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All contraceptives are not the same, and the physiology is not simple. Women actually take supplements of progesterone after becoming pregant, in order to support the new pregnancy. The oral contraceptives and separate components are vital for all sorts of medical purposes, including regulating irregular cycles and abnormal bleeding.

As I've said, I'm not convinced that the combination oral contraceptives cause abortion. The article by Alcon is very informative and covers much of the information that I've seen elsewhere, but the numbers, experience, and, yes, the fact of an incidence of reported rates of ectopic pregnancies convince me that the combination oral contraceptives do not cause abortion.

There is an excellent case to be made (as mentioned by Dr. Walter Larimore) that the pills (OC's)decrease conception by the first two mechanisms, and so lead to a decrease in the actual number of abortions (spontaneous) each year. There is also a case to be made for "double effect" in the use of OC's, as there is for death brought on by pain meds in palliative medicine. Dr. Larimore rejects the double effect idea, saying that the existence of Natural Family Planning negates the need for OC's. He and I disagree on the effects of the two methods. He and I agree on patient education, informed consent, and teaching patients who do use the pills when to use back up contraception or abstention.

Making an exagerated accusation against President Bush is not the way to educate anyone. I wonder how many people who could have benefited from education about the risks of improper use of OC's read beyond post 27?