A Pill for Five Mornings After

A French company would like to bring a morning-after pill—that works five mornings after—to the U.S., but the drug is controversial because it’s so chemically similar to RU-486, the pill that induces abortions. Some are concerned the drug wouldn’t just prevent pregnancy, but terminate ones in the earliest stages. The last time the FDA approved an emergency contraceptive, Plan B, for over-the-counter use, the decision sparked debate over when life begins. Ella, the French pill, could bring even more heated discussion. Fans of ella say the drug is much-needed for family planning; opponents say labeling it as contraception is misleading. Both ella and RU-486 work by blocking progesterone, meaning the womb can’t support an embryo. Critics argue that a fertilized egg could be blocked from implantation, meaning the drug wouldn’t prevent a life, but kill one. Ella supporters say those critics oppose not just abortion, but contraception altogether.