Is emergency contraception the same thing as the abortion pill?

No, emergency contraception (EC) is not the same thing as the abortion pill. If you’re already pregnant (even if you don’t know it yet), EC won’t work. EC works to prevent a pregnancy from starting, whereas the abortion pill is used to end a pregnancy. And if you accidentally take EC before you know you’re pregnant, it won’t hurt you or the pregnancy. Check out our guide to how EC, birth control, and the abortion pill work and how and when to use them.