ELLA, An Introduction
AAPLOG position on “ELLA”
On August 13, 2010, the Food and Drug Administration approved the application for a new “Emergency Contraceptive” drug, ulipristal acetate, under the label “ella”.
“Ella” is the first selective progesterone receptor modulator (SPRM) available in the United States for the indication of “emergency contraception (EC).” This class of drug (SPRM) blocks progesterone which is necessary to maintain a pregnancy. It disables the uterine lining, compromising its ability to form a functional “secretory” endometrium—the lining which nourishes the fertilized, implanting new human baby. This effectively deprives the brand new human child of oxygen and nutrients, and the child dies. This is abortifacient action.
Ella is chemically a first cousin to Mifepristone (RU 486), the “medical abortion” drug that kills the baby by blocking placental function. Ella has the same action: they are both selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRM). The generic name is Ulipristal.
Today’s approval, labeling “ella” as emergency contraception, is deceptive and dangerous to women and their newly conceived baby. Women deserve to know that “ella” can cause death of the embryo, and the FDA is deliberately misleading women by mislabeling “ella” only as contraception, and not as abortifacient.
Here is what the FDA approved drug literature says:
“How does “ella” work?
“Ella” is thought to work for emergency contraception primarily by stopping or delaying the release of an egg from the ovary. It is possible that ella may also work by preventing attachment (implantation) to the uterus. “ The latter is clearly abortifacient action.
Why does the FDA not consider this an abortifacient? Semantic smoke and mirrors. Current medical semantics says “pregnancy begins with implantation.” (To them, conception and implantation are defined as the same thing. A “pregnancy” is conceived.) ProLifers say the “human life begins with fertilization.” A human life is conceived. So their side says “this does not effect a ‘pregnancy,’ thus not abortifacient.” We say, “This results in death of a new human being, thus is abortifacient.” Watch out for the smoke and mirrors!
Don’t miss this important fact: Ella only delays ovulation if taken in the day or so before ovulation happens, i.e., before the luteal surge which stimulates release of the egg. After ovulation, if the egg is fertilized, “ella” works as a progesterone-blocking abortifacient. How often would you guess a woman takes this in just the right widow (a day or two before ovulation) to delay ovulation? Not often. Taken at other times, it has no effect on ovulation.
The egg must be fertilized on the day of ovulation. (After 1 day, it resists fertilization) And why does “ella” work for 5 days after ovulation? Because it is on about the 5th day after ovulation and fertilization that the new baby begins to implant—but can’t, because the uterine lining function is disabled by “ella” This is abortifacient action. And this is why “ella” can be used, as advertised, up to 5 days after intercourse.
The FDA literature hints at this (see quote above from ‘How does “ella” work?’), but the FDA does not use the “A” word. We find this very deceptive for the women considering using “ella” who would otherwise not even think of having an
abortion.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENSS OF “EC”
The medical literature claims that Plan B is “up to 95% effective if used within 24 hours of unprotected intercourse, less so if used over the next couple days. The literature also claims that “ella” is “more effective” than Plan B, and effectiveness, although diminished, is still a reality if “ella” is taken 5 days after intercourse.
REALITY CHECK
Q: How many days a month is a woman able to become pregnant?
Fact: EC is 100% effective about 26 days each month!! This is because it is impossible to get pregnant about 26 days a month (see below). Many of the days when women take EC, it is not possible to get pregnant anyway. This fact makes the “effectiveness” statistics look really good,
Some notes on timing:
If the sperm is deposited 3 days before ovulation fertilization ordinarily won’t happen, as the sperm is usually “dead” or not effective by ovulation time (unless, obviously, further sexual contact occurs or ovulation is early).
If the sperm is deposited 24 hours after ovulation, fertilization won’t happen, as the egg is “dead,” (i.e., no longer receptive to sperm).
So the narrow window of 2 or 3 days before ovulation to 24 hours after ovulation is the “fertilization window”
Delaying ovulation with use of EC in the preovulatory 2 day window of time apparently works as a contraceptive method, by delaying ovulation several days. Otherwise, the antifertility action would be abortifacient.
AAPLOG note: Remember, EC is 100% effective 26 days each month. This makes the “effectiveness” stats look really good—much better than reality suggests. Also remember that the major studies on Plan B (you know, claims of 89% effective) show NO DECREASE IN UNINTENDED PREGNANCY, AND NO DECREASE IN ABORTION RATES, even when the EC was given free and given to the patient ahead of time to have on hand for emergency use. See http://www.aaplog.org/position-and-papers/emergency-contraception/
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