Supporters of reproductive choice promote women s ability to enjoy family life. The international women s movement is working to ensure that women have a choice about establishing a family and that they are able to live and nurture that family. Reproductive rights advocates promote recognition of safe motherhood as a human right. If a woman s reproductive health is compromised, this impacts directly, and negatively, on her family. The World Health Organization recognizes that EC, a set of contraceptive methods that can be used by women during the first few days following unprotected intercourse, is not a form of abortion.
Abortion is a procedure that terminates pregnancy.
EC prevents pregnancy, either by delaying or inhibiting ovulation, by inhibiting fertilization, or by inhibiting implantation of a fertilized egg within the uterine wall. According to accepted medical usage, pregnancy does not begin until a fertilized egg has become fully implanted in the uterine wall. The process of implantation does not begin until the end of the first week after fertilization. EC has its effect well before the process of implantation has even begun. Women from Africa, Asia and Latin America have identified reproductive health as a major concern in their lives.