Medical abortion pills are a type of medication used to terminate a pregnancy. They are also known as medication abortion, abortion pill, or RU-486. The two most commonly used medications for medical abortion are mifepristone and misoprostol.
Mifepristone is taken first and works by blocking the hormone progesterone, which is needed for the pregnancy to continue. This causes the lining of the uterus to break down and the cervix to soften. Misoprostol is then taken 24-48 hours later, which causes contractions in the uterus and expels the pregnancy.
Medical abortion is most effective when used in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. It is important to follow the instructions for use carefully and to have follow-up appointments with a healthcare provider to ensure that the abortion is complete and to address any complications.
Introduction to Medical Abortion Pill
When medications are used to induce an abortion, this is referred to as a medical abortion or medication abortion. Contrary to surgical abortion methods like vacuum aspiration or dilation and curettage, medical abortions are an option. Most regions, including Europe, India, China, and the United States, prefer medical abortions to surgical ones.
Mifepristone and misoprostol are commonly administered in combination to cause medical abortions. Misoprostol alone may be utilized in some circumstances where mifepristone is not an option.
Over a variety of gestational ages, including the second and third trimesters, medical abortion is risk-free and efficient. The death rate for medical abortions is 14 times lower in the United States than the mortality rate for childbirth, and less than 0.4% of significant complications necessitate hospitalization or blood transfusions. In the first trimester, a medical abortion can be safely performed by the patient at home without help. It is advised to take the second medication in a clinic or healthcare provider’s office beginning with the second trimester.
How does Medical Abortion Pill work?
The progesterone hormone is blocked by mifepristone, which thins the uterine lining and prevents the embryo from remaining implanted and developing. Mifepristone is occasionally substituted with methotrexate, which prevents the cytotrophoblastic tissue from developing into a functional placenta. A synthetic prostaglandin called misoprostol makes the uterus contract and pushes the embryo out through the vagina.
With the advent of prostaglandin analogs in the 1970s and the antiprogestogen mifepristone (commonly known as RU-486 in the 1980s, medical abortion became a popular alternative technique of abortion. The first countries to approve the use of mifepristone were France and China in 1988, and Great Britain in 1991.
Mifepristone was authorized by the American FDA in 2000 for abortions up to 49 days gestation. The U.S. FDA revised the label for mifepristone in 2016 to enable use up to 70 days after conception.
Who is eligible for Medical Abortion Pill?
The recommended medicine dosages for medical abortions up to 12 weeks gestation are 200 milligrams of mifepristone taken orally, followed one to two days later by 800 micrograms of misoprostol used sublingually, vaginally, or inside the cheek. Through 10 weeks of pregnancy, this medication combination has a 96.6% success rate.
Misoprostol, the second medication, is more successful when given in two doses for pregnancies that are more than nine weeks. The National Abortion Federation advises taking a second dose of misoprostol (800 mcg) four hours after taking the first dose between 10 and 11 weeks of pregnancy.
In contrast to the first trimester, when the patient can safely take the medications at home without monitoring, the WHO advises that medicinal abortions conducted beyond 12 weeks’ gestation be under the care of a specialist medical practitioner.
Mifepristone is contraindicated in cases of hereditary porphyria, chronic adrenal insufficiency, and ectopic pregnancy. Some people may view the presence of an intrauterine device as a contraindication. Another prohibition is having previously experienced an adverse response to misoprostol or mifepristone.
Women with serious medical conditions like liver and heart disease or severe anemia were frequently excluded from taking medical abortions. Several situations call for caution, including a bleeding disorder, prolonged corticosteroid use, and severe anemia.
Possible side effects and Complications of Medical Abortion Pill
Most women will have discomfort and more bleeding than during a menstrual cycle. Additional negative effects include headaches, diarrhea, chills, fever, nausea, and vomiting. There are typically fewer gastrointestinal adverse effects from misoprostol when used vaginally.
Under 10 weeks of pregnancy, complications are uncommon; according to two significant reviews, major infections and bleeding that required a blood transfusion occurred in very rare cases. Rare occurrences of clostridial toxic shock syndrome deaths have happened after medical abortions.
After a medical abortion, vaginal bleeding usually steadily decreases over two weeks, though spotting can occasionally linger up to 45 days. If the lady is healthy, obstetric ultrasonography does not reveal tissue in the uterus or indicate prolonged bleeding as a reason for surgical intervention, that is, vacuum aspiration or dilation and curettage. The remainder of the fetus will be thrown out with the ensuing vaginal hemorrhage. Nonetheless, a woman may request surgical intervention if the bleeding is severe or protracted, results in anemia, or if endometritis is found.
In conclusion, using a medical abortion pill to end an early pregnancy can be both secure and efficient. It’s critical to carefully follow the directions and to have access to medical care in case anything goes wrong. Due to the medication’s non-invasive nature and the possibility of using it in the privacy of one’s own home, many women feel it to be a preferred alternative to surgical abortion, despite the possibility of side effects and hazards. Yet, it’s crucial to speak with a healthcare professional to assess your unique situation and medical history to decide if a medical abortion is the best option for you.
