Emergency contraception is a birth control pill that is effective within 72 hours of unprotected sex; the sooner the better. More dosage would be required in order for
EC to work if taken later.
More than 300,000 women are sexually assaulted each year in the US. Of these an estimated 25,000 will become pregnant as a result. About 22,000 of these pregnancies could be prevented if all women who were raped had easy access to
emergency contraception.
Despite its great potential to significantly lower unwanted pregnancies, which would lower abortion, it has been rejected by the
FDA due to
pro-life pressure, using limited studies conducted for 11 to 12-year-old girls as an excuse; less than 6% of pre-teen girls in America have or start their periods, making pregnancy impossible whatsoever. It should be noted that ther is no pro-life group in America who promotes birth control, which would significantly lower number of abortions.
It is better known as EC, Plan B or Morning-after Pill, a misnomer since it can be taken immediately after sexual intercourse, not necessarily the morning after. Some
pro-lifers try to label this as an abortion pill or
abortifacient. It is not. If the fertilized egg is already implanted, which is the beginning of pregnancy, EC would not work.