The Morning After Pill

1101 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Teen pregnancy rates united states united states

The Morning After Pill

The emergency contraception pill, often wrongly called the abortion pill, is a solution to the high teen pregnancy rate in the USA. There were 521,826 teen mothers in the United States in 1990 (Adolescent pregnancy 2). The United States also has the highest rate of pregnancy, abortion, and childbirth among teenagers than any other country (McKeown 1). Also, the Untied States spends an unbelievable 7 billion dollars a year on teen pregnancy costs (National Campaign To Prevent Teen Pregnancy 1). Not only does teen pregnancy cause problems for the babies of these mothers, and the United States tax payers, but the teen mothers themselves suffer too. Teen mothers are less likely to finish high school and are at a greater risk of abusing or neglecting their children (National Campaign To Prevent Teen Pregnancy 2). Teen pregnancy is a flaw in the United States that is not going away, but getting worse with every generation. Despite attempts to educate children about sex, contraception and abstinence the rate of teen pregnancy is still extremely high. The emergency contraception pill, ECP, is a good solution for these pregnant teenage girls and for the United States tax payers.

An argument that most people have is that the emergency contraception pill is an "abortion pill," and should not be used to combat teen pregnancy. This assumption is not an accurate one. The emergency contraception pill is not anything like the RU-486 pill, which is known as the "abortion pill." The way the RU-486 works, is when taken a chemical abortion occurs (Mathewes-Green 1). The pill can be taken up to 63 days from the first day of a woman's period. The way the RU-486 forces an abortion is when the pill is taken i...

... middle of paper ...

...age patients both male and female, the pill would become more well known and used. This would cause the high rate of teen pregnancy to drop. If doctors would also explain how the ECP pills are not an abortion pill, people would be more likely to accept and take the pill in an emergency situation.

The ECP is the only true hope the USA has against fighting teen pregnancy and its expensive costs. The ECP is not an abortion pill and is not interfering with reproduction. The method in which the pill is taken is quite simple, when explained by a doctor. The pill is effective in preventing pregnancy and just needs to be advertised more to inform more people. The ideal situation would be for teens to abstain from sex or to use birth control effectively. Yet, this is not happening. The ECP is the only way the USA can get the problem of teen pregnancy under control.

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

  • 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 second reason for contraceptives being given to teenagers, will help them avoid many dangerous Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) associated with unsafe sexual practices. Studies have shown an increase in unprotected sexuality among teenagers can result in a wide-range of social problems, such as STDs. The topic of birth control in public schools has attracted much support from the American public, according to statistics surveyed. 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).

    Read More

  • Alfred Kinsey: The Sexual Revolution

    765 Words  | 2 Pages

    The birth control pill was made to help women from having kids (while on the pill) because back in the 1960’s married women went through multiple pregnancies and this took quite a toll on their physical and mental health. It wasn’t just to control the births of American women, but also the women in foreign third world countries, seeing as they were already beginning to be overpopulated and living mostly in poverty. According to A Critique of the Sexual Revolution:

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Free Birth Control

    600 Words  | 2 Pages

    Welcome to America: land of opportunity and most importantly, free. Well, unless you're a young, possibly teenage girl seeking birth control. We have people with extreme morals and religious beliefs making those decisions for you! Let us not forget the people saying sex education is tainting our youth's brains, yet wonder why they lack the basic knowledge on STDs. Remember, "Choice is an essence of personal freedom," (Brooks, ...About Life Control). Therefore leading to the point that birth control should be complimentary to all.

    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

  • Pro-Life And Pro Choice: The Persuasive Essay On Abortion

    733 Words  | 2 Pages

    Sometimes abortion happens on its own this is known as a miscarriage or spontaneous abortion. But women can also choose to end a pregnancy by getting surgery or taking medicine. There are two kinds of abortion in the United States which as in-clinic abortion or abortion pill. Starting with in-clinic abortion there is more than one procedure. The most common is called aspiration also known as vacuum aspiration and D&E “dilation and evacuation which both are usually used up to 16 weeks after a woman’s last period. An abortion pill or mifepristone is a medication that ends an early pregnancy. In general it is used up to 63 days or 9 weeks after the first day of a woman’s last period. There are a few states that limit the use of the abortion pill to 49 days. There are many reasons why women choose the pill. For example, it can be done early they can begin treatment as soon as they know they are pregnant and it is private so the process can be done at home. How safe is the in-clinic and abortion pill? Most women can have either of these done safely, but with all medical procedures have some risk, so safety is a concern. Most often, any complications can be simply treated with medicine or other

    Read More

  • Freely Accessible Birth Control for Teenagers

    960 Words  | 2 Pages

    These birth control methods make semi-safe sex possible. *** A ban on birth control would mean acts of unprotected intercourse because the lack of protection wouldn’t stop people from having sex. Therefore women who might not be responsible enough for children or just didn’t want them would end up aborting the children they just simply weren’t ready to have. (Dail)

    Read More

  • The Horrors of Abortion

    779 Words  | 2 Pages

    Everyone knows that Abortion is a very controversial subject in the United State. It discusses human interaction where ethics, emotions, and law come together. Everyone knows that babies die of natural causes, but others are killed before they get the chance to experience their first breath. Abortion is fast becoming a quick fix to a rather large responsibility, especially among teenage women. Having sex is a huge responsibility, and if you aren’t ready to handle the consequences, then having sex is not for you, and abortion is not the answer if you do get pregnant.

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Birth Control

    1391 Words  | 3 Pages

    One such argument is that if you give a teen this drug that lets them have sex without the consequences of being pregnant, they will have more sex as they see no reason not to. Furthermore, they might be blind sided by the realization that they now have an STI, as most forms of birth control for women have little to no protection against the infections that their partners may or may not have. It is their ignorance that will blind them as these articles have said. There is an obvious counter to this argument, in that you can teach how this protection must not be taken lightly and that they do not make you invincible. Give them the knowledge of how they will be affected, even with the protection given, and they may be smart enough to heed your warnings and accept your advice as fact. Another argument I found said, and I quote, “[how can you] think 9- and 10-year-olds that can’t see a PG-13 movie can take Plan B and read the instructions?”. 9 and 10-year-olds read the instructions. Just about everyone I know could read by the time they were that age, they could walk and talk too (sorry I just find that argument really dumb). The arguments put against teens having birth control are all really weak and don’t hold much weight compared to all the evidence that giving teens

    Read More

  • Abortion Pill

    550 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...duction of the abortion pill, abortion becomes very reachable, changing the way it has been seen in the past and dulling the senses of the common person. Is it better for society to let down its guard against abortion and slowly accept it as common? I am sure the children in question could give an answer if they had a chance. Making abortion easier and more appealing only further disguises that it is murder. I strongly believe that five months cannot change murder from a horrible crime into a choice.

    Read More

  • Mifeprestone RU-486: The Abortion Pill

    727 Words  | 2 Pages

    “One woman dies every 7 minutes around the world due to an unsafe illegal abortion” (Abortion Statistics). Laws against abortion do not stop abortion; they just make them less safe. “For over 15 years, medical evidence has indicated that mifepristone is as safe or safer than commonly used medications” (Mifepristone Safety Overview). Mifepristone, also known as “RU-486” or the “abortion pill” is a prescription drug that is used to end a pregnancy that is less than seven weeks along. Mifepristone has been used, in combination with other medications for medical abortions since 1988. Mifepristone is a steroid that works by blocking the hormone progesterone, which is necessary to sustain pregnancy. Without this hormone, the lining of the uterus breaks down, the cervix (opening of the uterus or womb) softens and bleeding begins. I think that the RU-486 abortion pill should be encouraged because taking it is a pro-choice decision, the rare health risks and it could help reduce injuries and deaths caused by unsafe illegal abortions.

    Read More

  • Should Teens Have Parental Consent to Receive Birth Control?

    935 Words  | 2 Pages

    22 Apr. 2014. Sedgwick, Jacqueline. " American Adolescents and Emergency Contraceptive Pill Access. "

    Read More

  • The Problems with Abortion and Solutions

    1492 Words  | 3 Pages

    Abortion has been taking place since the beginning of time. It was not called abortion back then. Pregnant women were abused which caused their children to be born prematurely. Their children were either killed or left to die (Abortioninfo). Today, this procedure is way more intentional and is decided on by the mother or as the fetus knows it; their home for the next nine months. Abortion has become so common these days, that there are various ways of terminating an unwanted pregnancy. The RU-486 pill is a type of drug that produces an abortion after the mother misses her first period (SilentScream). This pill causes the blockage of a useful hormonal nutrient that causes the fetus shrivel up and die. This pill is used when the fetus is about two to three weeks old (SilentScream). The fetus has a beating heart and brain waves that move rapidly. This drug has many side effects which can be lethal. These side effects consist of liver damage, kidney destruction, heart muscles compromise, pulmonary failure...

    Read More

More about The Morning After Pill

Open Document