Emergency contraception (EC) is intended to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure. Two types of EC are Plan B One-Step and Ella.
Plan B One Step is a single pill that contains a large amount of a progestin hormone found in some birth control pills. Plan B is taken within 72 hours of sex. Plan B may work in two ways: preventing the egg and sperm from meeting and /or preventing the embryo from implanting in the uterus, leading to the death of the embryo. It will not end a pregnancy that has already implanted.
Ella is a progesterone blocking hormone developed specifically as emergency contraception. It is intended to be used within 5 days of unprotected sex. Ella may work in two ways. It may prevent or postpone ovulation. It may also prevent or disrupt an embryo from implanting in the uterus or developing further. The impact on existing pregnancies was not tested in women; however, Ella did cause abortions in pregnant animals, including monkeys; and carries the same potential in humans.
Both Plan B One step and Ella emergency contraceptives are not only contraceptive in effect, but are potentially abortive, resulting in the embryo’s death.