Group offers emergency contraception
By Hannah Brooks
Staff
Writer
Because one in four women have been raped in the
United States, Planned Parenthood is now offering free emergency contraception
to rape victims.
Only 11 percent of Americans understand basic facts
about emergency contraception, according to a statement released by
Planned Parenthood.
There are two different types of emergency contraception:
emergency intrauterine device insertion or emergency contraceptive pills.
Emergency contraceptive pills are being offered
free of charge to rape victims. The contraceptive pills consist of two
doses of hormonal pills that should be taken 12 hours apart. Betty Memmer,
Planned Parenthood community specialist, said emergency contraceptive
pills are at least 75 percent effective if taken within 72 hours. The
sooner the first dose is taken, the more effective it will be.
"If most women had emergency contraception
in their medicine cabinet, or a prescription for it, we could help cut
the U.S. rate of unintended pregnancy in half," said Thomas Purdun
of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in a news
release.
According to the release, half of all U.S. pregnancies
are unintended, and half of those end in abortion.
Emergency contraception may reduce the number of
abortions per year, even drastically if women were aware of it, said
Memmer. About 70 medical organizations have endorsed the use of emergency
contraception to reduce abortion, including the American Medical Organization,
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the World Health
Organization.
The Food and Drug Administration approved the emergency
contraception pill in 1997, but its effectiveness was demonstrated as
long as 25 years ago, said Memmer. Emergency contraceptive pills, also
known as the "morning-after pill," are stronger doses of birth
control pills.
Maureen Dobie, a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood
of Greater Indiana, said "Women for more than two decades have
been coming to us for this drug."
Depending on where a woman is in her cycle when
she takes emergency contraception pills, they will prevent ovulation,
prevent fertilization, or prevent implantation. They do not prevent
sexually transmitted infections.
"Sometimes emergency contraception has been
referred to as the abortion pill," said Memmer. This is why Planned
Parenthood prefers the "morning-after pill" to be referred
to as emergency contraception, she said.
Dr. Zenephia Evans, professor of biology at Purdue,
said that some religious groups see no distinction between emergency
contraception and RU-486, or Mifeprestone, as it is known in the United
States.
Dobie said this may be because their definition
of pregnancy is when the sperm and the egg meet. However, the prevailing
medical opinion is that pregnancy begins when the fertilized egg is
planted in the uterus, said Dobie.
Memmer said, "Emergency contraception prevents
a pregnancy and Mifeprestone ends an already established pregnancy.
That’s the main difference."
According to Dobie, taking emergency contraception
will not hurt an already established pregnancy.
Mifeprestone consists of a set of two pills as
well as emergency contraception, which may be responsible for some of
the confusion between the two, said Dobie. In the United States, the
first pill can be taken up to 49 days after the first day of the woman’s
last menstrual cycle.
According to Evans, the first pill causes the implanted
embryo to detach from the uterus lining, shedding the lining. The second
pill causes contractions and causes the lining to shed, along with the
embryo, therefore terminating the pregnancy.
Although Mifeprestone’s most well known use
is for terminating pregnancy, there are other things it can do as well:
induce labor, treat breast, ovarian and prostate cancers and treat endometriosis.
The women’s clinic in Purdue’s Student
Health Center offers emergency contraception, but is restricted by the
FDA from ordering or offering Mifeprestone, said Dr. Sarah Sayger.
It is possible to get an appointment at almost
any time if a woman thinks that she may need emergency contraception.
"Anyone who has a concern should come in so
they can discuss with the provider whether or not their situation would
be appropriate for (emergency contraception) use," Sayger said.
The cost for emergency contraception is $15, but
if other services are involved, it may cost more, she said. The student
health center will work with anyone who has issues with payment, so
women with financial concerns should not hesitate to get treatment.
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