| What
is the Abortion Pill (RU486)?
The Abortion
Pill (brand name
Mifeprex) is a form of early pregnancy
termination or abortion caused
by the combination of two medications, mifepristone and misoprostol.
Also known as the RU486 pill, mifepristone
has been used safely in Europe and Asia for many years. The Abortion
Pill is
an early abortion
option for women who are no more then 9 weeks pregnant.
During the first appointment at the our clinic you
receive the mifepristone pill to take orally. Then 8 to 72 hours
later, in the privacy of your
own home, you insert small tablets of misoprostol into your vagina,
which causes contractions resulting in a miscarriage. When used
in combination, mifepristone and misoprostol are 95% - 97% effective
if used within two weeks.
Mifeprex is the brand name of mifepristone in the U.S., and is
sometimes referred to as non-surgical abortion, medical
abortion, or RU486. Non-surgical
abortions using RU486 are performed in the first 63 days of the
first trimester.
Mifepristone and misoprostol are FDA approved.
How does it work?
Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone needed to maintain
the pregnancy. Because this hormone is blocked, the uterine lining
begins to shed, the cervix begins to soften and bleeding may occur.
When the misoprostol is later inserted into the vagina, the uterus
contracts and the pregnancy is usually expelled within 6 to 8
hours.
Because the woman decides when to take the second medication
within the time frame of 8 to 72 hours after the first medication,
she has some control over when she experiences the miscarriage
and its side effects. Some women choose the Abortion Pill because
of the privacy it offers. Some women feel empowered by taking
an active role in the process.
How is it used?
At your first appointment at the clinic, an ultrasound is performed
to confirm you are less than 9 weeks pregnant. You then speak
with an experienced counselor who explains how mifepristone and
misoprostol work and makes sure you get answers to all of your
questions. Your health history is carefully reviewed and if you
meet the criteria, the doctor will give you the mifepristone to
take orally. You are also given one bottle containing four tablets
of misoprostol. Insert the first dosage of four misoprostol tablets
vaginally between 8 to 72 hours after taking mifepristone. If
this first dosage fails to induce a miscarriage, please call the
clinic to receive instructions on the insertion of your back-up
misoprostol tablets.
What should I expect?
Upon taking mifepristone at the clinic you may
begin to bleed. Most
women do not experience any bleeding until taking the misoprostol.
As each woman's body is different, bleeding varies from woman
to woman. Some may experience light bleeding much like spotting
towards the end of a menstrual period. Others have heavier bleeding
like their regular menstrual period, or like a heavy period.
Upon inserting the misoprostol tablets into
your vagina, cramping, bleeding, and clotting may begin as soon
as 20 minutes. Within
the next 6 to 8 hours, most women will miscarry. Cramping may
come in waves with increasing and decreasing intensity. You can
expect bleeding heavier than a menstrual period. The amount of
bleeding when using the Abortion Pill is greater than with surgical
abortion.
Do I need aftercare?
A follow-up exam is scheduled within a week,
to make sure the process is complete. If you have not yet miscarried,
you can either repeat taking misoprostol, or complete our gentle Manual
Vacuum Aspiration procedure. A very small percentage (1-2%)
of women do not pass the pregnancy
tissue
and
need a gentle, normally painless suction
procedure
to complete the process.
Are there any side effects?
Most of the side effects when using this early
abortion option are caused by the second medication,
misoprostol. Side-effects may include bleeding and cramping.
Less common side-effect are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
and chills.
Risks
Vaginal bleeding during the induced miscarriage
could be heavy. In rare situations it could require
a surgical abortion
and very rarely, a blood transfusion. You will be given our 24-hour
hotline number to call if you have any problems. Medical staff
are on call at all times to answer your medical questions and
concerns.
If pregnancy is continued after taking these medications, there
is a high risk of fetal deformities.
Criteria
The Abortion Pill may be an option if you:
Are less than 9 weeks since your last menstrual period.
Are willing and able to give informed consent.
Have the support you need such as access to reliable transportation
and ability to communicate with the clinic by telephone.
Live no more than 2 hours away from emergency medical care (a
hospital).
Are able to come back to the clinic for a follow-up appointment.
Agree to have our gentle Manual
Vacuum Aspiration procedure performed if the Misoprostol
does not induce termination.
Due to the risk of serious health problems, mifepristone and
misoprostol may not be recommended if you:
Have had a blood clotting problem or are taking anticoagulant
medicine.
Have severe anemia.
Have adrenal failure.
Are taking long-term systemic corticosteroids.
May have an ectopic pregnancy.
Have a mass in the tubes or ovaries.
Have inherited porphyria.
Have an allergy to mifepristone, misoprostol or other prostaglandin
medicine.
According to studies of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration)
and the National Abortion Federation, there are no known long
term risks associated with using mifepristone and misoprostol.
Therefore, women may pursue another pregnancy whenever they feel
the time is right after using the Abortion Pill.
Other Options For Early Abortion
If you are at least 6 weeks by ultrasound, you
can choose to have a no-surgical abortion using our manual aspiration
technique, in which the cervix is dilated and gentle suction
aspiration is used to remove the tiny pregnancy.
No Confusion
Do not confuse the Abortion Pill with Emergency Contraception
Pills. They are completely different medications taken for different
purposes. The Abortion Pill causes pregnancy termination and is
used after pregnancy is established yet early in the pregnancy
(9 weeks since last menstrual period).
Emergency Contraception, also known as
the "morning after
pill" is used to prevent pregnancy after sex when taken within
days after unprotected intercourse. Emergency Contraception does
not cause abortion and it will not harm an existing pregnancy.
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