A recent study indicates that ulipristal, a pill commonly used for emergency contraception, could be adapted at a higher dose to function as an abortion pill, offering a potential substitute for mifepristone. This drug is one of two commonly used in medication abortions in the United States.
Mifepristone has faced significant legal challenges, with several states filing lawsuits to limit its availability.
Currently, mifepristone is used in about two-thirds of medication abortions in the U.S. It works by blocking a hormone necessary for pregnancy to continue. The medication is often paired with misoprostol, which induces contractions and bleeding to complete the process.
The study involved 133 women who were up to nine weeks pregnant. They were given a 60-milligram dose of ulipristal acetate, the active ingredient in the emergency contraceptive Ella, followed by misoprostol 24 hours later.
The combination proved effective for 97% of participants, matching the effectiveness of the mifepristone and misoprostol regimen. Four women required either additional medication or a procedure to complete the abortion.
The dose of ulipristal used in the study was double the amount found in Ella, which is typically prescribed for emergency contraception.
According to the maker of Ella, the drug is designed to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex and is not intended to terminate an existing pregnancy. It can be used within five days of unprotected intercourse.
The study’s findings, published in the journal NEJM Evidence, could draw attention from groups opposing abortion, potentially putting emergency contraception under greater scrutiny.
Dr. Daniel Grossman, a professor at the University of California, San Francisco, expressed concern that anti-abortion advocates might misinterpret these results to attack access to contraception. While he praised the research, Grossman emphasized the need for further studies before ulipristal is widely adopted as an abortion option.
Dr. Beverly Winikoff, lead author of the study and president of Gynuity Health Projects, noted that women should be informed about ulipristal, especially in light of ongoing legal disputes over mifepristone.
“Having an alternative is important,” Winikoff said. “The more options available, the better.”
