TOKYO
When Megumi Ota needed the morning-after pill in Japan, she couldn't get a prescription in time under a policy activists call an attempt to "control" women's reproductive rights.
"I wanted to take it but couldn't over a weekend," when most clinics are closed, she told AFP.
Unable to arrange an appointment in the 72 hours after *** when the drug is most effective, "I just had to leave it to chance, and got pregnant."
Emergency contraception cannot be bought without a doctor's approval in Japan and is not covered by public health insurance, so can cost up to $150.
It's also the only medicine that must be taken in front of a pharmacist to stop it being sold on the black market.
******** rights are just as restrictive, campaigners say, with consent required from a male partner, and a surgical procedure the only option because ******** pills are not yet legal.
A government panel was formed in October to study if the morning-after pill should be sold over the counter, like in North America, most of the EU and some Asian countries.
But gynecologists have raised concerns, including that it could increase the spread of diseases by encouraging casual, unprotected ***.
Ota decided to terminate her pregnancy after her partner, who had refused to use condoms, reacted coldly to the news.
"I just felt helpless," said the 43-year-old, who was 36 at the time and now runs a ***ual trauma support group.
Japan has world-class medical care, but is ranked 120th of 156 countries in the World Economic Forum's gender gap index, which measures health among other categories.
"In Japan's system, there's a perception that women may abuse what they have and do something wrong," said reproductive rights advocate Asuka Someya. "There's a strong paternalistic tendency in the medical world. They want to keep women under their control."
The debate comes with reproductive rights in the global spotlight.
In the United States, the Supreme Court appears poised to overturn a 1973 ruling guaranteeing ******** access nationwide, while Poland enacted a near-total ban on terminations less than two years ago.
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When Megumi Ota needed the morning-after pill in Japan, she couldn't get a prescription in time under a policy activists call an attempt to "control" women's reproductive rights.
"I wanted to take it but couldn't over a weekend," when most clinics are closed, she told AFP.
Unable to arrange an appointment in the 72 hours after *** when the drug is most effective, "I just had to leave it to chance, and got pregnant."
Emergency contraception cannot be bought without a doctor's approval in Japan and is not covered by public health insurance, so can cost up to $150.
It's also the only medicine that must be taken in front of a pharmacist to stop it being sold on the black market.
******** rights are just as restrictive, campaigners say, with consent required from a male partner, and a surgical procedure the only option because ******** pills are not yet legal.
A government panel was formed in October to study if the morning-after pill should be sold over the counter, like in North America, most of the EU and some Asian countries.
But gynecologists have raised concerns, including that it could increase the spread of diseases by encouraging casual, unprotected ***.
Ota decided to terminate her pregnancy after her partner, who had refused to use condoms, reacted coldly to the news.
"I just felt helpless," said the 43-year-old, who was 36 at the time and now runs a ***ual trauma support group.
Japan has world-class medical care, but is ranked 120th of 156 countries in the World Economic Forum's gender gap index, which measures health among other categories.
"In Japan's system, there's a perception that women may abuse what they have and do something wrong," said reproductive rights advocate Asuka Someya. "There's a strong paternalistic tendency in the medical world. They want to keep women under their control."
The debate comes with reproductive rights in the global spotlight.
In the United States, the Supreme Court appears poised to overturn a 1973 ruling guaranteeing ******** access nationwide, while Poland enacted a near-total ban on terminations less than two years ago.
full story @