The F.D.A. Now Says It Plainly: Morning-After Pills Are Not Abortion Pills

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: New York Times

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday significantly changed the information that will be in every box of the most widely used emergency contraceptive pills to make clear that they do not prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the womb. The agency explained in an accompanying document that the products cannot be described as abortion pills.

Up to now, packages of the brand-name pill, Plan B One-Step, as well as generic versions of it have said that the pill might work by preventing a fertilized egg from implanting in the womb — language that scientific evidence did not support. That wording led some abortion opponents and politicians who equate a fertilized egg with a person to say that taking the morning-after pill could be the equivalent of having an abortion or even committing murder. The F.D.A. revised the leaflets inserted in packages of pills to say that the medication “works before release of an egg from the ovary,” meaning that it acts before fertilization, not after.

The package insert also says the pill “will not work if you’re already pregnant, and will not affect an existing pregnancy.” In a question-and-answer document posted on the F.D.A.’s website, the agency explicitly addressed the abortion issue. In answer to the question, “Is Plan B One-Step able to cause an abortion?” the agency writes: “No.” It added: “Plan B One-Step prevents pregnancy by acting on ovulation, which occurs well before implantation. Evidence does not support that the drug affects implantation or maintenance of pregnancy after implantation, therefore, it does not terminate a pregnancy.”

Since the Supreme Court overturned the ruling that ensured the national right to abortion, advocates of abortion rights have warned that some conservative states may outlaw or restrict morning-after pills on the erroneous grounds that they might cause abortions. Advocates and reproductive health providers have also worried that people who are misinformed about how the pills work may decline to use an effective tool to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/23/health/morning-after-pills-abortion-fda.html

---

No paywall

Good!

[Faux pas]

1. Kickety Kickin'

[nature-lover]

2. Article does not clearly explain that they work primarily by delaying or preventing ovulation.

This from the Mayo Clinic:

Morning-after pills can help prevent pregnancy if you've had unprotected sex — either because you didn't use birth control, you missed a birth control pill, you were sexually assaulted or your method of birth control failed.

Morning-after pills do not end a pregnancy that has implanted. They work primarily by delaying or preventing ovulation.

Keep in mind that the morning-after pill isn't the same as mifepristone (Mifeprex), also known as RU-486 or the abortion pill. This drug terminates an established pregnancy — one in which the fertilized egg has attached to the uterine wall and has begun to develop.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/morning-after-pill/about/pac-20394730

[pnwmom]

7. But the new FDA statement goes further than the Mayo Clinic information.

The new FDA statement says that Plan B doesn't prevent implantation of a fertilized egg. This goes further than saying "morning-after pills do not end a pregnancy that has implanted." Some people have suggested that Plan B prevents a fertilized egg from implanting, and they think that's equivalent to abortion.

[TheRickles]

10. Confusing, because the woman might have already ovulated when she had unprotected intercourse.

So how would the morning-after pill have any impact on a pregnancy? It seems like the implantation blocker would be what's needed after unprotected sex, not the ovulation preventer.

[pnwmom]

11. The FDA says it doesn't have an impact on a pregnancy. It merely delays or stops an egg from

being released.

So if there's a egg already released that gets fertilized, Plan B won't stop the implantation.

[TheRickles]

14. It's like they're changing the mechanism of action so it can't be construed as an abortifacient

by the right-to-lifers.

[pnwmom]

18. They're clarifying it, not changing how the pill actually works. nt

[TheRickles]

30. But why, for so many years, were we told it prevented implantation?

That's very different than blocking ovulation. It just seems fishy, or strategic.

[pnwmom]

31. I think long ago they weren't sure if it had that effect, but more recent research

says it doesn't.

[wnylib]

16. So the morning after pill is not very useful.

If a woman hasn't ovulated yet, chances are she would not get pregnant anyway, with or without the pill. How long does sperm survive? If she ovulated a day or two after sex, can she still get pregnant?

[pnwmom]

19. Sperm can survive several days or even longer.

In one of my pregnancies, the last time we had sex was day 7, because my husband went out of town, and I ovulated on day 14 or 15.

[wnylib]

21. Thanks. I didn't know it could survive that long.

[pnwmom]

24. Yeah, sperm can live a week before the egg's released,

but a released egg lasts for less than a day. So pregnancy is most likely if the sperm gets there first!

[NickB79]

15. That's why it's not 100% effective

And why the odds of it working drop rapidly the longer you wait to use it.

Since a woman is only ovulating a few days out of her cycle, the odds are good she won't have already released an egg before she takes Plan B.

[Probatim]

3. Now use this to change to toss out Hobby Lobby's suit re: birth control.

[catrose]

5. The problem with that case was SC deciding that science didn't matter

Only hobby lobby’s sincere belief.

[Probatim]

28. That's what I recall too - always made me think about using that ruling to inflict

my sincere beliefs on others.

Kind of opens the door to a lot of horseshit.

[catrose]

29. Exactly

[SouthernDem4ever]

32. and you'll never find me shopping at hobby lobby

that's the only way I can protest their lunacy.

[walkingman]

4. Just more proof that this country has a tremendous number of friggin' nuts. God help us.

[Marthe48]

6. rwnj will move beginning of life back to the candlelit dinner

(not my line, but suits the story)

[NullTuples]

34. In their worldview, life begins at Genesis 1...at least, when it's convenient for it to do so.

[BOSSHOG]

8. Yeah, but what's the bible say

About the morning after pill? The same thing it “says” about abortion?

The argument against said pill is one more reason to do away with the separation of church and state and turn loose the assessors.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS YALL.

[madinmaryland]

12. Happy holidays to you and your family, BOSS!

[BOSSHOG]

35. And a wonderful Holiday to you and yours Madinmaryland

I’m not sure if you are from Maryland but thanks for the memories. They make a wonderful Christmas Gift. We lived in Phillie and my Grandpa would take me to Memorial Stadium about twice a year in the early 60s to watch the Orioles play. Brooks Robinson was my favorite third baseman until Mike Schmidt came along. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Let’s all be happy and healthy in 2023

[TeamProg]

13. +1

[TomSlick]

17. I have found one reference that might be to abortion in Numbers 5:11-31.

In the Ordeal of the Bitter Waters, a woman suspected by her husband of adultery was given a concoction prepared by the priests. If the woman had committed adultery, her belly would swell, her womb shrivel and, depending on the translation, any fetus she was carrying would be aborted. The NIV most clearly says a fetus would be miscarried - e.g. aborted.

My personal theory is that it was intended as a sham to acquit the wife of a jealous husband. However at face value, the priest was administering a potential abortifacient.

I have tried in vain to find something in the scripture approaching "thou shalt not commit an abortion." The folks who object to abortion on religious grounds have yet to cite such a scriptural provision. The Church has been opposed to abortion since the Didache in the first century CE. However, the opposition to abortion seems to have always been based on a desire to control women without any concern for the absence of any scriptural support.

[BOSSHOG]

22. Right You are My Friend

Seldom does “absence of any scriptural support” stop zealots from trying to legislate what you and I should do based on their beliefs. Any objection to such a notion results in a barrage of war on religion nonsense. Nonsense benefitting from tax exemptions while the Catholic Church (at least) receives while totally ignoring separation of church and state which is designed to benefit organized religion.

Do I dare say - Woo Pig Sooie? Saw your profile. Spent many years in Arkansas, many many years ago. Way up north. Loved it. Fayetteville was awesome in the 60s and 70s.

[TomSlick]

23. Right now, it's wicked cold down here in the piney woods.

It really should not be in single digits in south Arkansas. Surely, spring will come - right?

[BOSSHOG]

26. We live in Northern Kansas

Last edited Sat Dec 24, 2022, 10:56 PM - Edit history (1)

-9 predicted overnight. We might be above freezing by Tuesday afternoon. This is unusually cold, even up here.

Ya know hurricane season is from 01 Jun to 30 Nov. How come hurricanes come before and after those dates? They probably don’t have calendars. We are looking forward to spring getting here right now.

MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

[Hortensis]

9. So morning-after pills are "like emergency brakes on ovulation."

Planned Parenthood says it won't work after ovulation has BEGUN.

Sperm can live inside your body for up to 6 days after sex, waiting for an egg to show up. If you ovulate during that time, the sperm can meet up with your egg and cause pregnancy. Morning-after pills work by temporarily stopping your ovary from releasing an egg. It’s kind of like pulling the emergency brake on ovulation. Where you’re at in your menstrual cycle and how soon you take morning-after pills can affect how well they prevent pregnancy. Morning-after pills won’t work if your body has already started ovulating.

This is why timing is so important, especially if you’re using Plan B and other levonorgestrel morning-after pills. (ella works closer to the time of ovulation than levonorgestrel morning-after pills like Plan B.) Most people don’t know exactly when they ovulate, so it’s best to use emergency contraception as soon as possible — no matter where you are in your menstrual cycle or whether or not you think you’re about to ovulate.

[republianmushroom]

20. like it

[Aussie105]

25. Equating stopping a fertilized egg from happening with the murder of an unborn child is like

saying eating a chicken egg is murder because of its potential to otherwise become a chicken or saying eating a slice of bread is equivalent to murdering a large number of wheat plants.

One thing the world has too many of is unwanted pregnancies.

Morning after pill to prevent pregnancy, or a pill to release a fertilized egg from the womb lining?

Not my choice to make.

Entirely up to the person who is concerned about the potential or actual occupancy of her uterus.

Old grumpy men and politically motivated control freaks - stay away, none of your business!

But that clarification will help some, so all good.

[BOSSHOG]

27. And Yet

Most conservatives are for the death penalty and for Russians slaughtering Ukrainians for absolutely no reason at all. And for not helping immigrants who are trying to get away from oppression. And for selling killing machines for use as killing machines. I could go on.

I’m a grumpy old man but I’m on your side about 120%. My grumpiness is just a facade.


GDay Mate!! Did I write that correctly?

[BadgerKid]

33. Sounds like a morning-before pill.

[ck4829]

36. K&R

Last edited Tue Jan 3, 2023, 09:28 AM - Edit history (1)

NOT