Emergency Contraception in the United States Today

1682 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The increased rate of teenage early pregnancy

Emergency Contraception in the United States Today

In a world today where unplanned or unintended pregnancies occur in exuberant numbers there is a great need for a solution. Emergency contraception is one that comes to mind. In the United States approximately 3.2 million of the total six million annual pregnancies are accidental, half of these ending in abortion (Lindberg, 1997). Eighty percent of teen pregnancies are unintended, and each year, one in nine young women aged 15-19 become pregnant; more than half become mothers. Widespread use of emergency contraception could prevent an estimated 1.7 million unintended pregnancies and 800,000 abortions each year ("Planned Parenthood," 1998). As of September 1998, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates the introduction of new drugs into the marketplace, has approved a total of 10 brands of combination-hormone pill brands suitable for use as emergency contraception pills. For those who are unable to take the hormone pills there is an option of an intrauterine device. Raising awareness of emergency contraception and allowing health care workers to provide emergency contraception pills to patients who may be at need in the future could dramatically decrease the numbers of unintended pregnancy and all the consequences that result.

Emergency contraceptive pills are ordinary birth control pills containing the hormone estrogen and progestin. They are also called postcoital contraception or "the morning after pill." Emergency contraception Pills (ECP's) can prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse by as much as 75% when the first dose is taken within 72 hours and the second dose taken 12 hours later (Klima, 1998). ECP's affect the menstr...

... middle of paper ...

...ournal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 26 (2), 145-52.

Morgan, K., & Deneris, A. (1997). Emergency contraception: preventing unintended pregnancy. The Nurse Practitioner, 22 (11), 34-48.

Robles, A. (No date). Emergency Contraception [Online]. Available: http://opr.princeton.edu/ec/ecabt.html [1998, October 22].

Skolnick, A. A. (1997). Campaign launched to tell physicians, public about emergency contraception. JAMA, 278 (2), 101-02

Trussell, J., Koenig, J., & Ellertson, C. (1997). Preventing unintended pregnancy: the cost- effectiveness of three methods of emergency contraception. American Journal of Public Health, 87, (6), 932-937).

Author Unknown. (1998, September). Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. [Online]. Available: http://www.pannedplarenthood.org/library/BIRTHCONTROL/EmergContra.htm [1998, October 22].

Show More
Related

  • Annotated Bibliography Of The Pill

    1605 Words  | 4 Pages

    When legally introduced to society in 1960, the Pill stirred up a long period of controversy. The availability of the Pill had great impact on women’s health, social life, laws, religion, family, relationships, morality and sexuality. Initially conceived to be highly effective and safe, the Pill left many women with side effects – few which led to several fatalities. Before the Pill was created, many women postponed sex due to the social norm and fear of becoming pregnant before marriage. Families grew large and it was typical for a woman to have multiple children caused by the lack of birth control. Due to regulations, such as the Comstock laws, many people supported the prohibition of the Pill and other family planning practices. However, many women believed in the right to control their own body when it came to procreation. Despite the controversies, the Pill left lasting impacts, such as by opening society to the sexual revolution and...

    Read More

  • Birth Control

    1564 Words  | 4 Pages

    A thin, stretchy sheath about two inches in diameter and six to eight inches long, designed to be worn over penis during sex. Condoms form a physical barrier between penis and the vagina. After ejaculation the tip of the condom holds the semen and prevents it from traveling to woman's reproductive system to fertilize the egg.

    Read More

  • The Truth about the Morning-After Pill

    2001 Words  | 5 Pages

    The emergency contraception pill (ECP), most commonly known as “the morning-after pill,” is a back-up birth control method that is used after unprotected sex, contraceptive failure, or rape. It prevents pregnancy from occurring, however, it is not a method for abortion nor does it protect against sexually transmitted diseases.

    Read More

  • Abortion in Australia

    1023 Words  | 3 Pages

    educating women more on the pill and the way it works, the after effects of

    Read More

  • Should Public School Students be Given Birth Control Pills?

    696 Words  | 2 Pages

    The topic of birth control in public schools has attracted much support from the American public from surveyed statistics. For example, a 2006 Associated Press-Ipsos survey discovered that 67% of Americans support the provision of contraceptives to students. This study also determined that, “About as many - 62 percent - said they believe providing birth control reduces the number of teenage pregnancies” (Associated Press). Such a huge percentage suggests that Americans are very concerned about the increasing cases of teen pregnancies and would eagerly adopt any method that has a possibility of reducing this problem. In addition, the subjects in the poll indicated that they believe that contraception usage in schools has the potential of reducing teenage pregnancies. Many American people support the view points, that schools should offer contraceptives to students in schools. This can really help minimize...

    Read More

  • Plan B Vs Plan B

    633 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many women across the world have heard of Plan B or the morning after pill which is an over-the-counter contraceptive pill. As a woman who believes in the right to choose but also values life, many believe this could be the answer to many controversial issues in the United States today. Plan B is currently sold in the US to help women prevent pregnancy within 72 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse. It prevents implantation of the fertilized egg to the uterus by altering its lining. Which any egg has to be implanted for the fetus to grow. This pill is not use or attended for abortion and does not harm the fetus if accidentally taken in early pregnancy. It has no impact on ectopic pregnancies, which is when the fetus grows outside the uterus wall. It has become the standard method used up to this day in most countries. Plan B is simply a way for women who are not ready to be mothers to have a second chance. Although Plan B has been available in the United States for years, it can now be sold over-the-counter to women 18 and older or if prescribed by a doctor 11 and up.

    Read More

  • Why Do We Continue to Debate the Use of Contraception

    1569 Words  | 4 Pages

    Simonds, W., & Ellertson, C. (2004). Emergency contraception and morality: reflections of health care workers and clients. Social Science & Medicine, 58(7), 1285-1297.

    Read More

  • Teen Sexuality and the Morning-After Pill Debate

    780 Words  | 2 Pages

    The logic for taking action sooner than later is powerful. There will be no need for a Plan B one step pill. Teens that are having sex will need to use prescribed contraceptive, condoms or just don’t have sex at all. The morning-after pill has a higher dose of the female hormone progestin than is in regular birth control pills. Taking it within 72 hours of rape, condom failure or just forgetting regular contraception can cut the chances of pregnancy by up to 89%, but it works best within the first 24 hours.

    Read More

  • Contraception “WHICH ONE?”

    951 Words  | 2 Pages

    million women used this method in the U.K, which is 1 in every 3 women

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Birth Control

    1391 Words  | 3 Pages

    Also if you are against abortion this can benefit you as well. Two studies one from researchers in St. Louis and the other from researchers in Iowa provided solid evidence that access to effective birth control can make a difference in this arena. Both studies made super effective birth control methods available and affordable to local women over several years. And both studies resulted in major decreases in unplanned pregnancy and abortion.On the national level, almost half of all pregnancies in the U.S. were unplanned as of 2006, and 43% of those unplanned pregnancies ended in abortion.Of all the women in the U.S. who are having sex and not trying to get pregnant, two-thirds of them use birth control consistently and correctly and those users account for only 5% of unplanned pregnancies. The other 95% of unplanned pregnancies were to the third of U.S. women who weren’t trying to get pregnant but weren’t using birth control or were using it incorrectly or inconsistently. Another large group of people we can hit with these statistics are simply, women. Birth control has wonderful benefits for all teen or adult females who are sexually active. It can be great for their health being that pregnancy is a very risky business and can have a toll on

    Read More

  • Emergency Contraception Papers

    1418 Words  | 3 Pages

    If women were more informed on the appropriate use of emergency contraceptive, whether they are safe and also effective, then there would potentially be a decrease in unexpected pregnancies, and abortions. Women are often uninformed of emergency contraceptives, and although the lack of knowledge is obvious among the younger population, it seem to be even more obvious in the population of women over 30. There has only been a very small amount of researches done in regards to the counseling of emergency contraception and the way it was used, this would only be the third research conducted regarding this matter. Data was collected via questionnaire from the NSFG in 2002 from female respondents. The study collected a representative sample of 7,643 U.S women in the reproductive ages of 15-44 that were in civilian households. The women completed computer-assisted, face-to-face interviews that collected information of whether they have ever been informed of emergency contraception based on their age, race, ethnic background, marital status, if they have ever had an abortion, how old they were we they first had sex, and their education level.

    Read More

  • Abortion Pill

    550 Words  | 2 Pages

    The subject of abortion has created some of the most controversial, social, and moral debates in United States history. On Jan. 22, 1973, in the case Roe Vs. Wade, the Supreme Court ruled that it was a woman’s constitutional right to have an abortion during the first trimester of the pregnancy (The Ruling). Still other interest groups argue that human life begins at conception and having an abortion is murder to an unborn child. These opposing viewpoints create a delicate political and social debate in which the lives of unborn children are placed in the center. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the RU 486 “abortion pill”, citing that the “overall safety of the pill is excellent”(Food and Drug). This scientific development has the potential to make abortions much more accessible and private to American women. I believe that the abortion pill harbors great qualities for women who choose abortion, yet is an enormous medical setback because it will cost the lives of so many more unborn children.

    Read More

  • legalization of birth control

    2788 Words  | 6 Pages

    In Canada in the early 20th century birth control was a highly contentious issue. Before 1929 birth control was an obscene, immoral and unnatural topic. It was broached only by the odd feminist or left-wing group. Section 179c (substituted by Section 207 in 1900) of the 1892 Criminal Code made the sale or advertisement of contraceptives an indictable offense up until the Code was amended in 1969. During the years 1930-1936 the mindset of Canadians began to shift toward approval of the use and legalization of contraceptives. This movement originated from middle-class Canadian concerns over population and the economic stability of Canada along with concerns over maternal health. Many women involved in the movement argued women had a right to birth control and the control over their own bodies, this view however was overshadowed by the economic and social arguments presented by the leaders of the movement. Throughout these years there was much opposition to the legalization of birth control. The proponents of birth control were equated in the minds of many with either sexual radicals or reactionary Malthusians. The Roman Catholic Church opposed birth control vehemently because it allowed for the separation of sexuality and procreation. It is argued that the birth control movement stemmed from the Depression in the 1930’s.

    Read More

  • Birth Control

    500 Words  | 1 Pages

    It is 100% effective against pregnancy unless pre-ejaculation or sperm gets onto the vulva or into the vagina. Outer course however, frequently leads to intercourse, therefore another form of birth control and protection from infection has to be used. The most commonly used methods of birth control are the condom and the pills. The pill is taken once a day and a pack should be completed every month. Combination pills contain estrogen and progestin.

    Read More

  • Abortion Pill

    1387 Words  | 3 Pages

    The number of abortions that result in the approval of RU-486 shouldn't be our main concern. If there is a reason to be concerned, it should be on the ethical and moral issues that stem from the reproductive rights of women in America. Without question, abortion is an extremely controversial issue in today's society. However, the different attitudes of abortion activists are more important factors than that which involve the actual abortion procedure.

    Read More

More about Emergency Contraception in the United States Today

Open Document