Wired has a
piece on the controversy over emergency birth control, also known as morning after pills. A couple of points deserve highlighting. One is that while RU-486, which has been around for years, does cause spontaneous abortions, the newer Plan-B does not.
Women can get pregnant if they have unprotected sex before ovulation, since sperm can live for up to five days. But an egg is usually viable for only six to 12 hours after it is released from the ovary. Plan B works by suppressing the hormonal surge that causes an ovary to release an egg. It must be taken within 72 hours after intercourse, followed by another tablet 12 hours later. If a woman takes the drug after the egg has already been released, it won't stave off fertilization or end a pregnancy, according to the studies and the manufacturer, Barr Pharmaceuticals.
Also notable is this statement:
For example, the majority of fertilized eggs simply do not successfully implant in the uterus, even when no birth control is used.
This is a higher number than I had heard before.
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