Demand for emergency contraception has increased since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade.
Some morning-after pills contain, which belongs to a group of drugs called progestins that mimic the naturally-occurring hormone progesterone. Plan B One-Step, which has a shelf life of about four years, is an example of a levonorgestrel-based pill. This compound is also used in lower doses for some other forms of contraception, Aldene Zeno, an OB-GYN with Keck Medicine of University of Southern California, writes in an email.that typically triggers ovulation.
“Biologically we as humans are wired to carry one pregnancy at a time. That pregnancy may be a singleton or multiples like twins, but either way once someone becomes pregnant their body triggers processes, many driven by progesterone, to prevent another pregnancy from happening,” Zeno says. “Plan B mimics this mechanism ofOne advantage of levonorgestrel-based emergency contraceptives is that they’re available without a prescription. However, theyin people who weigh more than 165 pounds.
Another kind of emergency contraceptive pill is ulipristal, which is sold under the brand name Ella. It’sthan levonorgestrel-based pills and can be taken up to five days after unprotected sex. If taken in that window, it reduces chances of pregnancy by 85 percent, according to Planned Parenthood. However, ulipristal may not work as well in people over 195 pounds and is only available by prescription.
In addition to blocking the luteinizing hormone surge, ulipristal can also disrupt ovulation later in a person’s menstrual cycle by preventing the follicles—fluid-filled sacs in the ovaries that contain eggs—from rupturing. Compared with levonorgestrel-based pills, Gray says, “it works a little better if you’re right around the time of ovulation, if the luteinizing hormone surge is already happening.”implanted within five days of unprotected sex, Gray says.
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