Turns out the conventional wisdom — and even the labeling — of Plan B has been all wrong. The New York Times reports that apparently, the emergency contraceptive doesn’t work by preventing a fertilized egg from implanting in the walls of the uterus.
Instead, it delays ovulation thereby preventing fertilization from happening.
Here, let the NYT explain:
An examination by The New York Times has found that the federally approved labels and medical Web sites do not reflect what the science shows. Studies have not established that emergency contraceptive pills prevent fertilized eggs from implanting in the womb, leading scientists say. Rather, the pills delay ovulation, the release of eggs from ovaries that occurs before eggs are fertilized, and some pills also thicken cervical mucus so sperm have trouble swimming.
Scientists say the pills work up to five days after sex, primarily stalling an egg’s release until sperm can no longer fertilize it. Although many people think sperm and egg unite immediately after sex, sperm need time to position themselves.
So I guess all the anti-abortionists who are hoping to get the morning-after pill banned by having a zygote declared a person can take the day off. Heck, they can start taking Plan B themselves, guilt free. Make it their birth control of choice.
Of course, I hear the side effects of the drug aren’t particularly pleasant. But, hey, has the comfort and well-being of women ever really been much of a concern to anti-abortionists?
(Found on The Mary Sue)