The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently relaxed regulations on medical abortion. Medical abortion is a two-stage medication process to terminate the pregnancy. The first pill, mifepristone, can be taken up to 10 weeks from the first day of the last menstrual period. This pill is also known as Mifeprex, Korlym, or RU 486. The second pill, misoprostol, is taken 24 to 48 hours after the first pill.
The United States FDA Relaxes Medical Abortion Restrictions
The FDA had approved the use of both Mifepristone and misoprostol as far back as 2000 and today these pills are being consumed by people in 60 countries. In 2016, the FDA also approved a change in the label of the pills from the manufacturers of mifepristone. This medication is, however, only given with a prescription from a certified practitioner.
These pills have come under the REMS (Risk Evaluation and mitigation strategy) purview since 2011. There are a total of 62 medicines under REMS scrutiny and they include medication for opioids, testosterone, and antipsychotics. There were further relaxations during the pandemic when the FDA allowed the pills to be sent by mail or courier and relaxed the need to have the patients be administered the pills in a hospital or in the presence of a health care professional.
Mifepristone acts by blocking the hormone progesterone which helps retain the fetus in the uterus. This hormone helps maintain the uterus as it develops and prepares to develop the fetus and its growth. Once progesterone is blocked, the uterus will eventually spill its contents. Consumption of the pills is usually followed by cramps and headaches.
There is bleeding for 3 to 5 hours. Once both pills are consumed, normal periods are resumed within 3 to 5 weeks. The patient getting the abortion done will require to visit a doctor or a health professional, preferably a gynecologist to confirm that the abortion is complete and that there is no infection. The patient will need to practice birth control for at least a month if she decides to get pregnant again.
There are side effects such as diarrhea, weakness, nausea, and vomiting that occur just after consuming the second pill. In rare cases, there have been side effects of uneven heartbeat, fainting, and infections. Studies and research have, however, revealed that there is a 0.4% chance of serious side effects and medical abortion has been deemed to be safe.
Although restrictions have been relaxed, there are still some precautions. Women with ectopic pregnancies where a fertilized egg deposits itself outside the uterus, should not go for medical abortion. Women with intrauterine devices should not go for medical abortion unless they get the device removed first. Patients with a history of anemia need to be monitored, especially during the bleeding that follows.
Studies by the Guttmacher Institute and the Kaiser Family Foundation conducted studies in 2017 and 2018 and their studies showed medical abortion to be very safe and that 54 to 60% of all the women opting for abortion chose medical abortion.
There are apprehensions as to how effective medical abortion is. Studies have shown a success rate of 99.6%. The few women who do not have an abortion can go for another round of medication and, in rare cases, may have to resort to surgical abortion.
The success rate and the safety of medical abortion have become popular and the numbers will only increase in the coming years. There are, however, many sentiments attached to medical abortion and there are some religions that prohibit abortion. Abortion needs to be avoided unless there is a valid reason and that there is some medical risk associated with childbirth.
