| Medical Abortion,
also known as Non-Surgical Abortion, is one way for women to terminate
early pregnancies. Please see Medical vs. Surgical Abortion for a
comparison of the two techniques.
Women can terminate early pregnancies with a medication
or a combination of medications. At the Comprehensive Women's Health
Center, the medications we prescribe for medical abortion are Mifeprex
(Mifepristone) and Misoprostol (Cytotec).
Medical Abortion Drugs
What is Mifepristone (also
known as "Mifeprex" or "RU-486")?
 | Mifepristone blocks the action of the natural hormone
progesterone on the uterus. This causes the lining of the uterus to
shed (like during a period) and stops the growth of the pregnancy. A
medical abortion results when mifepristone is combined with
misoprostol. |
What is Misoprostol (also
known as "Cytotec")?
| Misoprostol is a drug that is used with mifepristone
for medical abortion. It causes the uterus to contract to push out the
pregnancy and also causes
bleeding and cramping. |
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About Medical Abortion
How does medical abortion work?
| Medical abortion involves at least two visits to a
doctor's office or clinic. The treatment includes giving the
medication and then confirming that the pregnancy termination was
successful. Sometimes more than two visits are necessary.
Day 1: Office visit for exam and counseling; take 200 mg (1
tablet) of mifepristone
Day 2, 3, or 4: At home, place 4 tablets of misoprostol in your
vagina
Day 7 - 14: Final visit to the office to confirm that the
abortion is complete
If the abortion is not complete, follow-up
visits may be scheduled |
What's the difference between a medical abortion and the
"morning-after pill" (emergency contraception)?
| Medical abortion is not the same as emergency contraception (EC).
Emergency contraception prevents a pregnancy. Once pregnancy has occurred,
EC is no longer effective. On the other hand, medical abortion is used to
terminate an unwanted pregnancy. |
When can a woman have a medical abortion?
| Medical abortion can be performed from the time a woman suspects and
confirms that she is pregnant up to 9 weeks from her last menstrual
period. Some insurance companies limit medical abortion to pregnancies of
7 weeks or less. |
Is medical abortion effective?
| In clinical practice, medical abortion is about 95-98% effective. This
means that the medications cause the woman to completely pass the
pregnancy without the use of surgery. Early surgical abortion, usually
done by aspiration, is effective 98% of the time. |
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Safety and Efficacy
How safe is medical abortion?
| Mifepristone has been studied for over twenty years.
Millions of women in more than 20 countries (including the U.S.) have
used mifepristone and misoprostol (or similar medications) to have an
abortion. All studies have shown the method to be safe and effective;
there have been no reports of any long-term risks. Heavy bleeding
requiring blood transfusion is extremely rare (less than 0.5%). |
What are the usual side effects of a medical
abortion?
Short-term side effects:
| Strong cramps |
| Bleeding |
| Nausea |
| Vomiting |
| Fever and chills |
There is no evidence of long-term risks with
mifepristone when used for medical abortion. No long-term effects have
been associated with misoprostol.
Have there ever been any serious complications with
medical abortion?
| In 20 years of use, medical abortion has been linked
with only two deaths. In a large U.S. research trial, only 4 of the 2000 women (less
than 0.5%) required any treatment as serious as a blood transfusion. |
Does early abortion affect a woman's future
fertility?
| There are no indications that any of the early
abortion methods affect a woman's fertility. |
Do medical abortion drugs cause fetal deformities?
| Little is known about the effect of mifepristone on a
developing embryo. Misoprostol has been associated with birth defects
when given in early pregnancy. Therefore, a woman should have a
surgical abortion if a medical abortion fails. |
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Access to Medical Abortion
Where can a woman get a medical abortion?
| Medical abortion is provided by trained health care
providers in private office settings, family planning clinics, and
hospitals. |
How much does a medical abortion cost?
| Cost varies by clinic. Some providers charge similar
rates for medical and surgical. Some insurance companies will cover
the cost of a medical abortion (usually only if they would cover a
surgical abortion). The Comprehensive Women's Health Center offers a
self-payment option for both medical and surgical abortion. See
payment options. |
Where can I get more information about medical
abortion?
*Different clinics have different protocols for medical
abortion. Read our Pre-Procedure Information to find out how and why our
protocol differs from that described by other clinics and websites.
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|
Comprehensive
Women's Health Center
