Could Birth Control Be Used for Abortions?

Ever thought about birth control pills being used for abortions? A recent study found that a pill used for emergency contraception might work to end pregnancies. This could be big news since there's a lot of debate around another common abortion drug, mifepristone. Mifepristone is under attack by people who are against abortion, with some states trying to limit its use. It's used in two-thirds of abortions in the U. S. and works by blocking a hormone needed for pregnancy. It's usually taken with another drug called misoprostol, which causes contractions. The study looked at 133 women who were up to nine weeks pregnant. They took a higher dose of ulipristal acetate, the active ingredient in the prescription contraceptive Ella, and then took misoprostol 24 hours later. For 97% of these women, the combination worked as well as mifepristone and misoprostol.

Ulipristal in the study was twice the normal dose for emergency contraception. The company that makes Ella says it won't end an existing pregnancy and is taken up to five days after unprotected sex to prevent one. Some experts are worried that this new information could make emergency contraception a target for people against abortion. They think it could be misused to attack birth control. More research is needed before doctors can safely use ulipristal for abortions regularly. It's important for women to have options, especially if mifepristone is at risk of being restricted. Having alternatives is always a good thing.

Actions