The Abortion Pill

Also Known as RU-486 or Medical Abortion

Gestational Age: Within 10 weeks

Typical Cost of Abortion Pill in Illinois: $450-$700

Abortion Pill Procedure

The abortion pill is a form of induced abortion caused by the combination of two medications, mifepristone and misoprostol. According to the FDA, the use of the abortion pill is approved for use only if a woman is within 70 days of the first day of her last menstrual period.

The FDA approved regimen 1 for RU486 is a three-visit process:

  1. Mifepristone is given orally during the first office visit (600 mg). Mifepristone blocks progesterone from sustaining the pregnancy, thereby ending the life of the baby.
  2. Misoprostol tablets are given orally (400 mcg) during the second office visit which occurs 36-48 hours later. The patient will then return home where the misoprostol will cause contractions to expel the baby’s remains. This may occur within a few hours or up to two weeks after taking misoprostol.
  3. A physical exam is given two weeks later to ensure the abortion is complete and there are no immediate complications. If the abortion pill fails to induce an abortion, a surgical abortion is needed.

When used appropriately, mifepristone and misoprostol are 95-97% effective within two weeks. 2

 

Are you considering the abortion pill? Schedule an appointment for a free Pre-Termination Evaluation at White Oak Women’s Center to find out if you qualify for the abortion pill and to learn about your other options.

More Information about Abortion

 

References

  1. Mifeprex (mifepristone) Information. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm111323.htm ↩
  2. The Abortion Pill: Medical Abortion with Mifepristone and Misoprostol. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.fwhc.org/abortion/medical-ab.htm ↩