Press Room

Contact: Peggy Hamill, State Director
Matt Sande, Director of Legislative Affairs
(262) 796-1111, (414) 416-0489 or info@prolifewisconsin.org

Emergency Contraception is Chemical Abortion

Today the FDA Advisory Committee on Reproductive Drugs is holding a hearing on Women’s Capitol Corporation’s request to make their “Plan B” morning-after-pill available over-the-counter at America’s pharmacies. In response, Pro-Life Wisconsin State Director, Peggy Hamill, issued the following statement:

In a strong effort to increase the use of “emergency contraception,” the makers of the drug Plan B are currently pressuring the FDA to make their drug available over-the-counter. They falsely contend that this wonder drug will prevent tens of thousands of abortions by preventing pregnancy. Sadly, the fact is that so-called “emergency contraception” will often act to cause an early chemical abortion.

Emergency contraception (EC) is basically two high doses of the birth control pill taken within a 72-hour period. It can work in three ways: to inhibit the movement of sperm, to suppress ovulation, and to irritate the lining of the uterus so that a newly conceived child is unable to implant in the womb, thus starving and dying. This last action is chemical abortion.

Proponents of EC contend that it does not cause an abortion. They argue that it prevents pregnancy and thereby reduces the need for induced abortion. However, they intentionally define the term “pregnancy” as implantation of a fertilized egg in the lining of a woman's uterus, as opposed to “pregnancy” beginning at fertilization.

Embryological science has clearly determined that the fusion of an egg and sperm (fertilization) immediately results in a new, genetically distinct human being. This is not a subjective opinion, but an objective scientific fact. Accordingly, any artificial action that works to destroy a fertilized egg (human embryo) is abortifacient in nature.

Not only could EC kill a tiny preborn life in its earliest stages, but it could also harm women. Some of the health side effects include nausea, infertility, ectopic pregnancy and blood clot formation. Importantly, there are no long-term studies to show whether women will be permanently damaged, or risk such diseases as cancer, from these chemicals being given in such high doses.

Pro-Life Wisconsin wholly opposes moving EC to over-the-counter status. This dangerous, abortion-causing drug regimen should never have been approved by the FDA in the first place.

-End-