Can birth control abort a pregnancy?

In order to prevent pregnancy, birth control pills employ several mechanisms. First, the synthetic hormones may convince a woman’s body that she is pregnant. This can stop the ovaries from releasing an egg. read more

But one big loophole has allowed groups like the FDA and drug manufacturers to market hormonal birth control as only a contraceptive, and not an abortifacient: the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) changed the definition of conception and pregnancy from fertilization to implantation. read more

Some birth control methods provide a physical barrier to conception without altering a woman's hormones. Others rely on hormones to prevent ovulation and restrict implantation—at least in theory. Whether or not hormonal birth control can cause an abortion is the subject of much debate. read more