I was recently shown a video which claims that Plan B is not abortive. I was intrigued as I had understood that Plan B was abortive. The video clearly makes the claim (2:10-2:25) that Plan B does not stop implantation and is therefore is not abortive.
The third FAQ on Plan B's website is "How does Plan B work?" Here is the response they give.
Stop. Read that last sentence again."Plan B One-Step® is one pill that has a higher dose of levonorgestrel, a hormone found in many birth control pills that healthcare professionals have been prescribing for several decades. Plan B One-Step® works in a similar way to help prevent pregnancy from happening. It works mainly by stopping the release of an egg from the ovary. It is possible that Plan B One-Step® may also work by preventing fertilization of an egg (the uniting of the sperm with the egg) or by preventing attachment (implantation) to the uterus (womb)."
"It is possible that Plan B One-Step® may also work by preventing fertilization of an egg (the uniting of the sperm with the egg) or by preventing attachment (implantation) to the uterus (womb)."
"OR by preventing attachment (implantation) to the uterus (womb)."
That last sentence there is key. Stopping implantation (which the video says it does not do) the makers says it can do. Folks, that's an abortion because it's preventing the fertilized egg (conceived human) from attaching to the uterus where it would continue to receive adequate nutrition that is necessary for life.
What does the FDA say?
Under question #4 "How does Plan B work?" they say essentially the same thing as the manufactures. The only difference is that they add that if implantation has already happened, Plan B will not end that pregnancy. That's great, but it still could end a pregnancy by stopping implantation if its hasn't yet occurred.
"Plan B works like a birth control pill to prevent pregnancy mainly by stopping the release of an egg from the ovary. It is possible that Plan B may also work by preventing fertilization of an egg (the uniting of sperm with the egg) or by preventing attachment (implantation) to the uterus (womb), which usually occurs beginning 7 days after release of an egg from the ovary. Plan B will not do anything to a fertilized egg already attached to the uterus. The pregnancy will continue."
It appears to me that the makers of the video blatently lied. I really hate saying that because I certainly don't want to accuse anyone of intentional misinformation. If it's not lying than it is certainly poor and sloppy research. Like I said, it took my no more than 5 minutes to check those two websites (primary sources) and find information that directly contradicted the video's claim. Sloppy research isn't much better than lying, especially when lives are stake.
You can watch the video for yourself below.
3 comments:
I have an honest/curious question; why is stopped implantation bad? Even if the single-celled fetus is considered alive or an entity, it would be painless and incoherent. (?)
Eva, it's a good question.
The reason I believe it is bad for implementation to be stopped after conception is because I believe that life begins at conception. Meaning that single-celled fetus is a living human being. The reason I say that is because from conception all that is needed for the fetus to survive is 1. a proper environment and 2. adequate nutrition. The same requirements for us to survive. The fetus gets both of these in the womb.
If implementation is stopped, The fetus cannot get the needed nutrition, so essentially the fetus - a living human being - a starved to death. That's why I do not support pills that stop implementation after conception.
I believe that all human life needs to be treated with dignity and respect, and while the unborn may not be able to feel pain at that point, it's still killing the child. And I believe that is wrong.
I hope that helps answer your question. If you are interested, here is a post where I talk about why from conception the fetus is living: http://sophiesmindset.blogspot.com/2007/11/its-just-clump-of-cells.html and here's a post talking about the non-essential differences between the unborn and us: http://sophiesmindset.blogspot.com/2007/11/philosophy-of-unborn.html
Recent studies show that Plan be does not inhibit implantation of a fertilized egg. The Plan B pill's primary effect is to delay ovulation. If ovulation has already occurred and the egg has been fertilized, Plan B will do nothing to prevent implantation of that egg. Plan B functions to delay release of an egg, making it so there is no pregnancy to terminate in the first place.
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