What’s the difference between the ‘morning after pill’ and the abortion pill?

Abortion pills (a medical abortion) are two types of medication used together to end an existing pregnancy. These pills do not contain hormones. The first abortion pill (mifepristone) works by blocking the hormone needed for a pregnancy to grow.

The emergency contraception pill (sometimes called ‘the morning after pill’) is used before a person is pregnant. It contains hormones that can delay an egg from being released. This delays ovulation, prevents the egg from being fertilised after sex and also prevents implantation.