Morning After Pill Research Paper

Unwanted pregnancies can be stopped. The morning-after pill can prevent a pregnancy if taken within 72 hours. It can reduce pregnancy by up to 89%. The pill has a higher dose of levonorgestrel, the hormone found in birth control pills. A survey conducted by Livescience.com showed that 22% of females that are of ages 15-19 that had sexual intercourse have used the pill at least once in their lives. The pill can also give teenś privacy.

Last Tuesday, advisors to the Food and Drug administration voted to make the "morning-after" pill available over-the-counter (1). The FDA has not yet acted on this recommendation (1). The morning-after pill is the vernacular term for emergency contraception, specifically, two pills with the commercial name, "Plan B", which have the ability to inhibit and, depending on one's perspective, possibly to terminate unwanted pregnancies. The FDA approved the first version of the morning-after pill for prescription use in 1998 (1). The issue today is whether it should be available without a prescription.

Plan B One-Step, also known as the morning-after pill, is currently available to all females of any age without a pharmacist’s approval. However, this has not always been the case. It used to be that females could not obtain the contraceptive if they were under the age of 17 and it was only available over-the-counter with valid identification. Many people still believe in those restriction, including the current president of the United States. On December 8, 2011 Barak Obama presented interesting points in an interview on Plan B about the safety for girls regarding the pill. Plan B stops the release of an egg from the ovary. It also may prevent a sperm from fertilizing the egg. If fertilization has already occurred, Plan B prevents the fertilized

They also argue that since women want control over their own bodies that they need to start realizing that control should include preventing the risk of unwanted pregnancy by using contraception or just remaining abstinent. On the flip side, there are those who believe a woman should be able to do what they want with their own bodies, which would be aborting a baby if they felt that was the best for them. Pro-choice believers argue that in the case of rape or incest, forcing a woman made pregnant by this violent act would cause further psychological harm to the victim. Most of the time the woman is unaware she is pregnant in which the “morning after” pill would not be of any help. Like stated before, I am a firm believer in being pro-life, but since I am a smart, young woman, I have to weigh out every option given to me and then choose from there which is the best choice. I do not condone killing a baby by any means, but I have to be smart about the issue.

Plan B works entirely by stopping the release of an egg from the ovary. According to www.planbonestep.com, “it’s likely possible that Plan B also works by preventing fertilization of an egg or by preventing attachment to the uterus.” They recommend to take as soon as possible as it will be more effective. Plan B is available for purchase in the U.S. over the counter in most drugstores

First, a mother is less likely to seek prenatal care during an unintended pregnancy. Pre-pregnancy health problems may go untreated, the mother may experience pregnancy related health problems such ectopic pregnancy and other maternal health problems (Reducing unintended, 2005).Second, the mother and family may experience psychological problems such as depression and anxiety. An unintended pregnancy can also prove to be harmful for the infant as well. In the first year, an infant is at high risk for low birth weight, abuse and death (Reducing unintended, 2005). As mentioned, many unintended pregnancies are terminated through abortion without regard to life. It is important for women of childbearing age to be aware of alternatives that will prevent unintended pregnancy. Emergency Contraception (EC) also known as the morning after pill is an alternative method used when birth control methods have failed to prevent unintended pregnancy.There are many people who support the morning after pill and many who are against the emergency contraceptive. According to the blog “A Night for Emergency Contraception”, the morning after pill is a good way to stay safe and have fun. Emergency contraception is now easier to take, one no longer has to take one pill then wait twelve hours to take another. It is now available over the counter in a one step formula. People of religious faith on the other hand are not in favor of this type of contraceptive. It seems they

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.

Although selling birth control over the counter has major and long-term benefits, it can also be harmful. Without the need for a prescription, women lose the ability to properly learn how the usage of birth control can affect their body. There are many women that have little to no knowledge when it comes to the side effects of taking birth control and that the side effects vary with every body. For instance, taking birth control can increase the chances of developing blood clots by three to four times. With that being said, there are side effects to just about every

As said earlier, it is very significant to have emergency contraception with you if you are sexually active during your travel or you are going out with your new companion on travel. Emergency contraception like will guard you instantaneously against unwanted pregnancy. It will also help you when your other contraception devices have failed. Please remember that emergency contraceptive pills might not be obtainable everywhere and it has to be taken instantaneously as soon as unprotected sex has happened or contraceptive measures have failed. It must be encompassed in your birth control plans and particularly, when you are traveling.

As a result, the cervical mucus makes it challenging for sperm to enter the uterus. Estrogen and progesterone are distributed in excess amounts and deceive the body into thinking it is pregnant. These contraceptives also cause the uterus lining to thin, in effect; a fertilized egg is less likely to attach itself to the uterus. (Oral Contraceptives and Cancer Risks) Birth control pills are chemicals and hormones that women are ingesting religiously on a daily basis. It is of the utmost importance to examine the effects of birth control pills in women’s body.

     An unexpected pregnancy is no reason to abort the baby. If someone is mature enough to make the decision to have sex, they should be mature enough to do it properly, and if they do not, they should live with the consequences of their actions. The only way to totally prevent a pregnancy is to practice total abstinence, which is the only birth control that is 100%. Practicing

" More than one in five sexually active girls have used the morning after pill, a significant rise from a decade ago, when only one in ten girls used the emergency contraception." according to a report released on 22of July. Many girls under 17 have unprotected sex, then they have to get the morning after pill. Most of the time the pill is sold over the counter to the girls under 17. Many of times it is sold without a prescription from a doctor. Plan b shouldn't be sold over the counter to girls under 17 because a doctor didn't prescribe the pill to them, teenagers that age are not emotionally ready for that decision, and they have no knowledge of what the pill is or does.

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.

The morning after pill needs to be available to females of all ages. It can help teenagers to avoid pregnancy at such a young age. “High Teen Pregnancies Blamed on Contraceptives” pointed out that, “Teen pregnancies are high due to low availability and accessibility to contraceptives or more,” (Nakabugo). Population rates would decrease if contraceptives were available to all women because it would have prevented any babies. With more accessibility and less restriction, teen pregnancies would plummet as will population. In “A Bitter Pill, Contraceptives in Egypt” they elaborated about how, “Hassan turned to the black market to get birth control, until those disappeared,” (A Bitter Pill, Contraceptives in Egypt). Hassan looked everywhere in her town for birth control and ceased to find any. Even the black market didn’t have any, suspicious? When contraceptives are made available and accessible to everywhere and everyone, then population and pregnancy rates will lower a lot.

Other risk factors include obesity, older age, having several family members who've had blood clots before old age, air travel, and having to lie or sit for a prolonged period, as you might after major surgery. * Headaches. Headaches may start in women who have not previously had headaches, or can get worse in those who do. * Depression. Depression (sometimes severe) and other mood changes may occur. * Nausea and vomiting. This side effect usually goes away after the first few months of use or can be prevented by taking the pill with a meal. * Breast tenderness. Your breasts may become tender or may get larger. Breast tenderness is relatively common during the first month of BCPs and uncommon thereafter. * Breakthrough bleeding or spotting. Spotting or bleeding between menstrual periods is very common in the first cycle of pills or if pills are missed or taken late. * Decreased enjoyment of sex. Some women experience a decreased interest in sex or a decreased ability to have orgasms. * Weight gain. Some women report slight weight gain. Weight gain is often caused by fluid retention or estrogen-induced fat deposits in the thighs, hips, and breasts. Weight gain may also be related to a reduction in physical activity or increased intake of food. In some women the androgenic effects from the progestins in their OCs can increase their appetite. * Chloasma (spotty darkening of the skin on the face). Darkening of the skin on the