How Do Abortion Pills Work? Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and the constitutional right to abortion in 2022, strict bans on the procedure kicked in across the country. In this changing landscape, the FDA says abortion pills are safe if taken as directed. Here’s what patients should expect based on the latest medical advice and scientific evidence.
What is abortion medication?
What some people call the “abortion pill” is actually a combination of two pills — mifepristone and misoprostol — commonly called “abortion medication.” Mifepristone is one of two medications approved by the FDA to end pregnancies. Mifepristone tablets are also sold under the brand name Mifeprex, which has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration since 2000 to be used along with misoprostol to end an intrauterine pregnancy through 10 weeks gestation. (That is measured as 70 days or less since the first day of a patient’s last menstrual period.)
Today, abortion pills are now used in more than 60% of all abortions in the U.S. health care system. This underscores their significance in reproductive care, especially when taken properly and with appropriate follow-up care.
How do abortion pills work?
The process involves a specific medical mechanism. Mifepristone blocks a hormone called progesterone that is needed for a pregnancy to continue. According to the standard guidelines, the FDA-approved regimen is to take 200 milligrams of mifepristone on the first day. To complete the procedure, patients are directed to take misoprostol within 24 to 48 hours later.
While complications can occur in a small number of cases involving abortion medication, such as when an abortion does not fully complete, medical experts and the FDA maintain that these medications are a safe option for ending a pregnancy within the recommended timeframe.
Key Facts About Medication Abortion
- Safety: The FDA says abortion pills are safe if taken as directed.
- Effectiveness: Approved for use through 10 weeks gestation (70 days since the last period).
- Prevalence: Accounts for over 60% of abortions in the U.S. health care system.
- Components: Uses a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol.