There seems to be some misconceptions about the morning-after pill. If taken properly, this oral contraceptive can reduce the chances of getting pregnant by 75 to 85 percent. If taken incorrectly or excessively, it can actually increase the risk of pregnancy.
The problem is not the pill. The morning-after pill is an “emergency pill,” and the use of it should be limited at all times to the cases of “sexual assaults, unplanned or unprotected sex, condom splits during intercourse, or if a woman has omitted to take an ordinary contraceptive for more than three days.” The problem is that certain women are treating this oral contraceptive as if it were regular birth control and taking it too often.
The morning-after pill is designed to prevent a fertilized egg from implanting within the uterine wall. It contains a high dose of the hormone progesterone that does this. However, if progesterone is taken in high doses excessively, it can cause health problems and side effects, like increasing the chance of getting pregnant.
Some think that the name “morning-after pill” gives people the wrong impression about it. Instead, we should call it the “emergency pill.” This way, less people will be in the dark when it comes to what this pill is and what it is supposed to be used for.
Within the last few years, new instructions on how to take the pill have been approved by the FDA. They are as follows: “the first dose may be taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse, with a second dose taken 12 hours later.” If you have an emergency and need the pill, make sure you consult a trusted physician beforehand, as there are side effects.
It has recently become apparent by the way of several random studies that men are the most frequent buyers of morning-after pills, and that many know about it from advertising in men’s magazines. Men may do this so that they don’t have to wear condoms but can still have unprotected sex without the risk of fatherhood. According to morningafterpill.com, “Sadly, women continue to have little say in whether or not their partner wears a condom.”
Comparing a woman’s having to take the morning-after pill with a man’s having to put on a condom, it seems that the obvious and intelligent choice would be for men to wear condoms. It is not only safer with regard to STDs, which the morning-after pill does not protect against, but condoms also reduce the risk of pregnancy more than the pill does.
Unfortunately for women, according to morningafterpill.org, “Although many feminists believe that the morning-after pill gives them more control over their own bodies, it would seem, judging from the few studies conducted so far, that is it actually being used by men to exploit women.” Women, beware of men who refuse to wear condoms. You should question their respect for your body and well-being. Above all, remember that the morning-after pill is for emergency use only.
Source: www.morningafterpill.org