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
Give us a call (208) 466-4000. We are here to listen to your questions and talk about your options.
Is Ella® effective?
If Ella® is taken as directed, it will reduce the chance of pregnancy, but it is not effective in every case.3,4
Should I take Ella®?
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 new drug that has not been fully tested.5,6
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.7,8
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.9
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.10
Does ella® have side effects and risks?
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.
1. Watson Pharma, Inc. (2014, January). ella- ulipristal acetate tablet: Indications and usage. Retrieved October 28, 2015, from http://pi.actavis.com/data_stream.asp?product_group=1699&p=pi&language=E#section-1.
2. Watson Pharma, Inc. (2014, January). ella-ulipristal acetate tablet: Warnings and precautions. Retrieved October 28, 2015, from http://pi.actavis.com/data_stream.asp?product_group=1699&p=pi&language=E#section-4.
3. Watson Pharma, Inc. (2014, January). ella- ulipristal acetate tablet: Clinical studies. Retrieved October 28, 2015, from http://pi.actavis.com/data_stream.asp?product_group=1699&p=pi&language=E#section-13.
4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2012). ella® FDA Approved Patient Labeling:highlights of prescribing information. Retrieved on October 28, 2015 from http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2012/022474s002lbl.pdf.
5. Watson Pharma, Inc. (2014, January). ella- ulipristal acetate tablet: Drug interactions. Retrieved October 28, 2015, from http://pi.actavis.com/data_stream.asp?product_group=1699&p=pi&language=E#section-7.
6. Watson Pharma, Inc. (2014, January). ella- ulipristal acetate tablet: Use in specific populations. Retrieved October 28, 2015, from http://pi.actavis.com/data_stream.asp?product_group=1699&p=pi&language=E#section-8.
7. Watson Pharma, Inc. (2014, January). ella- ulipristal acetate tablet: Mechanism of action. Retrieved October 28, 2015, from http://pi.actavis.com/data_stream.asp?product_group=1699&p=pi&language=E#section-11.1.
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.
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.
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.