The Abortion Pill
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Is the Abortion Pill (RU 486) the same thing as the "Morning After Pill'?

No. Those pills operate in a different way and during a different time than RU486.   Morning after pills, or "emergency contraception" (ECPs), are essentially very high, multiple dosages of birth control pills taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse. The Abortion Pill is a medical abortion

which is used to induce an abortion (miscarriage) between the 4th and 9th weeks of pregnancy. The Abortion Pill (RU-486) is legal in all 50 states.

 

               4 Weeks                                           6 Weeks                                       7 Weeks                                            8 Weeks                                                9 Weeks

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The Abortion Pill [RU-486]: Mifepristone (Mifeprex) and Misoprostol:

Mifepristone (Mifeprex) and Misoprostol is a medical abortion procedure used up to the first seven to nine weeks of pregnancy. It is also referred to as RU-486 or the abortion pill.

  • A physical exam is given to determine if you are eligible for this medical abortion procedure. You are not eligible if you have any of the following: ectopic pregnancy, ovarian mass, IUD, corticosteroid use, adrenal failure, anemia, bleeding disorders or use of blood thinners, asthma, liver or kidney problems, heart disease, or high blood pressure.
  • Mifepristone is given orally during your first office visit. Mifepristone blocks progesterone from the uterine lining, causing the fetus to die. This alone, may cause contractions to expel the fetus.
  • Misoprostol tablets are given orally or inserted vaginally during the second office visit which occurs 36 to 48 hours later.
  • You will return home where the misoprostol will start contractions and expel the fetus. This may occur within a few hours or in some cases up to two weeks after taking the misoprostol.
  • A physical exam is given two weeks later to ensure the abortion was complete and that there are no immediate complications.

The side effects and risks of Mifepristone & Misoprostol include the following:

  • The procedure is unsuccessful approximately 8-10% of the time, thus requiring an additional surgical abortion procedure to complete the termination.
  • Cramping, nausea, vomiting diarrhea, heavy bleeding, infection
  • Not advised for women who have anemia, bleeding disorders, liver or kidney disease, seizure disorder, acute inflammatory bowel disease, or use an intrauterine device (IUD).

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"Induced Abortion." The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 2001.

Pymar HC, Creinin MD (2000). Alternatives to mifepristone regimens for medical abortion. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 183 (2): s54-s64.

Paul M, et al. (1999). A Clinician's Guide to Medical and Surgical Abortion. New York: Churchill Livingstone.

Creinin MD, et al. (2001). Medical management of abortion. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Practice Bulletin, no. 26, pg.1-13.

Goldberg ab, et al. (2001). Misoprostol and pregnancy. New England Journal of Medicine, 344 (1): 3845.

Spitz IM, et al. (1998). Early pregnancy termination with mifepristone and misoprostol in the U.S. New England Journal of Medicine, 338 (18): 1241-1247.

© 2000- 2007 American Pregnancy Association