Imitating a Solution: The Post Day Pill

What the cartoon recreates may be a joke for Costa Rican people, but for Spaniards it could be a reality in just a few months after the approval of the law that allowed the free-selling of the post-day pill last week. Spain approved this law because the government wants to reduce unplanned pregnancies in adolescents and also, it wants to reduce the 112 000 abortions that occur in that country (DPA, 2009). In Costa Rica, more than 27 000 abortions occur every year (Zamora, 2008), and one measure to reduce them will be the authorization of selling the morning after pill in the country. Although many people believe that the post-day pill is abortive, and it has side effects, it should be legalized in Costa Rica to prevent unplanned pregnancies and abortions.

If Costa Rica approves the use of the morning after pill, it will be used on women who suffer from rapes. Every year more than one thousand women are attacked and raped in Costa Rica (Aguilar, 2008). If this pill is available for them in the Social Security, these women with this special situation can receive it and prevent a pregnancy because as Delvin explains, this pill makes the ovaries cannot release an egg (2008). By preventing a pregnancy, they can overcome the trauma easier, and they can avoid having a baby they did not plan.

In addition, the morning after pill will be useful when the contraceptive method fails. According to Delvin, sometimes condoms can fail (2008). This means that a condom can tear or, it can fall out of place it was not properly placed. Moreover, women can forget to take one of the contraceptive pills. In any of both cases, if the pill is available for Costa Rican women, they can go to a public hospital and ask for them and so, they will prevent a pregnancy or an abortion.

Finally, the morning after pill should be legalized because it does not have medical counter indications. Unlike other contraceptive methods that are not recommended for women who smoke; women who suffer from cardiac diseases or, women older than 35, the post-day pill can be used by any women. This happens because as Delvins explains, a woman just needs one doses of this pill (2008). That means that women do not need a pill everyday as in regular contraceptive methods; they just need one dose to protect themselves.

But some people argue that the post-day pill should not be legalized because it is abortive. However, it is not true. According to Delvin, this pill is not abortive because it does not work if a woman is already pregnant (2008). That means that this pill is not effective if the egg is already implanted in the uterus. In addition, some people argument that this pill has side effects. Even though this argument is true, people have to remember that this pill is a medication, and all medications have side effects. In addition, not everybody is going to suffer from them. For this reason, not all women are going to feel sick when they take the morning after pill.

To avoid more confusion about the post-day pill, the Costa Rican government can give information about how and when use the pill because as Delvin explains, it has to be used in the first 72 hours after having unprotected sex (2008). This is necessary because the pill just works within this time. Also, the government has to clarify the myths related to the use of this pill because many people have wrong ideas about it like it causes abortions or, that it is dangerous for women.

Because it can prevent pregnancies when a woman is rapped; it is effective when the contraceptive method fails, and any woman can use it, it is important to legalize the post-day pill in Costa Rica. It is the moment to take actions and to prevent more unplanned pregnancies and abortions in the country so, why not legalize the pill to avoid them?

Alejandra Mesen