As controversies arise over two forms of emergency contraception, knowing the difference between them is important, health officials said.

During the last month, physicians have refused to dispense the morning-after pill and other contraceptives because it was against their moral beliefs, according to a March 23 article in the Chicago Sun-Times.

The physicians refusal has led many pro-choice groups, including Planned Parenthood, to demand legislators enact a law that holds them legally responsible.

Most of the dispute is centered on the morning-after pill, a modified birth control pill which physicians claim is the equivalent of abortion.

A birth control pill prevents pregnancy by preventing ovulation. It also has a secondary effect of making the uterine lining unfavorable for implantation, which is why it is so effective, said Joseph Baumgart, M.D., of the Women and Children’s Center, 625 E. Bethany Road and gynecologist consultant for Health Services.

The morning-after pill contains the same hormones as birth control pills, but depends more on the second effect the pill has, Baumgart said.

With the recent dispute, more people have confused the morning-after pill with the abortion pill, which is completely different, experts said.

This morning-after pill has fewer complications, and the most common side effect is nausea and vomiting, said Beverly Espe, acting director of University Health Services. The pill is not given to women who are already pregnant or to women with undiagnosed vaginal bleeding.

The “abortion pill,” is a prescription medically known as RU-486 or Mifeprex. The pill has been available since approved in the United States in September 2000.

RU-486 was originally designed to treat cancer in Europe, but it was found that pregnant women on the drug aborted their fetus, said Katie Mehne, executive director of the We Care Pregnancy Center, 403 N. Fifth St.

“RU-486 is an anti-hormone,” Baumgart said. “A hormone is a chemical that fits a receptor site on a cell in the body, and then activates that receptor site.”

Baumgart explained that a hormone is like a car lock. A particular key (hormone) must fit the lock (receptor site), and turning the key activates the lock.

If a person were to have a blank key made, the key would fit the lock but would not open it, he said. If the key were to break off, neither the correct key nor the blank key could open the lock.

“Since RU-486 is an anti-hormone, it will fit the receptor site but will not activate it,” Baumgart said.

Some officials familiar with the drug said using it can be a complicated process.

The abortion pill cannot be taken beyond seven weeks of pregnancy, Mehne said.

“The woman actually has to take the pill several times,” she said.

Mehne said she knows a few women who have taken RU-486.

“My understanding is the process is quite painful and can be quite lengthy,” Mehne said. “There is a lot of cramping and bleeding.”

When taking RU-486, a woman should also make frequent visits to her doctor.

“The most common complication is excess bleeding,” Baumgart said. “Another problem is a failure to expel the entire pregnancy… because of that, it is recommended this drug be used under close [medical] supervision.”

The We Care Pregnancy Center is not a medical facility. The center helps women make informed choices and also provides free pregnancy tests, she said.