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AUCKLAND, New Zealand, April 3 2014 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Recent research into the efficacy of morning after pills has led New Zealand’s Ministry of Health to issue a warning that its effectiveness may be reduced in women who weigh more than 70kg (154 lbs.).

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The early warning was issued by Medsafe, New Zealand’s medicines and medical devices safety authority. It is a business unit of the Ministry of Health.

Medsafe warned that “irrespective of weight, levonorgestrel may not prevent pregnancy in every case,” adding however that “the overall benefit-risk balance of levonorgestrel remains positive.” 

Postinor-1, which contains 1.5mg of levonorgestrel, is the subsidized pill available in New Zealand.  It is a pharmacist-only drug, meaning that it is possible to purchase without a prescription after a brief consultation with a pharmacist.  Pills can be purchased in advance and stored for later use.

Medsafe’s warning also encompasses the brand names Next Choice and Next Choice Arrow.

The warning has prompted Family Planning, an affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, to encourage the use of copper IUDs instead.

Dr. Christine Roke, Family Planning’s National Medical Advisor says that the copper IUD is the best choice as it “is more than 99 per cent effective no matter how much a woman weighs.”

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Family Planning fitted just over 3,000 IUDs in 2013.  It is not known how many of these were for emergency contraceptive purposes.

Family Life International NZ’s national director, Dame Colleen Bayer was pleased that attention had been given to the risks of using the morning after pill. 

However she said that the warning was issued because “pregnancy is viewed as a disease to be avoided at all costs, even if danger exists for a woman, even if a newly conceived human life is destroyed in the process.”

The pro-life organization said it will continue its work to inform teens and women about the morning after pill and the IUD, while encouraging sexual purity and Natural Fertility Regulation.

Medsafe is currently reviewing the “safety concern” in conjunction with the Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia.   If regulatory changes are made, it would likely involve warnings on information sheets or packaging.

 

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