ancy prevention by not allowing a fertilized zygote to implant on the uterine walls and grow to development. However, the methods behind the drugs differ. The estrogen/progestin regiment prevents pregnancy in three different ways depending on the time taken. It can prevent ovulation, inhibit fertilization, or alter the endometrium (uterine lining) thereby stopping implantation, but it cannot affect an implanted zygote (Federal). However, the effects of RU486 vary considerably. It alters the endometrium so that no implantation can occur, and if implantation has already occurred, a spontaneous abortion or miscarriage will occur (Piaggio, et al.) Therefore, RU486 is both a postcoital contraceptive and an abortifacient-agent that causes abortion. With the emergence of these two forms of birth control, many groups have begun to re-evaluate the actions and implications of all postcoital contraceptive agents. The controversy is rooted in whether the administration of these types of medications is the solutions to “unprotected sex” or a quick, unsafe form of abortion.Participants in this heated debate come from the medical and the pro-life/pro-choice factions of the political community. Most physicians and governmental agencies support the ideas of postcoital contraceptives because they feel that these methods/medications allow people to prevent unwanted pregnancies in potentially harming sexual situations. Opponents of emergency contraception primarily belong to the pro-life sector of the abortion debate. They state such means of birth control to be early forms of abortion. These individuals refer to various textual definitions to form grounds for their arguments. Family planning agencies may also have objections to emergency contraception, stemming from the economic impact of replacing their older forms of contraceptives with newer/costlier ones. Though both sides of this controversy possess strong counter arguments,...
