Emergency Contraceptives
Despite the age-old belief that the purpose of sexual interaction is to reproduce, people have attempted to practice means of contraception for thousands of years. In Europe, large segments of the population began to use various methods to regulate conception, pregnancy, or births in the latter part of the eighteenth century. During the nineteenth century, the widespread desire for more forms effective means of controlling the number of births resulted in the development of numerous devices and or medications that provided both men and women with opportunities to use contraceptives. With the increased demand and practice of contraception, the medical community needed to provide the population with the
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The estrogen/progestin and RU486 both accomplish pregnancy prevention by not allowing a fertilized zygote to implant on the uterine walls and grow to development. However, the methods behind the drugs differ. The estrogen/progestin regiment prevents pregnancy in three different ways depending on the time taken. It can prevent ovulation, inhibit fertilization, or alter the endometrium (uterine lining) thereby stopping implantation, but it cannot affect an implanted zygote (Federal). However, the effects of RU486 vary considerably. It alters the endometrium so that no implantation can occur, and if implantation has already occurred, a spontaneous abortion or miscarriage will occur (Piaggio, et al.) Therefore, RU486 is both a postcoital contraceptive and an abortifacient-agent that causes abortion. With the emergence of these two forms of birth control, many groups have begun to re-evaluate the actions and implications of all postcoital contraceptive agents. The controversy is rooted in whether the administration of these types of medications is the solutions to "unprotected sex" or a quick, unsafe form of abortion. Participants in this heated debate come from the medical and the pro-life/pro-choice factions of the political community. Most physicians and governmental agencies support the ideas of postcoital contraceptives because they feel that these methods/medications allow people to prevent unwanted pregnancies in
Over the counter birth control pills have been a topic of discussion for many women. Some might say it would pose many risks such as not receiving medical checkups and not knowing the side effects of birth control pills. Others may see it as a helpful to women because of the convenience of accessing the pills and not having to take time to schedule appointments. Additionally, due to health care and insurance policies some women might not have an easy access to birth control pills but the cost should not be a factor. Although over the counter birth control would allow an easier access for women, there are reasons why a doctor’s visit and a prescription are required to receive birth control pills.
Oral contraceptives have provided the world with great outcomes. Planned parenthood stated that birth control has “advanced women’s educational opportunities, led to more college-educated women pursuing advanced professional degrees, enhanced children’s well being in the long run, saved women money, reduced teen pregnancy, and reduced unwanted pregnancy” (“Birth Control” 1-3). The argument that birth control has done great things for society is obvious.
Birth control is the practice of preventing unwanted pregnancies, especially by use of contraception. It also can be define as control of children or offspring born especially by preventing the frequency of conception. As there are many type of birth control method including hormonal method, barrier method, intrauterine device, natural method and emergency contraception. For hormonal birth control method is split into two types. The first one is combined contraceptive pills that contain two hormone (estrogen and progestin ) to prevent the pregnancy happening. As the function for combined contraceptive pills is to stop the ovum release and make the mucous of cervix become thick so it can stop the movement of sperm cells. The advantages for
Birth control has been the topic of discussion lately. Individuals have been debating if birth control should be able to be received over the counter. That is up to the Food and Drug Administration because they are the ones who have to approve or disapprove. Drug companies and law makers should work together to change the rules and allow woman and teenage girls to have more easily acces to acquire birth control.
Oral contraceptive has been a controversial topic for years. Oral contraceptives are a common form of birth control. Birth control is used to prevent pregnancy by blocking a male’s sperm from fertilizing a female’s egg. Women take birth control to prevent pregnancy. Also, teen women can prevent unwanted pregnancies by having access to over the counter birth control pills. Birth control pills should be available without a prescription.
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy at any stage that does not result in birth. What a lot of people don’t realize is a miscarriage is also considered an abortion even though it is not medically induced; it is called a spontaneous abortion because it is not a medical procedure. Recently a study was done and it showed that the number of abortions worldwide have gone down considerably because of family planning, having reasonable birth control methods introduced, the prices for them lowered and the availability of them are accessible by the younger generation. More and more we are seeing young women using abortion as a birth control method, this is making the
The refusal of some health insurers to include contraceptives as a part of an insurance plan for women is one of the most contentious disagreements in the health insurance industry. Insurance plans today cover a variety of prescription drugs, however some still do not approve of prescription contraceptive drugs and devices. More than half of U.S. states insurance policies require that other prescription drugs along with the FDA approved contraceptive drugs and devices be included on their health care plans, as well as any related medical services. These services entitle, annual visits for womens recommended preventive care and services. Although depending on individual state policies, some states allow employers or insurers to refuse
The Center for Disease Control conducted a study on contraceptive use; their findings concluded “four out of five women have used birth control pills” during one point of their lives (Basset). Birth control pills have been around for over six decades, and their popularity has significantly increased during the past decade. Thousands of sexually-active women are turning to birth control pills as a way to prevent unplanned pregnancy, regulate periods, and to control acne. Nonetheless, birth control pills are synthetic hormones that influence the female body in severe ways. In fact, doctors and media are not presenting the menaces of consuming birth control pills in women; instead, they disguise the risks with commercials of synchronized
. One of the reasons why many scientists have chosen to define implantation as the beginning of pregnancy is because half of all zygotes do not survive beyond two weeks even if no action is taken to destroy them and so un-implanted zygotes are not considered necessarily viable (3). According to the Mayo Clinic, the morning-after pill prevents pregnancy from occurring because it does not terminate a developing zygote implanted on the uterine wall (1). According the American Bioethics Advisory Commission, preventing a zygote from implanting in the uterine lining, is technically abortion because life and pregnancy begin with conception (2). The American Heritage dictionary defines conception as the "formation of a viable zygote by the union of the male sperm and the female ovum; fertilization" (10). . Even this definition leaves room for interpretation about whether or not a zygote is viable, but for those who believe that every fertilized human egg is a human life, the debate here is identical to the debate over whether or not surgical abortion should be legal. It is a question of how human life is defined, when it begins, and under which circumstances, if any, it is permissible to end it. In polls, most Americans have demonstrated a preference for earlier abortions over later ones (7). For those who see more shades of gray in such matters, the question becomes, is the morning-after pill a better, more humane, and safer option, than
Unintended pregnancy continues to be a growing controversy in the United States. There are many women and female adolescents that are faced with unintended pregnancies. Many have to decide whether to continue with their pregnancy or end their pregnancy. The most common method used to end an unintended pregnancy is by an abortion. However, many women and especially adolescents are not aware of an alternative method used to prevent an unintended pregnancy called Emergency Contraception (EC). This paper will explore unintended pregnancy, EC, pro-emergency contraception and anti-emergency contraception opinions. There are many women of childbearing age that have become pregnant unintentionally in the United States. As a result, many have
Within the pro-choice world there are many issues that are discussed like abortion, the instant where life begins and the use of contraceptives. This article will focus on not only the issue of using of contraceptives, but specifically the distribution of oral contraceptives (“the pill”) to teenage girls without their parent’s consent.
The sexual revolution introduced a whole new idea of controlled births and the use of different forms of birth control. Contraceptives have been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians, but the sexual revolution introduced a whole new form and more efficient way to prevent conception of a child. The use of contraceptives helped control the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, lowered the percentage of illegitimate children, and reduced the risk of pregnancy. Even as early as the times of the ancient Greeks, people could tell the difference between abortifacients and contraceptives. During this era, things such as linen condoms, dried fish
Ever thought birth control pills are highly recommended and no one really tells women about the effects. The dangerous effects of birth control can be critical. Women have not been informed, well enough of contraceptives, especially when looking back on birth control with women's health and choices.
The idea of Emergency Contraception is not a new to society, however it is still igniting many debates just as it did when it was first introduced to the United States. Emergency contraception continues to be a highly emotional and controversial issue, both for advocates who believe EC will lower the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions, and for opponents who believe that using EC amounts to an abortion. The controversy fueling this debate centers around one of the ways that emergency contraception works. Emergency contraception can prevent or delay ovulation, affect the movement of the egg or sperm: making them less likely to meet, it can also interfere with the fertilization process and prevent implantation of a fertilized egg.
vary by location but the main services include “Abortion; Birth Control; Emergency Contraception (Morning After Pill); General Health Care; HIV Testing; LGBT Services; Men’s Health Care; Pregnancy Testing & Services; STD Testing Treatment & Vaccines; Women’s Health Care.” Of these services that clinics perform 41% is STI and STD treatment, 34% is contraception, 10% is cancer screening and prevention, 11% is classified as other Women’s Health Care services, 3% is abortion services and 1% is other services (Parenthood, 2015). Some clinics may offer in house abortion while others will only offer referral services depending on location. As they cannot allocate government funds to abortion, the client will usually have to pay the clinic up to 1,500$ for the procedure. Although PP’s main goal is reproductive health and family planning, these clinics are equipped for many other general health care services such as vaccination and blood cholesterol checking. Both paid medical and non-medical employees, as well as volunteers who perform an array of jobs usually staff clinics. For example, clinics that are often berated by groups of protestors will often employ volunteer escorts to assist the patient entering the building to make them feel safer. According to PP (2015), these US clinics service 2.8 million patients in 4.6 million clinical visits each year.