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What Is Ella®?

ella® is a form of emergency contraception – a type of birth control to be used within five days after unprotected intercourse or suspected contraceptive failure (e.g. a broken condom) to attempt to prevent pregnancy.(1) It is available by prescription only, and your doctor should rule out pregnancy before prescribing ella®.(2)

Is ella® effective? If ella® is taken as directed, it will reduce the chance of pregnancy, but it is not effective in every case.(3) Should I take ella® (ulipristal)? You can only become pregnant on certain days of the month — around the time that you ovulate. Taking ella® during a time when you cannot become pregnant needlessly exposes you to a drug for which there is much that is unknown.(4) To find out if you are pregnant, contact us. We can give you information and schedule a free pregnancy test appointment. Can ella® cause an abortion? Taking ella® after fertilization has taken place may prevent the newly formed life from settling into the uterus and continuing to grow, which some consider a form of early abortion.(5, 6) There is something else to know about ella®. Unlike Plan B, ella® is a chemical cousin to the abortion pill Mifeprex™. Both have the ability to damage the embryo’s attachment to the uterus, causing its death.(7, 8) This effect on growing pregnancies was not tested in women, however a higher dose of ella® did cause abortions in pregnant animals, including monkeys, and carries the same potential in humans.(9, 10) Does ella® have side effects and risks? There are reports of liver failure among women who have been given ulipristal to shrink their fibroids.(11) Please contact us to get more information and to learn about side effects and risks. Your body and health are important, so take time to make the best decision. 
NOTE: We offer accurate information about all your pregnancy options; however, we do not offer or refer for abortion services or emergency contraception. The information presented on this website is intended for general education purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional and/or medical advice.

References

  1. Food & Drug Administration. (2010). Ella full prescribing information. 1. Indications. Accessed on February 5, 2020 from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2010/022474s000lbl.pdf

  2. Afaxys. (2019, May 14). Ella® | Emergency Contraceptive | Info for Health Care Professionals. Ellanow.com. Retrieved February 4, 2020, from https://ellanow.com/hcp/

  3. Morning-After Pill | Emergency Contraception | ella®. (2015, December 23). Retrieved February 5, 2020, from https://ellanow.com/ FAQs: What is ella?

  4. Food & Drug Administration. (2010). Ella full prescribing information. 4. Contraindications. Accessed on February 5, 2020 from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2010/022474s000lbl.pdf

  5. Morning-After Pill | Emergency Contraception | ella®. (2015, December 23). Retrieved February 5, 2020, from https://ellanow.com/

  6. How effective is ella?Food & Drug Administration. (2010). Ella full prescribing information. 8.4 Pediatric use. Accessed on February 5, 2020 from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2010/022474s000lbl.pdf

  7. Food & Drug Administration. (2010). Ella full prescribing information. 12.1 Mechanism of Action. Accessed on February 5, 2020 from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2010/022474s000lbl.pdf

  8. Larimore, W. L. (2000). The abortifacient effect of the birth control pill and the principle of the ‘double effect. Ethics & Medicine, 16(1), 23-30.Food & Drug Administration. (2010). Ella full prescribing information. 12.2 Pharmacodynamics. Accessed on February 5, 2020 from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2010/022474s000lbl.pdf

  9. Harrison, D. J., & Mitroka, J. G. (2010). Defining reality: The potential role of pharmacists in assessing the impact of progesterone receptor modulators and misoprostol in reproductive health.The Annals of Pharmacotherapy,45(1), 115-19.Food & Drug Administration. (2010). Ella full prescribing information. 8.1 Pregnancy. Accessed on February 5, 2020 from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2010/022474s000lbl.pdf

  10. Larner JM, Reel JR, Blye RP. (2000) Circulating concentrations of the antiprogestins CDB-2914 and mifepristone in the female rhesus monkey following various routes of administration. Hum Reprod.15(5): 1100-06.

  11. Donnez, J., Arriagada, P., Marciniak, M., & Larrey, D. (2018). Liver safety parameters of ulipristal acetate for the treatment of uterine fibroids: a comprehensive review of the clinical development program. Expert Opinion on Drug Safety, 17(12), 1225-1232. doi:10.1080/14740338.2018.1550070

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