Is the "morning after" pill considered abortion?

[disykat]

I consider myself religious. I consider it abortion. That doesn't mean I wouldn't use it though. Some might consider me a hypocrite. I wouldn't use an IUD as birth control, but I would use the morning after pill in the case of rape. I think people have to do what they can live with - and that choice will be different for everyone.

 

[MrsKreamer]

I consider myself religious. I consider it abortion. That doesn't mean I wouldn't use it though. Some might consider me a hypocrite. I wouldn't use an IUD as birth control, but I would use the morning after pill in the case of rape. I think people have to do what they can live with - and that choice will be different for everyone.

very well said IMHO!

 

[ophie]

Technically, abortion applies to embryos and fetuses. An egg is referred to as an embryo once it's fertilized, regardless of implantation. Therefore, any removal of the egg once it's fertilized (embryo) is, definitionally, an abortion. (I know individuals have their own interpretations, of course.)

The emergency contraceptives can work in the following ways:
1) inhibit or delay ovulation (no fertilization, no abortion)
2) inhibit tubal transport of the egg or sperm (no fertilization, no abortion)
3) interfere with fertilization (no fertilization, no abortion)
4) alter the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) which inhibits implantation of a fertilized egg (fertilization, chemical abortion)

So, in one case, the ECP is an abortion. In 3 cases, it is not. So, everyone's right in a way.

 

[Figment]

If the sperm has fertilized the egg, of course it is.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Yes, sure is.

 

[princesspumpkin]

The morning after pill COULD be considered an abortion. IF an egg has been fertilized, then it would be considered abortion, IMO.
The morning after pill makes the uterus not condusive for implantation so a fertilized egg could not implant and therefore it would be passed out of the uterus.
That is the whole purpose of the morning after pill - to destroy any possible pregnancy.
IMO (and I say, MY opinion only) that is abortion.

Exactly.

 

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

No, I don't think it is.

I used it once when other forms of birth control failed, made me sick as a dog. It's available without an RX here, I have a friend that worked at a drug store in Seattle, she used to get this drag queen coming in asking for it at least twice a month. (s)He was convinced that he was pregnant, they kept having to explain that due to biological reasons it wasn't possible.

 

[Beth76]

So fertilized eggs that are used for fertility issues that don't become implanted (or even used--discarded) are considered abortions?

 

[Figment]

So fertilized eggs that are used for fertility issues that don't become implanted (or even used--discarded) are considered abortions?

if they are discarded or purposefully destroyed, yes.

 

[becka]

No I don't personally see the morning after pill as an abortion but those who consider "normal" BCP's to be abortificants will obviously see the morning after pill as the same.

I think there is still a lot of confusion regarding the morning after pill (which is really just a large dose of regular birth control pills) and the so call abortion pill (RU-486?). I know several fairly educated people who confuse the two and/or think they are the same thing.

 

[chobie]

If you believe that life begins at conception, then taking the morning after pill has the POTENTIAL of being an abortion, if it actually prevented a fertilized egg from implanting and thereby ended the existence of said fertilized egg. To say its an abortion simple because the intention was to prevent the fertilized egg from implanting is ridiculous. If there was no fertilized egg to begin with, then how could there have been an abortion?

 

[Puffy2]

It's used immediately after an "oops" or a rape or for many other reasons - it prevents the implantation of a fertilized egg IF a fertilized egg ever existed in the first place. In MOST cases when this option is used, a fertilized egg didn't exist at all - no fertilized egg, no abortion.

 

[LukenDC]

No, I do not consider it abortion.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Nope....I do NOT consider it an abortion.

 

[ophie]

If it prevents fertilization it can't be considered to have caused an abortion. That's like saying that a condom causes abortion because it's preventative. By definition, you can't have an abortion before you have fertilization... only after.

 

[6_Time_Momma]

If an egg has been fertilized, the yes, I would consider it abortion.

 

[6_Time_Momma]

Nevermind (posting before reading ALL the replies!)

 

[MickeyMickey]

No, not an abortion.........

 

[lulugirl]

No, I do not consider the "morning after pill" abortion.

 

[disneychrista]

IMO, no it is not an abortion. Because there is NO WAY to know whether or not there was a fertilized egg or not.