In the United States, the history ofemergency contraceptionhas sparkedcontroversy, ignited political debates and generated lawsuits. The heated nature of emergency contraception is due, in part, to whether or not people believe that the morning-after pill acts to prevent a pregnancy from occurring or whether it terminates a pregnancy that has already been established. Plan B One-Step (i.e., the morning-after pill) is often confused withRU486(i.e., the abortion pill). These two medications arenotthe same and each works entirely differently when it comes to the process of reproduction.
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It is well understood that medications used for emergency contraception do not cause abortions. There are rigorous studies showing that emergency contraceptives (Ella and Levonorgestrel regimens like Plan B) prevent ovulation and do not prevent implantation of a fertilized egg or an established pregnancy.
No matter what your personal beliefs are, the history of emergency contraception and its FDA-approval in the United States has been quite a volatile journey. The roots of modern emergency contraception can actually be traced back to animal studies in the 1920s, yet human use started in the 1960s. So buckle up, this may be a bumpy ride.
Timeline: History of Emergency Contraception
Fast Forward Two Decades
About 6 Months Later
The Plot Thickens in 2005
Whew… 2005 was pretty rough in the history of emergency contraception. What does the year 2006 have in store for the morning-after pill?
2006 Through 2013
Fast Forward 2 Years…
And the Saga Heats Up Again 3 Months Later…
2009 seemed to be a big year in emergency contraception history. Let’s move on ahead about one year later…
Now, Get Ready for 2011 (Sparks Ignite, Once Again)…
So, the year 2012 starts off with this court case where the plaintiffs file a motion for a preliminary ban that would allow OTC access for all levonorgestrel-based emergency contraceptives (both one and two-pill versions) without any age or point-of-sale restrictions…
And with this, we lead you into the year 2013 and the conclusion of the history of emergency contraception and its long and bumpy journey to get to where it is today…
Drum roll please… the moment in emergency contraception history that we have been leading up to—yes,it’sfinally here…
The history of emergency contraception includes significant victories and some defeats. In the end, the availability of this important contraceptive serves as one more tool in theprevention of unplanned pregnanciesand abortions.
16 Sources
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