Why Do Pro-Lifers Oppose Reducing Abortions?

[LisaLL]

Why do pro-lifers consistently oppose reducing abortions?

Recently, we had the opportunity to prevent one half of all the abortions that happen in our country with the additional benefit of safety and reducing maternal mortality. Making Emergency Contraception (Plan B) available over the counter and educating women about it has the potential to prevent 600,000 aborions a year in the US. This was supported by the medical and scientific communities (the people who understand how to evaluate research about effectiveness, outcomes and safety), and pro-prevention/pro-choice groups. It was vigorously opposed by those who call themselves pro-life.

I would think that anyone who *truly* wanted to reduce abortions would be thrilled about the ability to safely prevent 600,000 abortions a year. Apparently not. Pro-lifers, please explain why a pro-lifer would be against this.

Info about Emergency Contraception:

Initially, the use of emergency contraception was something we offered to rape victims in Emergency Rooms. After an unprotected incident, a victim could take a medication (now we use progesterone) to reduce the risk that she would become pregnant as a result of the rape. The way it works it that the med prevents the release of an egg, delays the release of an egg by several days until after the risk of pregnancy has passed (after the sperm dies), or by impairing ovulation which renders the egg less "fertilizable". There is a theoretical risk that in rare cases a fertilized egg may not implant.* If someone is already pregnant with an established pregnancy and takes it by accident, it does not harm the pregnancy.

(* If a "pro-lifer" wanted this rare and theoretical risk to be counted as abortion, and exaggerated the number of times this could occur, then the OTC availability of Emergency Contraception would result in the net prevention of *at Least* 540,000 abortions a year. Still very impressive.)

When this med is available to women for use after a condom breaks, a rape, or an unprotected intercourse, it is a way to prevent pregnancy from occurring. One half of unintended pregnancies and one half of all abortions could be prevented in this country by improved access and education about this. Again, I would think that anyone who *really* wanted to decrease abortions would be thrilled at the opportunity to prevent 600,000 abortions a year. Some people don't and many are spreading lies about emergency contraception.

Other facts about emergency contraception: It does not cause people to be more sexually active. It does not encourage more people not to use contraception. it does not cause an increase in risk taking. When available, women do not rely on it instead of continuous contraception. It is safe and it prevents pregnancies and abortions.