The Evidence Is Overwhelming: Morning After Pills DO NOT Abort Fertilized Eggs

[sheshe2]

[div class="excerpt"


For ten years, scientists have known that the emergency contraception called the “morning-after pill” does not prevent a fertilized egg from implanting itself in the uterus. For ten years, the FDA and medical websites have inappropriately labeled the drug as possibly preventing a fertilized egg from implanting. For ten years, the manufacturer of the pill has asked for the labeling to be corrected. For ten years, the anti-choice faction in this country—including former presidential candidate Mitt Romney—has bludgeoned the drug as an “abortive pill” in its zealous crusade against choice.

The pill, also known as Plan B, actually delays ovulation—the release of the egg from the ovary. The fact that the drug is nicknamed the “morning-after pill” may have led to a misconception on the part of the public. It works the morning after intercourse, not the morning after fertilization. An egg usually isn’t fertilized immediately; it can take up to five days for the sperm to position itself properly. By delaying ovulation, emergency contraception allows enough time for sperm to die off before an egg is released.

After the New York Times began raising questions about the science behind the drug labeling, A.D.A.M., the firm that writes medical entries for the National Institutes of Health Web site, eliminated any passages that imply that emergency contraception disrupts implantation. The FDA has yet to make such a correction. Dr. Roger W. Harms, editor of the Mayo Clinic Web site says:


“We are ‘champing at the bit’ to revise the site’s entries, but are waiting for an official pronouncement from the FDA.”

]More Here.
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/12/27/the-evidence-is-overwhelming-morning-after-pills-do-not-abort-fertilized-eggs-2/

[jpak]

1. bookmarked

n/t

[gollygee]

2. This isn't new information even

I took the morning after pill a long long time ago, maybe 15 to 20 years ago, and I was told that at the time by the doctor who gave it to me. "If it prevented implantation, it would be effective longer than it is." If you understand how the morning after pill works, it seems really obvious that it just delays ovulation until the sperm cells die off. Implantation doesn't happen for several days, so if it stopped that it would be just as effective on day 4 as days 3, 2, and 1.

[efhmc]

17. A woman who is truly sensitive to her body can even

feel some cramping at the time, which can happen up to 6 to 10 days after fertilization.

[progressoid]

3. but but but

what about Gawd's will?

[MH1]

4. IT.SHOULD.NOT.MATTER.

Abortion in the first trimester should be easily accessible anyway and the religious folks need to get this: if you don't like abortion, don't have one.

The low hanging fruit in the climate change problem is STOP FORCING WOMEN TO HAVE BABIES.

[koskiea]

5. It won't matter

The unfortunate thing is that no amount of science will change the minds of most people. The pro-life position is emotional, not rational.

[freshwest]

19. +1. They scream to protect the warm and fuzzy without taking responsibility for it.

[Yavin4]

6. You're Seriously Using Science to Debate Pro-Lifers???

Really? Good luck with that.

[madokie]

7. You'd think this information would calm down the anti abortionist

but I doubt that any of them will even acknowledge this.
Some people only believe in what they want to believe in

[Sarah Ibarruri]

8. (And IMHO, who cares if they do?) Anyway, great article. Thank you! nt

[sheshe2]

12. Thanks Sarah n/t

[musical_soul]

9. Thank you.

For years, that's all I've ever read.

[freshwest]

20. Same here. The lie that it's an abortion drug is a long-standing one.

[Moonwalk]

10. No, you can't convince pro-lifers, but this CAN convince courts....

...what going to the courts now are pro-lifer businesses that are trying to bring down Obamacare because, they argue, it forces them to provide abortions (thanks to pills like this) and this goes against their right to freely practice their religion. If these go to court, the other side can point out, again and again that these people will NOT be paying for an abortions (at least not with this pill), and hence NOT going against their religious convictions.

Now, of course, it shouldn't be an issue at all because paying for health insurance is like giving someone money which they can then spend as they like. It may be against someone's religion to buy alcohol, but if that's what your employee uses their money for, and it's legal, then it's none of your business.

That said, this is ammunition for the Obamacare side of things. If these people are going to argue that they're paying for abortions by providing this pill, then they have to prove that it does, actually, abort. As it doesn't, that undermines part of their arguments.

[sheshe2]

11. Thank you Moonwalk...great response!

[freshwest]

21. +1

[sheshe2]

23. Sometimes it takes babie steps to take us where we need to go.

As long as we keep moving forward!

[jp76]

18. This is no slam-dunk

I'm not Catholic, so forgive me if I'm incorrect...but doesn't the Catholic church frown on all forms of contraception? It isn't just abortions they're opposed to, so while morning after pills aren't a form of abortion, it is still against church doctrine. The legal principle involved is freedom of religion, not the definition of abortion or contraception, if I understand their argument correctly.

[freshwest]

22. Those who have no use for their church, have no use for their doctrine.

[libodem]

13. yep

Those dang sperm remain viable for several days. Sneaky things.

Day-um they do need a pill to keep a fertilized egg from implanting. Honestly that would be the ticket.

[lapislzi]

14. You can't win this argument with logic or facts.

Because, it's not about the science. It's not even about "abortions" per se. It's about limiting the health choices available to women. It's about slut shaming women, and it's about blaming victims for their own rapes.

It's nothing to do with babies, fetuses, zygotes, or embryos. It's everything to do with controlling women.

[jp76]

15. Thanks

Honestly, I'm not well-educated on how the drug works, and this was news to me. It's certainly motivated me to become better educated about it, I have no issues with something that prevents fertilization.

[The Second Stone]

16. This was news to me and I try to stay current on health news

Thank you for the post.