How Do Abortion Pills Work? Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
What some people call the “abortion pill” is actually a combination of two pills — mifepristone and misoprostol — commonly called “abortion medication.” The FDA says abortion pills are safe if taken as directed. Here’s what patients should expect regarding the medical process and safety evidence.
What is 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.) Currently, abortion pills are now used in more than 60% of all abortions in the U.S. health care system.
How the Medication Works
Mifepristone blocks a hormone called progesterone that is needed for a pregnancy to continue. The FDA-approved regimen is to take 200 milligrams of mifepristone on the first day. To better understand the treatment, here are the primary components of the medication:
- Mifepristone: Blocks progesterone needed for pregnancy.
- Misoprostol: Used along with mifepristone to end the pregnancy.
- Approved Timing: Up to 10 weeks gestation (70 days).
Safety and Clinical Context
We reviewed information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and from groups that closely track the latest medical advice and scientific evidence to answer the most frequently asked questions about abortion pills. 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, leaving women in at least 22 states with fewer options to end pregnancies that in some cases endangered their lives. In these environments, it is important to note that medical evidence supports the safety of abortion pills when taken properly and with appropriate follow-up care.