"Morning-after Pill"

[pax]

::

RU-486 is NOT a variant of the morning-after pill. The morning after pill works to PREVENT CONCEPTION. In other words, conception has not yet taken place. An egg has not been fertilized or, if it has, it has not become implanted in the lining of the womb.

RU-486 is a combination of two abortifacient drugs (mifepristone and misoprostol) which cause a woman's uterus to contract and expel anything in it, including a fetus/embryo/baby/whatever you want to call it. Make no mistake, RU-486 is an abortion pill. The "morning after pill" is not.

The "morning after pill" is only effective until about 72 hours after intercourse has taken place (and that's the absolute ceiling.) RU-486 must be taken within the first 45 days of pregnancy, or else serious complications can occur.

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If you cannot live together in here, you cannot live together out there, let me tell ya. --Bono

You've got to cry without weeping, talk without speaking, scream without raising your voice... --Bono

[Achtung Bubba]

Thanks for the clarification. As I said, I'm a bit shaky about the differences between the pills.

And given your explanation (that the pill causes "a woman's uterus to contract and expel anything in it"), I find the name "RU-486" that much creepier.

But, since I confused the two, feel free to focus this discussion on the "morning-after" pill solely.

[pax]

Ain't no thang.

A lot of people oppose the morning-after pill because they think it is an abortifacient, and it's not. I think it's important that the distinction is made, because the morning-after pill is one of the best weapons the pro-life community has against the abortion argument. The morning-after pill, like the traditional birth control pill, only prevents conception. It does not cause abortions.

It's vital that women who are raped, for example, have access to the morning-after pill. And all women, really, should have easy and affordable access to the morning-after pill. Could really cut down on abortions if it were more readily available and more people understood it.

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If you cannot live together in here, you cannot live together out there, let me tell ya. --Bono

You've got to cry without weeping, talk without speaking, scream without raising your voice... --Bono

[KhanadaRhodes]

i agree. i'm not sure about the health benefits/risks of using the morning after pill, but i'm sure it's a lot safer than an abortion. i've heard having an abortion (especially multiple ones) can cause future fertility problems, as well as possible health risks. i'm not entirely sure and i could be completely wrong, though...