MAP threatens lives of women & unborn children.

Holland, MI -- "The FDA's recent decision to allow over-the-counter status for Plan B 'emergency contraception' for women age 18 and over may be superficially appealing but it is a step backward in women's reproductive healthcare," according to a press release from the American Association of Pro Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG) (Aug. 27, 2006).

The Canadian experience bears witness to this statement. Since Health Canada decided in March of 2005 to allow sales of "Plan B" without a prescription, demand has doubled for the abortifacient, to an average of 41,000 doses per month, according to research firm IMS Health, based in Kirkland, QC.

Those who promote the MAP as emergency contraception, rather than chemical abortion, had promoted it as a means to reduce surgical abortions. Given that "national statistics to measure any such effect will not be available for a year or more," the National Post offered a less formal outcome check on this claim. For example, "'The Morgentaler Clinic in Toronto has not seen a reduction in demand for its services since Plan B was made available over the counter,' said Sharon Broughton, the clinic manager (our emphasis added) (May 19, 2006)."

Indeed, AAPLOG has highlighted studies showing the same findings. Women "given the EC to take home and put on the nightstand for immediate availability after unprotected sex" were found to have "the same abortion rates and the same unintended pregnancy rates as a control group of women (who had to procure their prescription from a physician after their 'emergency' arose)."

In addition to the moral offence, women taking MAP risk side effects, which can include nausea and vomiting. Toronto endocrinologist Dr. Maria Kraw points out that "the current regimen of the 'Plan B' MAP (1.5mg levonogestrol within 24 hours) is 15-40x the amount of hormone women would naturally be making. There have been no long-term studies on the potential negative effects of such supra-physiologic doses on hormone-dependent tissues such as the breast, ovary and uterus. Women deserve informed consent and better long term studies before being offered the option of the MAP."

Additional concerns about over-the-counter availability of the MAP are that "many women would be using EC without accompanying medical follow-up for sexually transmitted disease testing;" that sex will be coerced by predatory males using the MAP's availability "to 'persuade' women to comply with their demands;" and that "pregnancies resulting from 'failed' use of EC [have] a tripled rate of ectopic pregnancy. With no doctor involvement, this diagnosis would be missed, or at best, delayed. Undiagnosed, untreated ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening condition (AAPLOG, Aug. 26, 2005)."