ABSTRACT
The most significant ethical issues that surround contemporary contraception are those involving abortion, the continued medicalization of reproduction, dangers to women, availability to minors, informed consent, and the imposition of contraceptive technologies as punishment. The most effective true contraceptive intervention is male or female sterilization. Most other technologies for women popularly known as contraceptives have prevention of conception as their primary action but include secondary actions that have effects after conception should fertilization occur. Feminists have long worried about the medical profession's control over both limiting and assisting human reproduction. RU-486 has been hailed by some feminists as finally placing postcoital contraception in the hands of women. In the 1990s, especially in the United States, there has been an increase in cases of court-ordered contraception. More precisely, there have been an increasing number of instances where judges in child-abuse and neglect cases and cases involving failure to provide child support have given those convicted a "choice" of contraception or incarceration.
