RU-486 very different from morning-after pill
This letter is in response to the article (""Women's center, choice advocates to lead UW debate on abortion issues,"" March 7) on the Abortion Speakout. The article contains a medical and factual error. It says that RU-486 is also known as the day-after pill (more commonly called the morning-after pill). This is not true.
The morning-after pill is something a woman can take up to 72 hours after intercourse to prevent the fertilization and/or implantation of an egg.
RU-486 is used to induce labor and delivery of the products of conception anywhere from two weeks to seven or 10 weeks after fertilization. (The legal limit in the United States is seven weeks for a public clinic, and 10 weeks for a private clinic.)
RU-486 aborts an already implanted fertilized egg, while the morning-after pill prevents fertilization and/or implantation all together.
The significance in their difference is that the morning after pill is relatively painless. A small number of women will have nausea, but most will have no side effects at all. RU-486, on the other hand, is not painless at all.
Think about what it does'it induces labor. We all know that labor is not painless, right? Neither is RU-486. It is similar to having a miscarriage. There is severe cramping and bleeding and possible nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. On average, this lasts for six to eight hours, and the bleeding lasts for two weeks.
The myth (or lie) that RU-486 is like the morning-after pill is intentionally circulated by Christian Right Pro-Lifers in order to argue that RU-486 makes abortion ""too easy"" for women. This uninformed myth (or lie) was instrumental in holding up the approval of RU-486 in the United States, even though it was already approved all over Europe and the world.
RU-486, and other abortion methods, are never easy for women.
Bill would end funding for family planning
At a time when the state of Wisconsin faces its greatest budgetary crisis in recent history, one may ask what better a time to attack provisions for women's, men's and children's health care? Assebly Bill 831, a revision of AB 546, proposes to dismantle the state's family planning services.
Once again, the anti-abortion lobbyists show their true colors. They neither care for the health and welfare of the unborn nor the born, for if AB 831 passes, the health and welfare of low-income mothers, fathers and children in the state of Wisconsin will be threatened. The bill proposes taking state and federal family planning funds away from Planned Parenthood and any other organization that performs, refers or advocates abortion and all-options pregnancy counseling.
Should those who cannot afford the exorbitant costs of health insurance be in jeopardy of receiving annual screenings for breast and cervical cancers, because the so-called Right to Lifers think they are protecting life? Do young mothers not have the right to receive pre-natal advice and counseling, in order to ensure that those children born are born healthy? Shouldn't our legislators' energy and enthusiasm be put toward fixing the budget instead of creating even more fiscal headaches for the state in the years to come?
According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, each dollar spent on family planning services saves an estimated $3.00 that would otherwise be spent in medical care and other social services to women who by law would be eligible for such services if they became pregnant.
Family planning is good for the state; wake up anti-abortionists. If you are so against abortion, AB 831 is not in your favor: It is estimated that Wisconsin's family planning clinics avert 35,200 unintended pregnancies and 17,600 abortions each year (Alan Guttmacher Institute).
Without family planning services, even more abortions would be sought'not fewer. If AB 831 passes'and it is expected to pass the state Assembly'more state funding will be needed to fix the ghastly problems arising from a lack of affordable reproductive health care: premature births, unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, cervical and breast cancer, etc. The entire state should be revolting against this bill.
Contact your representatives and oppose AB 831.
