How does the morning-after pill prevent pregnancy?

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Alison Edelman |

TED-Ed

• March 2026

In a 2021 study, researchers asked over 500 participants to explain how the morning-after pill worked. Despite these pills’ widespread use, 60% answered incorrectly. Emergency contraceptives are often misunderstood— even the phrase “the morning-after pill” is a misnomer. So, how do they work? Alison Edelman explores how two main types of emergency contraception disrupt or delay ovulation. [Directed by Magali García, narrated by Bethany Cutmore-Scott, music by Salil Bhayani, cAMP Studio].