The Debate over Emergency Contraception

What are the basic assumptions about sexuality, health decision-making, doctor-patient relationship that inform the positions of opponents and proponents of emergency contraception (EC)?

As sexual intercourse revolves all around everyone’s lives during the age of adulthood the debate of emergency contraception is argued as it is a controversial issue upon society. As the opponents of EC fears adolescents will form “sex-based cults” as contrast to the proponents portrayed it will aid adults who experiences torn condoms during consensual sex or women who experience sexual assaults Wynn & Trussell (2006). The FDA proposal on permitting the emergency contraception pill Plan B to be allowed purchase over the counter is questioned upon as the positions of both the opponents and proponents provide evidence if it should be prescription based or not.
EC also known as emergency contraception is viewed as an intense social debate as it questions both the topics of life and sex. A debate over EC in the US women’s bodies are viewed as a site of control where the politics of sexuality, discourses on public health, and medical constructions of biological processes intersect Wynn (2013). The main problem with the use of the EC in regards to sexuality was the correct use by commoners as non-prescription availability would negatively impact many other aspects of sexuality Wynn & Trussell (2006). Many women use the EC due to a contraceptive failure usually from a torn condom or slipped condom as this would be a waste of money for a consent from a doctor for prescription. The opposes of nonprescription stated that it may increase the amount of sexual abuse, that sexual predators would use EC to rape children without fear of being caught by pregnant, as family members molest children of friends, stated by Jill Stanek, Wynn & Trussell (2006). But this was also argued against when supporters of nonprescription stated that what if the issue of rape was brought upon and that having a prescription constituted not only a cage but a burden for woman in crisis Wynn & Trussell (2006).
Health decision-making is also seen as an assumption that inform both the opponents and proponents of EC as the use of the Plan B is seen as a health issue and whether or not women are making a correct decision. Many who opposed nonprescription access believed many health and safety issues arose that EC would replace all other methods of contraception and that nonprescription availability would impact many other aspects of sexuality Wynn & Trussell (2006). Oppositions argued that without the use of contraception such as condoms it may lead to exmartial sex and disease transmission as such many teenagers are unaware of the health decisions they’re making due to be uneducated.
As the use of emergency contraception opponents of non-prescription EC debate that without the use of prescription uses the doctor-patient relationship would be non-existent. This is evident that if woman could buy EC without a prescription, doctors would lose opportunities to talk with patients about contraception, sexual decision making and the risk of sexually transmitted infections Wynn & Trussell (2006). The assumptions about doctor-patient relationship for opponents of EC is to educating women on the health decisions about sexual intercourse and the use of contraception but this is contested as not all women have a medical provider to educate them. As the factors of no access to health care, insurance, low income, or no significant relationship with a provider there would be no timely patient education Wynn & Trussell (2006). But this prevents providers such as doctors from teaching their patients with no benefits due to the fact that these groups of women would unlikely would have this relationship to begin with. But this is also opposed as the proponents of EC argue that so users can escape the judgment of doctors as many patients that are criticized about their morals rather than their health. As the use of doctor-patient relationships are to educating patients in sexual dangers not health decisions.
As it can be seen from sexuality, health decision-making and doctor patient relationships that they are both advantages and disadvantages of using EC as both opponents and proponents give strong arguments on whether the use of EC should be nonprescription or not. As the use of EC is only available for ages of 18 years and over the issue of relatives or friends that of that age can still supply for women of younger age which thus heightens the issues of EC once again.

References
Wynn, L & Trussell, J (2006), Images of American Sexuality in Debates over Nonprescription Access to Emergency Contraception Pills, Obstetrics and gynecology, 2006, Vol.108(5), pp.1272-6
Wynn, L, Lecture on Emergence Contraception, dated, 24/01/13