Abortion pill mifepristone: An explainer and research roundup about its history, safety and future

Medication abortion, also known as abortion with pills or medical abortion, is a process used for the safe termination of early pregnancy. This piece aims to help inform the narrative on medication abortion with scientific evidence, as it is important for journalists covering abortion to have a good understanding of the topic so that they can better inform their audiences.

Clinical Guidelines and Usage

The Food and Drug Administration has approved medication abortion for up to 10 weeks of pregnancy and the World Health Organization authorizes its use for up to 12 weeks. It is endorsed by several organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists and the American Medical Association. Medication abortion can also be used beyond 12 weeks of pregnancy, according to several organizations including the World Health Organization and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.

The following table summarizes the primary guidelines for the use of medication abortion:

Supreme Court Rulings and Legal Context

On June 13, the Supreme Court justices in a unanimous decision preserved access to mifepristone, writing that “federal courts are the wrong forum for addressing the plaintiffs’ concerns about FDA’s actions.” The legal future of mifepristone had hung in the balance for several months. Previously, in August 2023, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that mifepristone should not be prescribed past the seventh week of pregnancy, prescribed via telemedicine, or shipped to patients through the mail.

On Dec. 13, 2023, the Supreme Court justices announced that they would take up the case on the availability of mifepristone. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued a statement on the same day urging the court to rule in favor of keeping the pill on the market and available to patients. The justices heard oral arguments on March 26, 2024 before issuing the June 13 ruling. Meanwhile, abortion is on the ballot in four states this year so far, with initiatives that aim to ban, restrict, or expand abortion rights.

Research on Media Coverage

A recent analysis of more than 1,100 articles, published between January 2022 and June 2023 in five major U.S. news outlets, finds that "while U.S. newspapers are treating the topic of abortion in general and medication abortion access in particular as serious policy issues, they are under-covering medication abortion considering its prevalence as the leading abortion method in the U.S." According to the study, published in Sexuality Research and Social Policy in June 2025, less than half of the articles included basic facts on medication abortion.

Furthermore, medication abortions accounted for 51% of all abortions. This highlights why journalistic coverage of the topic has never been more crucial, ensuring that the history, safety, and future of mifepristone are understood through scientific evidence.