There could also be confusion about whether or not the morning-after tablet, which is a kind of emergency contraception, is a drugs that triggers an abortion. Properly, the morning-after tablet and the abortion tablet are fully totally different. It’s true that each are taken orally, and so they contain hormonal elements that affect the reproductive system. Each may trigger unwanted side effects reminiscent of nausea, vomiting, and bleeding. Nonetheless, the 2 drugs work in numerous methods. The primary distinction is that the morning-after tablet works when a lady is just not pregnant whereas the abortion tablet is efficient when she is anticipating. Learn on to know the variations between the morning-after tablet and abortion tablet.

What’s the morning-after tablet?

The morning-after tablet is a type of emergency contraception used to scale back the chance of undesirable being pregnant after unprotected intercourse. It’s a backup technique of contraception, and never a substitute for typical oral contraceptives, says gynaecologist and obstetrician Dr Monika Jani.

What’s an abortion tablet?

The abortion tablet is a drugs used to terminate an early being pregnant, normally as much as 12 weeks of gestation. It usually includes a two-drug mixture — mifepristone and misoprostol, although typically misoprostol alone is used. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, a hormone essential to maintain being pregnant, whereas misoprostol induces cramping and bleeding to expel the being pregnant from the uterus, explains the professional.

What are the variations between the morning-after tablet and abortion tablet?

In 2022, the US Meals and Drug Administration had introduced it might overhaul packaging labels for the morning-after tablet, Plan B. On the time, it had mentioned it might take away references on the contraception’s packaging that declare that the tablet prevents a fertilised egg from implanting within the womb. The purpose of the company was to differentiate the morning-after tablet from abortion tablets, which terminate a being pregnant after a fertilised egg will get implanted within the lining of the uterus. The FDA clearly said that taking the morning-after tablet is just not the identical as an abortion.

Listed here are the variations:

Additionally Learn

1. The methods they work

Morning-after tablet works by delaying ovulation, stopping fertilisation, or stopping a fertilised egg from implanting within the uterus. It thickens cervical mucus and alters the uterine lining, says Dr Jani. In case of the abortion tablet, mifepristone blocks progesterone, inflicting the uterine lining to interrupt down, whereas misoprostol induces contractions and bleeding to expel the being pregnant. Mainly, the morning-after tablet won’t work if a lady is already pregnant, which implies it would haven’t any impact on an present being pregnant.

2. Sorts

Morning-after tablet incorporates levonorgestrel (e.g., Plan B One-Step) or ulipristal acetate (e.g., Ella). Abortion tablet usually is a mix of mifepristone and misoprostol, however typically misoprostol alone is used.

3. The way in which they’re obtained

Morning-after tablet is definitely obtainable over-the-counter in lots of locations. To get an abortion tablet, you’d require a prescription. It’s usually disbursed by way of a health care provider, says the professional.

4. Goal

Morning-after tablet’s objective is to forestall being pregnant after unprotected intercourse or contraceptive failure whereas participating in sexual actions. Alternatively, the aim of the abortion tablet is to finish an present early being pregnant.

5. The time they’re used

Morning-after tablet is taken as quickly as doable after having unprotected intercourse, ideally inside 72 hours. Abortion tablet is run after confirming being pregnant and gestational age. It normally includes taking mifepristone adopted by misoprostol 24 to 48 hours later.

6. Unwanted effects

The 2 can have comparable unwanted side effects, together with nausea and vomiting. However it’s also possible to expertise fatigue, dizziness, headache, breast tenderness, heavier intervals with cramps after taking morning-after tablet. As for abortion tablet, you possibly can anticipate bleeding, diarrhea, fever, chills, and an infection as a few of its unwanted side effects.

The morning-after tablet and the abortion tablet are related to being pregnant, and may have comparable unwanted side effects, however they’re used for various functions and at totally different instances.