A new emergency contraceptive pill has just been approved by the FDA. And finally, it’s something that I can get behind.
The pill, Ella, can be taken up to five days after sex, as opposed to the three day window you have with Plan B. It is also being reported that the effectiveness of Ella does not decrease from day one to five. Women who take Ella have been shown to have a 1.8 percent chance of getting pregnant (Plan B users have a 2.6 percent chance).
It works by blocking the release of the hormone progesterone, which delays ovulation. There is also evidence that it makes the womb less hospitable to a fertilized egg.
For now, Ella will be a prescription only option. However, I feel that this is okay, given the large window. The only obstacle I see here (which is also mentioned in the NY Times article linked above) is pharmacists refusing to fill prescriptions for the pill if they find it’s moral-merit questionable. This is not just a problem for prescribed medication, however. Though Plan B can be bought over the counter … well … it’s literally over the counter. It is not …
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