RU 486 must be given by a physician in three separate doses.

[Grimey]

OK. Here's another good site. I like it because it explains the different viewpoints well.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/abo_cont.htm

It is not easy to quote, however.

Basically, pro-lifers believe life begins at conception. Pro-choicers believe life begins "At implantation of the fertilized ovum in the wall of the uterus."

[theyeti]

I thought kezzer was talking about the complications part... (eh?)

That religioustolerance.org site really is a good one, isn't it? I've visited it many times on many different issues... I ought to bookmark it.

[kezzer]

I don't know, I thought one was for after you were already pregnant and one for preventing it if there was an oops that could cause pregnancy.

[jamesglewisf]

I didn't know there were two different pills. I guess I don't pay close enough attention since we wouldn't have a need for either.