RU-486 and the "Morning After Pill"…abortion by other names…
What is RU-486?
RU-486 was first developed in France in 1981, and is currently being
tested in Canada. It is generally used from three to seven weeks gestation,
and is referred to as a "chemical" or "medical" abortion, as it does
not usually require surgery.
RU-486 is actually a combination of two drugs. The first, a steroid,
causes the lining of the uterus to break down, effectively starving
the unborn child to death . The second chemical, misoprostol, causes
cramping and contractions to expel the corpse of the aborted child from
the mother's body. It is worth noting that the manufacturer of misoprostol
states specifically that pregnant women should not take the drug, which
is intended to treat ulcers, and that it should not be used as an abortifacient.
Is an RU-486 abortion safe?
No. RU-486 kills an unborn child, and sometimes the mother. There are
reports from around the world of women dying after taking this toxic
substance, some of them very young. But even those women who don't die
suffer:
extreme nausea
abdominal pain
vomiting
heavy and extended bleeding
heart attack
hemorrhage
impaired future fertility
harmful to any future children
RU-486 in Canada
RU-486 is currently being tested in Canada, under a veil of secrecy.
Tests were halted in 2001 because of the death of one of the women
in the trial, but have since resumed. Abortion advocates are eager
to make this dangerous drug available to women, because it is easier
and cheaper than a surgical abortion. It does not yet have the approval
Health Canada.
Statistics Canada reports that chemical abortions similar to RU-486
make up about 2% of hospital abortions. The drugs used include the
ulcer medication mentioned above, and a potent anti-cancer drug.
What is the "Morning After Pill"?
The "Morning After Pill" (MAP) is an extremely high dose of the same
drugs found in the birth control pill. It is intended to be used in
the first 72 hours after an act of sexual intercourse for which either
no contraception was used, or the method used failed in some way.
Those who support its use euphemistically refer to it as "emergency
contraception." They claim that it works to suppress ovulation, and
thereby prevent pregnancy. However, if a woman has already ovulated,
or conception has already occurred, the synthetic hormones in the
drug will prevent an embryo from implanting, causing an early abortion.
Planned Parenthood is now advising women that they can use the drug
up to five days post-intercourse, a time delay that would make it
more likely the drug would act as an abortion, rather than prevent
contraception.
MAP has the same dangers as the birth control pill, most notably
life-threatening blood clots. And because of the high dose of hormones,
women generally become very ill after taking it, experiencing extreme
nausea for several days after.
Feminists and other pro-abortion groups are fighting to have this
dangerous drug made available over the counter in Canada. This would
remove all the safety checks that a doctor's intervention provides,
and would result in the lack of a record of how frequently a woman
was taking the drug should a problem occur.
Campaign Life Coalition encourages MPs to ensure that Canadian women
and children are not harmed by the over-the-counter availability of
MAP or the distribution of RU-486.
