No, they’re actually different. Emergency contraception (EC) is all about preventing pregnancy before it happens by stopping fertilization or the implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterus. It’s best to use EC right after unprotected sex to help prevent pregnancy. On the other hand, abortion is a medical procedure or medication used to end a pregnancy that’s already underway. So, while EC aims to stop pregnancy from happening, abortion deals with ending a pregnancy that’s already started.