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According to a sensationally titled ABC News article, there is a new form of emergency contraception available in Europe that can be taken five days after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy:
While the current form of EC available in the United States can be taken up to 5 days after pregnancy, it is much much much more effective when it is taken in the first 72 hours after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure. It's great that there is still research money being used to develop new and more effective forms of EC. The more options the better, right?Available by prescription in Europe since September, ellaOne is 50 percent more effective -- and effective for 48 hours longer -- than the "morning-after pill" or Plan B, according to new research published Friday in the Lancet.
In the study of nearly 1,700 women aged 16 to 36 who sought emergency contraception, women who took a morning-after pill had a 2.6 percent chance of becoming pregnant, while women who took ellaOne had only a 1.8 percent chance, and five-day window of opportunity to take the pill.
Researchers noted that all forms of emergency contraception are more effective the sooner after intercourse they are taken, but ellaOne was found to be even more effective -- two thirds more -- than Plan B if taken within 24 hours of intercourse.
Apparently, the answer is "NO" to some conservative advocates who believe (inaccurately) that ellaOne and all other forms of EC cause abortion. EC is a concentrated form of the hormones in the oral birth control many women already take, and it is believed to work by preventing the sperm from reaching the egg and possibly discouraging implantation by changing the conditions in a woman's uterus. Abortion can only be said to happen after a woman is pregnant! And EC is incapable of ending a pregnancy. However, if you try to tell an anti-EC advocate this, it will fall on deaf ears:
This argument that the availability EC makes someone more lax about their use of contraceptives, or even in their sexual decision making, is ridiculous. I would say the exact opposite is true! Using EC is a responsible way of dealing with contraception failure or unprotected sex. Claiming that EC makes women lazy about contraception is absurd for a lot reasons, and I'll mention two: 1. Because EC is expensive! It runs between $25-50 per pack! and 2. Someone who would take the time to use EC probably is concerned about their health and stability, and she knows that being pregnant and having a baby would change her life in serious ways that she is not ready for!"Habits follow technology. Contraception was supposed to prevent an abortion, but it has led to an increase in abortion when people got used to it being around and of course the increased effectiveness of technology [like this] means people will relax that much more on their inhibitions," said Stephen Phelan, communications manager for Human Life International, an anti-abortion missionary organization.
cross-posted at typicalleigh
If this kind of EC could be used in the US, I would be elated.
You're right on all accounts.
I hate that emergency contraceptives are considered a bad thing by so many people.
In Kentucky, victims of rape aren't allowed to be given emergency contraceptives in the ER. It's literally against the law.
Emergency contraceptives prevent abortions; if so many people are so against women's choice, they should be all for preventative measures.
Thank you.
By this, I assume he means he's afraid women would have more sex. I think the day that enough people learn that sex is not a shameful thing will be the day we start to make real progress in this debate. However, like you said, it is really great to see there is still research being funded for this purpose! Thanks for writing about this, I might not have known otherwise :). Let's hope this gets approved in the US, because it would be really great to have EC be even just that littlest bit more effective.