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​The “abortion pill”, often referred to as a medical abortion or chemical abortion, refers to a two-drug regimen consisting of Mifepristone followed by Misoprostol, typically used to induce an abortion within the first 10 weeks of gestation.

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First, the 200 mg dose of Mifepristone is administered orally, most commonly in an abortion clinic or taken at home. 24 to 48 hours after taking Mifepristone, a dosage of 800 µg of Misoprostol is administered in the form of 4 x 200 µg tablets either orally or vaginally. The pregnancy is then terminated with the deceased fetus typically being expelled from the mother’s body within 2 to 24 hours.

 

How It Works

• Progesterone is vital from conception throughout pregnancy, ensuring that the uterine environment is supportive, suppressing contractions and modulating immunity. Its production transitions from the ovary (corpus luteum) to the placenta as pregnancy progresses. Deficiencies in progesterone can threaten pregnancy viability making it a key hormone in prenatal care. Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone, destabilizing and thinning the uterine lining causing the emryo/fetus to detach and die.

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• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​After the embryo/fetus detaches and dies, it must be removed from the woman's body to avoid medical complications like anemia, infection (sepsis), infertility, etc. Misoprostol induces uterine contractions, bleeding, and the expulsion of the embryo/fetus from the uterus.

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Frequency

​​​​​According to the Guttmacher Institute, chemical abortions accounted for 63% of all abortions performed in 2023. This figure does not include the number of self-managed chemical abortions that occur at home where women receive abortion pills via mail in states where abortion is banned, so the total figure is expectedly even higher.​

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Risks and Complications

Risks can include: 

• Excessive bleeding - Heavy bleeding that won't stop, which could lead to the need for a D&C.

• Incomplete abortion - This occurs when some pregnancy tissue remains in the uterus. If left untreated, it can lead to infection.

• Infection - Though rare, a serious infection called a septic abortion can develop.

• Allergic reaction - A severe allergic reaction requires immediate medical help. Symptoms include a skin rash, hives, swelling of the face or throat, and difficulty breathing.

• Ongoing pregnancy - The abortion may fail. 

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Abortion Pill Reversal

If action is taken early enough, it is sometimes possible to reverse a chemical abortion via Abortion Pill Reversal if only the first pill has been administered. While the initial pill, Mifepristone, blocks progesterone, the abortion pill reversal introduces doses of progesterone taken via pills orally or vaginally or via intramuscular injection. While there is no guarantee, there has been substantial success rate with abortion pill reversal.​