Norman D Goldstuck
Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital,
Cape Town 7505
South Africa
Review Article
Emergency Contraception: History, Methods, Mechanisms, Misconceptions and a Philosophical Evaluation
Author(s): Norman D GoldstuckNorman D Goldstuck
Humans have attempted to disrupt the progression of pregnancy for a very long time. This dates back to the realization that it was a sexual activity which started the reproductive cycle. Folk methods for preventing pregnancy after unprotected sexual activity are physiologically unable to be effective and we now have chemical, mainly hormonal methods, and a mechanical method the intrauterine device which do work in the very early stages before conception can be diagnosed with certainty. These methods are impeded by those who worry that fertilisation of the ovum may have occurred, and that the method may then be abortifacient. Considering that it is possible to easily disrupt an established pregnancy by medical or surgical means depending on the duration, this would be no different than any other means of abortion induction. This evaluation takes the approach of viewing pregnancy as a 4.. View More»
