The after-sex pill called Ella (ulipristal acetate) works to as late as 5 days after sex, thus preventing pregnancy.
The FDA panel who has reviewed the possibility of Ella getting FDA approval, has recommended that Ella be approved by the FDA. Although the FDA usually follows the advice of its advisory panel, that's not always the case.
Although it remains a mystery how it actually works, Ella blocks the effects of progesterone (a female hormone that spurs ovulation). On the other hand, it is a chemical relative to RU-486 (the abortion pill)
Therefore there is a fierce debate whether Ella should be considered an abortion drug and whether it drug works by delaying ovulation (as claimed by its manufacturer) or by preventing a fertilized egg from implanting itself in the uterus (as claimed by anti-abortion advocates).
Manufactured by HRA Pharma, Ella (pdf file) is already approved in the European market. If it gets US FDA approval, it will only be available by prescription.
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