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Emergency contraceptives are sometimes confused with abortion pills, but the two medications are used for different purposes and work in different ways.
Often called morning after pills, emergency contraceptive drugs are a safe and effective form of birth control that can prevent pregnancy if used within five days of unprotected sex or an accident with a condom—although they work better if taken during the first three days.
They are not the same as abortion pills—also called medical or medication abortion—which are used to end a pregnancy without the need for surgery, rather than to prevent one.
"Emergency contraceptives do not cause an abortion and will not work if you're already pregnant," explained Dr. Meera Shah, chief medical officer at Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic in New York.
How Does the Morning After Pill Work?
After sex, sperm can live inside the woman's body for up to five days waiting for an egg to arrive. If ovulation occurs during this time, the sperm can fertilize the egg, leading to pregnancy. Emergency contraception temporarily stops the ovary releasing an egg.
"You can think of it like pulling the emergency brake on ovulation," Shah told Newsweek. "Where you are in your menstrual cycle and how soon after unprotected sex you take emergency contraception can affect how well it prevents pregnancy.
"Emergency contraception won't work if your body has already started ovulating. And emergency contraception does not impact an existing pregnancy."
Because pregnancy doesn't happen immediately after sex, it is possible to prevent it if you act quickly.
"Since most people don't know exactly when they are ovulating, it's best to use emergency contraception as soon as possible—no matter where you are in your menstrual cycle or whether or not you think you're about to ovulate," Shah added.
Do All Morning After Pills Work in the Same Way?
In the United States, there are two main forms of morning after pill, which both work by temporarily stopping the ovary releasing an egg:
- Levonorgestrel medications, which are sold under brand names such as Plan B One-Step, Take Action, My Way and AfterPill
- Ulipristal acetate, which is sold under the brand name Ella.
Levonorgestrel medications can be bought without a prescription in most drugstores and pharmacies in the United States by people of any age. Plan B is the most widely available of these pills. Ella, on the other hand, must be prescribed by a health care provider.
"It's good to talk to your doctor or nurse at your next check-in if you have questions about emergency contraception," Shah said. "There are a lot of factors that go into choosing emergency contraception, including how long it's been since you had unprotected sex, your weight, whether you're breastfeeding and access. You can also talk with an educator on Planned Parenthood's text line, or call your local Planned Parenthood health center."
She added: "Since some emergency contraception—like Plan B—works better the sooner you take it, it can be a good idea to get it before you need it. You can keep it in your medicine cabinet or bedside table and it will be there for you, just in case."
How Do Abortion Pills Work?
The most effective and well-studied regimen for medication abortion in the United States involves two drugs—mifepristone and misoprostol— that both require a prescription.
Pregnancies need high levels of the hormone progesterone. Mifepristone blocks the action of progesterone, preventing the progression of the pregnancy. It can be used up to week 10 of pregnancy.
Misoprostol, meanwhile, causes the cervix to soften and the uterus to contract. The Planned Parenthood website states: "This medicine causes cramping and bleeding to empty your uterus. It's kind of like having a really heavy, crampy period, and the process is very similar to an early miscarriage."
Shah explained: "First you take mifepristone, which stops the pregnancy from growing. Some people feel nauseous or start bleeding after taking mifepristone, but it's not common. Your doctor or nurse may also give you antibiotics to take to prevent infection. Then, you'd either take the misoprostol right away, or up to 48 hours after you take the first pill—your doctor or nurse will let you know how and when to take it."
About the writer
Aristos is a Newsweek science and health reporter with the London, U.K., bureau. He is particularly focused on archaeology and ... Read more