Mexican Government Authorizes Use of Morning-After Pill
Associated Press—January 23, 2004
E. Eduardo Castillo
Mexico's Department of Health has approved the use of the morning-after pill for family planning. The authorization was part of an amended version of the country's federal family-planning guidelines that went into effect on Jan. 22. Taken within 72 hours of intercourse, the morning-after pill cuts the chances of pregnancy by up to 89 percent. The pills prevent ovulation or fertilization and possibly interfere with a fertilized egg's implantation in the uterus. Although conservatives in the predominantly Catholic country have objected to any interference with a fertilized egg, the pill is not as controversial as RU-486, called the abortion pill. Gregorio Perez, former health department reproductive health director, cited opposition to the morning-after pill by conservative groups who "absurdly qualified it as abortive."
Reprinted from the CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update. You can view the entire Prevention News Update, search the archives, and sign up for E-mail delivery at http://www.cdcnpin.org/.
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