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It appears that Calliopejen1 more or less lifted a large portion of the article here and pasted it to Birth Control with the comment, "merged there - better covered in comprehensive parent article". (Full disclosure: the sections at issue were my contribution to the contragestion page) Then she turned the the contragestion page into a redirect to Birth control. I undid her revision (which was a de facto deletion) of the Contragestion page, but I wanted to comment about the issues that I believe have been raised. OckRaz (talk) 20:01, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
[note: I've copied the relevant parts of this from the Birth control talk page to the contragestion and contraception talk pages. OckRaz (talk) 23:43, 19 October 2011 (UTC)][reply]
Section 1.1 of Birth Control (just added by Calliopejen1 to 'Methods') says, "The function of birth control can be classified by the stage of reproduction during which it is active. A form of birth control which prevents the sperm from fertilizing the egg is a contraceptive agent. A form of birth control which acts after fertilization to prevent or interrupt the implantation of the embryo into the uterine lining is a contragestive agent. After implantation has occurred, an agent which ends gestation by terminating the pregnancy is an abortifacient."
This duplicates thr first paragraph of Birth Control. I'm not sure why this was transferred, and I propose that this needs to be cleaned up. I'll do it if no one else wants to or objects to my doing so.
The contragestion article says, "Contrasting Mechanisms of Action: The function of birth control can be classified by the stage of reproduction during which it is active. A form of birth control which prevents the sperm from fertilizing the egg is a contraceptive agent. A form of birth control which acts after fertilization to prevent or interrupt the implantation of the embryo into the uterine lining is a contragestive agent. After implantation has occurred, an agent which ends gestation by terminating the pregnancy is an abortifacient
I anticipate that some people may suggest that this material be removed from the Contragestion page because it duplicates what is in Birth control. The opening paragraph in Birth Control (which I think was sufficient) is specifying different things that comprise the larger 'umbrella' category. It can be divided by stage of reproduction, but in other ways too. (eg, pharmacological, surgical, behavioral) It is important to keep the contrasting methods in the the Contragestion article because contragestion is a term which is unfamiliar to many and it is significant in large part because of the fact that it comes between the other two. Sexual reproduction can be divided into fertilization, implantation, and gestation. Preventing the first and ending the last are things which are fairly well understood. Preventing or interrupting the second, however is not. If one looks up 'Contragestion', then that context is important in understanding the term. OckRaz (talk) 20:42, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
This is the portion which is at issue: "The term, 'contraception' is a contraction of 'contra', which means 'against', and the word 'conception', which is a non-technical term that is synonymous with fertilization. The word 'contragestion' is likewise a combination of 'contra' and 'gestation'. French scientist Étienne-Émile Baulieu coined the word in 1985 because he felt that there was a need for a technical term to describe the prevention of implantation, which did not fit the traditional definitions of either 'contraception' or 'abortion'. Elisabeth Johannisson of the International Committee for Research in Reproduction endorsed the use of this nomenclature saying that, "it is appropriately descriptive and fits in with contemporary medical ethics, which require us to indicate (when we know them) the phenomena which occur in patients. The word 'contraception' is ambiguous and 'abortion' remains the traumatic symbol of a painful failure... Faced with the imprecision of these currently used terms, 'contragestion' is preferable because it takes recent scientific knowledge into account. At the same time, it is difficult to make this term accepted because more classical expressions have great force. The word 'abortion' has a long tradition... The word 'contraception' has had a strong impact on the history of our century. Between the two it is difficult to find a place, either biological or semantic." It is also worth noting that since 18 U.S. states define pregnancy as beginning at conception,[9] describing methods of birth control in terms of their potential means of action allows one to be technically accurate while using language that is neutral with regard to the abortifacient versus contraceptive controversy."
I think it's obvious that that is appropriate on the Contragestion page. The same thing (minus the International Committee for Research in Reproduction bit) is now on the page for Birth Control. Frankly, I don't see why that is appropriate. There is a section for the etymology of the term 'Birth Control', which I think is an important part of the birth control article. If the terminology information were appropriate to the page, then perhaps they should be in the same section- but I fail to see how inclusion is appropriate. Terms like 'abstinence' and 'outercourse' don't have their etymology addressed on the Birth Control page, and I don't see why 'contraception' and 'contragestion' should. OckRaz (talk) 22:03, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
There have been two major arguments against separate articles for contraception and contragestion. One is that by making a distinction between 'birth control' and contraception (and/or contragestion) one is advancing a point of view, which would violate the NPOV policy. The other argument focuses on how to best organize information and has multiple parts: 1) The user is better served if the information they want is available in a "comprehensive parent article" rather than in multiple locations, 2) There is no information which would be appropriate on either a contraception or contragestion page, but which would be inappropriate to a birth control page, and 3) When articles contain only information which is duplicated on a more comprehensive article, then wikipedia is improved by their elimination. OckRaz (talk) 22:20, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
I think that this was disposed of as an objection a long time ago, but perhaps it wasn't. It is common practice to have articles where the topic of one is a subset of the topic of another (eg, there is an article on Homer Simpson as well as one for the Simpson Family). I don't understand how that could be considered to be a POV problem. I personally believe that the POV objection was made not because the existence of separate pages was ever thought to be a genuine POV problem, but because there was a fear that the existence of separate pages might be the beginning of a "slippery slope" with regard to this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beginning_of_pregnancy_controversy
The fact is that neither contraception by itself, nor contraception and contragestion combined can be identical to 'birth control' if birth control is being defined so that it includes abstinence and abortion (which is how the article presently reads). Therefore, while objections can certainly be made on other grounds, there is no sensible POV argument against the inclusion of contraception and contragestion articles in wikipedia. OckRaz (talk) 23:01, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
I take issue with the term "parent article". "List of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks" is a clearly a parent article to "List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks." Whether Birth control is a parent article to contraception and contragestion seems to me to be a matter of opinion, and it's an opinion which I do not share. I also believe that there is information which would be appropriate on the contraception and contragestion pages, but which would not be appropriate to a birth control page.
The concept of 'birth control' is a social construct, whereas contraception and contragestion are biological phenomena. Birth control is a category of behaviors, substances, and procedures which human beings use to intentionally regulate their own reproduction. Contraception and contragestion can occur naturally in non-human animals. Obviously there is overlap, but there are significant differences too. I'd argue that insisting upon using 'birth control' (with it's social context) as the only window through which one can view human contraception & contragestion comes much closer to presenting a POV problem, than insisting upon multiple lenses through which one can view human contraception and contragestion (such as the biological phenomenon outside of a social and cultural context). There isn't any there now, but there's no reason why the contraception and contragestion articles couldn't have information about non-human animals (both in the wild and domesticated) and unintentional contraception and contragestion (eg, malnutrition and or chronic stress). The only reason that that sort of information couldn't be added in the future to those pages would be if people keep turning the pages into redirects to Birth Control (where that sort of information can never be added). OckRaz (talk) 23:38, 19 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
all below copy/pasted
I removed these sections merged from the Contraception and Contragestion articles, because they are unnecessary, cite (or mis-cite) inaccurate and outdated sources, and contain WP:SYNTH:
Definition
Birth control is frequently used synonymously with contraception, family planning[2] and fertility control.[6] Birth control can be classified by the stage of reproduction during which it is active. A form of birth control which prevents the sperm from fertilizing the egg is a contraceptive agent.[7][8][9][10] A form of birth control which acts after fertilization to prevent or interrupt the implantation of the embryo into the uterine lining is a contragestive agent. [5][8][11][12] After implantation has occurred, an agent which ends gestation by terminating the pregnancy is an abortifacient[13][14][15][16][17]
It is important to bear in mind that these mechanisms of action are not mutually exclusive. One substance or device can have more than one potential effect depending upon when it is used. For example, while mifepristone is best known as an abortifacient, it can also function as a contragestive agent.[18] Likewise, the IUD can be used as a contraceptive or a contragestive depending upon when it is inserted.[19]
Mechanisms of action
The function of birth control can be classified by the stage of reproduction during which it is active. A form of birth control which prevents the sperm from fertilizing the egg is a contraceptive agent.[7][9] A form of birth control which acts after fertilization to prevent or interrupt the implantation of the embryo into the uterine lining is a contragestive agent.[11] After implantation has occurred, an agent which ends gestation by terminating the pregnancy is an abortifacient.[13][14]
The term contraception is a contraction of contra, which means against, and the word conception, meaning fertilization.[51] The word contragestion is likewise a combination of contra and gestation. French scientist Étienne-Émile Baulieu coined the word in 1985 because he felt that there was a need for a technical term to describe the prevention of implantation, which did not fit the traditional definitions of either contraception or abortion.[18][52] Since 18 U.S. states define pregnancy as beginning at conception,[53] describing methods of birth control in terms of their potential means of action allows one to be technically accurate while using language that is neutral with regard to the abortifacient versus contraceptive controversy.
These mechanisms of action are not always mutually exclusive. One substance or device can have more than one potential effect depending upon when it is used. For example, while mifepristone is best known as an abortifacient, it can also function as a contragestive agent.[18] Likewise, the IUD can be used as a contraceptive or a contragestive depending upon when it is inserted.[19]
Etymology
The term, 'contraception' is a contraction of 'contra', which means 'against', and the word 'conception', which is a non-technical term that is synonymous[51][65][66][67][68] with fertilization. The word 'contragestion' is likewise a combination of 'contra' and 'gestation'. French scientist Étienne-Émile Baulieu coined the word in 1985 because he felt that there was a need for a technical term to describe the prevention of implantation, which did not fit the traditional definitions of either 'contraception' or 'abortion'.[18] Elisabeth Johannisson of the International Committee for Research in Reproduction endorsed the use of this nomenclature saying that, "it is appropriately descriptive and fits in with contemporary medical ethics, which require us to indicate (when we know them) the phenomena which occur in patients. The word 'contraception' is ambiguous and 'abortion' remains the traumatic symbol of a painful failure... Faced with the imprecision of these currently used terms, 'contragestion' is preferable because it takes recent scientific knowledge into account. At the same time, it is difficult to make this term accepted because more classical expressions have great force. The word 'abortion' has a long tradition... The word 'contraception' has had a strong impact on the history of our century. Between the two it is difficult to find a place, either biological or semantic."[52] It is also worth noting that since 18 U.S. states define pregnancy as beginning at conception,[53] describing methods of birth control in terms of their potential means of action allows one to be technically accurate while using language that is neutral with regard to the abortifacient versus contraceptive controversy.
In other animals
One factor which can cause contragestion is malnutrition. For example, a deficiency of vitamin A can cause contragestion in cats[122] and studies indicate that insufficient calcitonin causes contragestion in rats.[123] Rodents also display something called the Bruce effect wherein exposure to the scent of an unfamiliar male causes contragestion.[124] Environmental factors are also a cause of contragestion. Toxins can cause contragestion in both animals and humans, with exposure to dioxins preventing 70% of implantation of mouse embryos.[125]
Contraception occurs naturally in non-human animals just as it does in humans. For example, the same hormonal effect of breastfeeding occurs both in humans and in chimpanzees.[126]
A high-level umbrella article like Birth controlorPain control should not have a "Mechanisms of action" section, the methods of birth control or pain control are too diverse—these can be and should be discussed in articles about specific methods.
Contragestion is a rarely-used term coined in the 1980s by French endocrinologist Étienne-Émile Baulieu to promote the acceptance of the French abortion pill RU-486 (mifepristone) by blurring the differences between the mechanisms of action of contraceptives and the abortion pill. Baulieu's definition of a contragestive included any birth control method that could possibly act after fertilization and before nine weeks gestational age—not only after fertilization and before implantation.
Current medical reference textbooks on gynecology and contraception, contraceptive drug and device prescribing information, and the Encyclopædia Britannica "birth control" article by Malcolm Potts, do not use the terms contragestion or contragestive and most medical dictionaries do not include them—this article should follow the lead of those WP:MEDRSs and not include them. I have added a couple of sentences about contragestion and contragestives to the Pharmacology section of the Mifepristone article and changed their redirects from this article to the Mifepristone article.
The first paragraph and the first sentence of the "In other animals" section were WP:SYNTH: the cited sources did not mention congtragestion/contragestives or contraception/contraceptives.
BC07 (talk) 08:55, 13 August 2012 (UTC)[reply]
All above copy/pasted OckRaz talk 04:05, 27 August 2012 (UTC)[reply]
In April the contragestion article was made into a redirect to birth control. I contend that this is a biased edit in violation of long standing policy about editors assuming NPOV, which is demonstrated by the fact that information which was available to readers was lost and the edit was based on a personal judgment that that information is not of interest. Editors aren't mind readers and we ought not to remove information from wikipedia that could be of interest (as long as it meets notability criteria) based on assumptions about what one is likely to find of interest. In the interim the birth control article has been edited so that even the word contragestion no longer appears there. This seems like pretty good evidence for my contention that readers who wish to learn about contragestion are not the same readers who wish to find a general account of birth control. The redirect itself was later modified to take readers to the article on mifepristone. I've restored the article on contragestion to its state prior to the redirect edits. OckRaz talk 04:25, 27 August 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Here are the issues that I think need to be addressed with regard to attempts to get rid of an article on contragestion.
Is it notable as the term is understood on wikipedia? There are many very technical terms which have articles on wikipedia. Are the attempts to get rid of this term based on notability (and therefore legitimate) or are they based on a judgment that the distinction between contragestive birth control and non-contragestive contraception is unimportant. If the latter is the reason then removing a free standing article violates NPOV guidelines.
After the most recent redirect it there subsequent edits to birth control removed any mention of it. This is something which has happened before, and it is likely that this will continue to happen so long as there is no contragestion article.
The term birth control is not a scientific term, but one created as a framing device (like the term family planning) in the context campaigns for social change. It is now commonly used as a catch-all or umbrella term for any deliberate attempts to avoid giving birth (although not to things like fertility treatment which are in a literal since methods of controlling birth). Birth control as a topic is likely to be of interest to readers either beginning a search that will be refined to more specific topics if they are doing research, or to a general interest reader who is not looking for more technical information. I'd offer as a parallel the difference between a reader who looks for an article on embryos and one who looks for an article on gastrulation. It may not be a perfect analogy, but it gets at my point about different target audiences. OckRaz talk 04:49, 27 August 2012 (UTC)[reply]
-edit: took out #5 as irrelevant to discusiion- OckRaz talk 10:55, 28 August 2012 (UTC)[reply]
is the most appropriate way for Wikipedia to include the rarely-used terms contragestion and contragestive.Contragestion is a term coined by Étienne-Émile Baulieu to promote the acceptance of mifepristone by blurring the differences between the mechanisms of action of contraceptives and those of mifepristone to induce abortion.[40] Baulieu's definition of a contragestive included any birth control method that could possibly act after fertilization and before nine weeks gestational age.[40]
I've noticed that there is information there which needs to be updated given that recent events concerning how the ACA (aka Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) and the HHS decision about contraception coverage stirred up a controversy precisely about contragestion and this resulted in media reports that clarified what had been the previously murky status of emergency contraceptive pills like the so-called 'morning after pill'. I'll attend to that by updating the info ASAP, but if anyone else wants to edit the page in the meantime, I'd encourage them to do so. The NYT and NPR both had good stories about this, but I don't have specifics at my fingertips. OckRaz talk 04:25, 27 August 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Consensus here was to merge the content in question [1]. Thus please do not return it until you have consensus to do so. Doc James (talk · contribs · email) (if I write on your page reply on mine) 09:36, 27 August 2012 (UTC)[reply]
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Notability
Previous merging with birth control resulted in effective deletion of information from wikipedia contrary to wikipedia guidelines. There is no reason that information cannot be incorporated into the birth control article without losing this article. The existence of this article in no way detracts from the value of the birth control article. The loss of this article would result in the loss of information which may not be available anywhere else on wikipedia
There are two factors which I think make it clear that there ought to be a separate article:
I agree that it needs updating and improvement. I'm not sure if I have online access to all of the pubmed articles. If I do, I'll incorporate them sometime within a week. I think that the fact that one is about hamsters ought to be reason enough to conclude that there is material which belongs here but not at birth control. OckRaz talk 08:04, 28 August 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Question: I'm curious about something. If I wanted to add material taken from an article about people getting fertility treatment who have trouble with the failure to implant, then is it your position that that would be improper unless the word 'contragestion' is used? Clearly there are areas of study which deal with the occurrence of contragestion like the Bruse Effect in rodents which have nothing to do with the use of contraceptives or abortifacients. Are you guys saying that even though the word means prevention of or failure to implant, that there cannot be an article about that because the term itself is not in common use? If so, would you want an article called "prevention of or failure to implant"? That'd be a really awkward title given that a word exists which means just thst. OckRaz talk 08:23, 28 August 2012 (UTC)[reply]
OckRaz (talk | contribs)'s essay on contragestion is not based on current WP:MEDRSs and therefore contains misinformation contradicted by current WP:MEDRSs.
It is WP:SYNTH because most of the sources cited do not mention the terms contragestionorcontragestive, and
the sources cited that do mention the terms contragestionorcontragestive have varying definitions and are not current WP:MEDRSs:
Except for Hendrick 1997, Sukys 1999, and Dye 2000, none of the sources cited by OckRaz that mention the terms contragestion or contragestive define them as OckRaz's essay does: acting after fertilization but before implantation.
None of the 45 articles indexed on PubMed that mention the terms contragestionorcontragestive define them as OckRaz's essay does, including:
and the three most recent PubMed-indexed articles:
A summary of some of the definitions/uses of the terms contragestionorcontragestive in the above-mentioned sources:
BC07 (talk) 03:05, 9 September 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Is this redirect still targeted to the most appropriate article (and section)?
Most of the content from the last non-redirected version of this article [2] does not seem to appear at the current redirect target article.
It’s been 10 years, so that’s not surprising, but perhaps there’s a better target if a standalone article still isn’t deemed appropriate. Jim Grisham (talk) 23:41, 4 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]