How is the abortion pill (Mifeprex, Mifepristone, RU486) different from emergency contraceptive pills (morning after pill, day after pill, post coital contraception, day after contraception, Plan B)?
RU486 (Mifeprex, Mifepristone, abortion pill) is an antiprogestin or progestin modulator drug. Its mechanism is to stop the growth of a pregnancy that has already implanted into the wall of the intrauterine cavity through compromising blood flow and uterine contractions which causes termination of pregnancy from 3 to 9 weeks in the U.S. In the U.K. Mifeprex is used to terminate pregnancy up to 14 weeks gestation. Plan B, Next Choice (levonorgestrel) are progestin only pills and several brands of regular oral contraceptive pills (birth control pills) are approved and sold in the U.S. as Emergency Contraceptive Pills (morning after pill, day after pill, post coital contraception, day after contraception). They decrease the incidence of pregnancy by inhibiting ovulation prior to the LH surge which occurs mid-cycle of menses in women who have a 28 day cycle, but they do not appear to work after the surge which corresponds a few hours before ovulation. Once the primary ovarian follicle reac
