The research could further complicate the polarized politics of abortion because the drug in the study is the key ingredient in a pill used for emergency contraception.

A new study suggests that a pill used for emergency contraception could be repurposed at a higher dose as an abortion drug, providing a possible alternative to mifepristone, one of the two drugs used in the most common type of abortion in the United States.

The goal of this study was to determine if ulipristal acetate and misoprostol could provide a safe and effective alternative to current medication abortion regimens, Bousiéguez told MedPage Today. Ulipristal acetate is currently FDA-approved for emergency contraception.

Abortion foes have long argued that morning-after pills like Ella can act as abortifacients, substances that cause abortion. These claims have been strongly debunked. Evidence shows that Ella, when taken at its standard 30-milligram dose, works by delaying ovulation, preventing fertilization.

New research suggests that a pill used for emergency contraception may help women have an abortion. Here, MDs weigh in on how this will impact access.