Nowadays,  women resort to abortion because of the following reasons:  they have been raped,  there was incest that happened to them, their health or life is at risk, the child is unwanted and it is inconvenient to give birth to the child.

Because of these reasons,  women resort to the use of abortifacients.  What are abortifacients?  It is a substance that will cause the pregnancy to end prematurely and later causes abortion. What are these abortifacients used by most women?

1. The Pill – Progesterone only, low dose combination pills.  These contraceptives are used because of its effect on the reproductive system. Ovulation will occur when a mature egg is released from the ovary,  then pushed down to the fallopian tube ready to be fertilized.  Because of the use of the pill,  ovulation will not occur and conception will not happen.  Secondly,  the pill thickens the cervical mucous to prevent the entry of sperm to the uterus and fallopian tube,  therefore conception will not be realized.  Third,  the pill alters the lining of the uterus so implantation cannot take place.  Here,  the pill is then considered an abortifacient because there is already the presence of human life but was deprived of nourishment so that it cannot continue to develop because it has no nourishment that should have been provided through the mother’s uterine wall.
2. Norplant – is an implant which is actually a progesterone hormone that is placed under the skin of the arm for a period of up to 5 years. It’s effect is to suppress ovulation,  because the hormone prevents the implantation of the embryo.
3. Depo-Provera – is also a progesterone hormone derivative just like the Norplant but it is injected every 3 months to prevent ovulation.  Aside from this, it also alters the uterine lining therefore preventing the implantation of the embryo.
4. Morning after pill – are birth control pills given in large doses 72 hours after intercourse in an attempt to prevent the implantation of the embryo. After 12 hours, a second dose is given.  These pills prevent ovulation and fertilization.
5. RU-486 – kills the baby because it interferes with progesterone,  the hormone that keeps the baby implanted in the wall of the mother’s uterus. After two days, the mother should return to the clinic to receive prostaglandin drug that will induce labor and expel the dead embryo.  If the baby wasn’t expelled by the third visit, the woman will require a surgical abortion procedure.
6. Methotrexate & Misoprostol – are two drugs that were made to treat cancer (methotrexate) and ulcer (misoprostol) but  are now being used together to kill babies.  But Methotrexate is a chemotherapy drug that can cause serious toxicity and can result in the death of the mother as well as the baby.

It is really very important to educate ourselves about the effects of abortifacients.  If we value life so much,  we should be cautious when we take any drugs because it may not only end the life of the developing child, but also the life of the mother as well.