pruritis_ani said:
Now this is a disturbing post...you seem to be saying that women are not entitled to seperate sex from reproduction. That is pretty sad, IMHO.
Unintended pregnancy is a potential consequence of every sex act. Call me crazy, but I think that punishing a woman for choosing to have sex is pretty archaic. While I do not think abortion is appropriate as a method of birth control, I do think that the woman has the right to have sex, and to control what happens to her body at all times. If she becomes pregnant, and does not wish to assume the risk of a pregnancy or the obligation of raising a child, she certainly should not be forced to.
3dtp, I have respected your well thought out positions up to this point. It just blows my mind that you would give up your thoughtful position on the matter and attempt to resort to the "if you don't want a baby, don't have sex" argument that is absolutely contradictory to the concept of equal rights for women.
I think you misunderstood. I merely stated that women can and do choose to act rashly in the "heat of the moment," or under the influence of whatever. I don't think that this is at all at odds with equal rights for women. But, with "rights" come responsibilities. And this applies to the man as well. It is equally his responsibility to ask/insure that the risk of pregnancy is addressed, even in the heat of the fling. If not, then condoms with spermacide should reside in his pocket and be put in place before the act. If a pregnancy results, he must also be responsible and many states and the federal government see to it that he supports the child.
I do not advocate punishing a woman for having sex. I do think that with the ready availability of contraception in its may and varied forms, including Plan B, that the responsibility that comes with having sex, planned in advance or in a drunken fling is to know and recognize that responsibility. I do think that once a pregnancy has begun, I advocate accepting responsibility for the act and the ensuing life. The question is and remains, in my mind, "What about the baby?" Ergo, I am the biggest fan of timely contraception. Properly and responsibily used, the efficacy of contraception approaches 98%. We all know the risks of the activities we participate in, and by participating, accept them.
I stated above, that all of my new OB patients are asked, up front, if their pregnancy was planned. If not, then the next question in the first visit, is what are you planning to do next time? IF the answer is a dull silence, which it frequently is, then my response, is, ok, so you're planning to have another baby, Right?
That generally opens the discussion to appropriate birth control planning, which, I hope! will avoid the need for a voluntary termination, which is certainly not without risks to the mother in and of itself.
No one who has an unplanned pregnancy, carried to term who does not inform me in advance what type of contraception they wish in the future leaves the hospital post partum without a prescription for OCP or Plan B.
While the debate on Plan B may rage, I personally think that Plan B is far preferable to an abortion later on. I was very unhappy that it was denied OTC status for these reasons.
In certain religious traditions (not mine), the age of majority in both men and women is considered roughly 13. I am not a student of religion, but I think that the elders of that religion had a good idea. When you were capable of reproduction, you are responsible as an adult, with all that that entails. Is this such a high burden?
