Mifeprex (RU-486 / Medical Abortion Pill)
According to Planned Parenthood, the Abortion Pill can be used up to 10 weeks of your LMP (Last Menstrual Period), however, its effectiveness may decrease as the pregnancy progresses.
Procedure
The FDA approved regimen for Mifiprex (RU-486) is a two-visit process using two different drugs 2:
- Mifepristone is given orally during the first office visit. Mifepristone blocks progesterone from sustaining the pregnancy, thereby ending the life of the baby.
- Misoprostol tablets are given orally 48 hours later. The misoprostol will cause contractions to expel the baby’s remains. This does not take place at the medical office and may occur within a few hours or up to two weeks after taking misoprostol.
- A physical exam is given by the healthcare provider about 7-14 days later to ensure the abortion is complete and that there are no immediate complications.
Risks and Side Effects
- Not advised for women who have anemia, bleeding disorders, liver or kidney disease, seizure disorder, acute inflammatory bowel disease, use an intrauterine device (IUD), or are unable to return for the follow-up visit.
- Cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heavy bleeding, infection and in rare cases, death.
- According to the FDA some women should not take Mifeprex™. A woman should not take Mifeprex™ if it has been more than 70 days since the first day of her last menstrual period, or if she: 3
- has an ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside of the uterus)
- has problems with the adrenal glands (the glands near the kidneys)
- is currently being treated with long-term corticosteroid therapy (medications)
- has had an allergic reaction to mifepristone, misoprostol or similar drugs
- has bleeding problems or is taking anticoagulant (blood thinning) drug products
- has inherited porphyria
- has an intrauterine device (IUD) in place (it must be removed before taking Mifeprex™)
Reversal Option
Are you having second thoughts or regrets about your abortion decision? It may not be too late to change your mind. If you have taken the first dose of the pill and are experiencing doubts about your abortion, it may be possible to reverse your abortion. Every hour after taking your first dose of the abortion pill matters, so it’s important to call the Abortion Pill Reversal Hotline at 877-558-0333 or an OB provider as soon as possible. For more information on Abortion Reversal go to: www.abortionpillreversal.com
Fetal Development Weeks 4-8
The following describes some of the developmental steps of the baby during the time frame when a woman is eligible for a medication abortion. 4
- All major systems and organs begin to form
- The eyes and ears are beginning to develop.
- Tiny limb buds appear, which will develop into arms and legs.
- The heart is beating.
- All major body systems continue to develop and function, including the circulatory, nervous, digestive, and urinary systems.
- The eyes, nose, mouth, and ears are becoming more distinct.
- The embryo is in constant motion but cannot be felt by the mother.
Resources
1Planned Parenthood (2019). How effective is the abortion Pill? Retrieved from https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/abortion/the-abortion-pill
2-3U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2016). Mifeprex Medication Guide. U.S. Department of Health. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/mifeprex-mifepristone-information
4Johns Hopkins Medicine (n.d.). Pregnancy: The First Trimester. Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/pregnancy_and_childbirth/first_trimester_85,p01218
Early Pregnancy First Trimester Surgical Abortion
Procedure
- Patient lies on her back with her feet in stirrups and a vaginal speculum is inserted to open the vagina.
- A local anesthetic is administered to her cervix. Then, a tenaculum (a slender sharp pointed hook attached to a handle and used mainly in surgery for seizing and holding parts) is used to hold the cervix in place for the cervix to be dilated by cone shaped rods.
- When the cervix is wide enough, a cannula (a long plastic tube connected to a suction device) is inserted into the uterus to suction out the baby and placenta.
- The procedure is usually short, but recovery may require staying at the clinic for a few hours.
Risks and Side Effects 1
- Damage to the womb or cervix
- Uterine perforation (accidentally putting a hole in the uterus with one of the instruments used)
- Excessive bleeding
- Infection of the uterus or fallopian tubes.
- Scarring of the inside of the uterus
- Reaction to the medicines or anesthesia, such as problems breathing
- Not removing all of the fetal tissue, requiring another procedure
Early Fetal Development (up to week 12)
The following describes some of the developmental steps of the baby during the time frame when a woman is eligible for a vacuum abortion. 2
4-8 Weeks
- All major body systems continue to develop and function, including the circulatory, nervous, digestive, and urinary systems.
- The embryo is taking on a human shape, although the head is larger in proportion to the rest of the body.
- The mouth is developing tooth buds, which will become baby teeth.ing
- The eyes, nose, mouth, and ears are becoming more distinct.
- The arms and legs can be easily seen.
- The fingers and toes are still webbed, but can be clearly distinguished.
- The main organs continue to develop and you can hear the baby’s heartbeat using an instrument called a Doppler.
- The bones begin to develop and the nose and jaws are rapidly developing.
- The embryo is in constant motion but cannot be felt by the mother.
9-12 Weeks
- The external genital organs are developed
- Fingernails and toenails appear.
- Eyelids are formed
- Fetal movement increases.
- The arms and legs are fully formed.
- The voice box (larynx) begins to form in the trachea.
Although the fetus is only 1 to 1.5 inches long at this point, all major organs and systems have been formed.
1 American Pregnancy Association: What are the risks of a surgical abortion? https://americanpregnancy.org/unplanned-pregnancy/abortion/
2 Johns Hopkins Medicine (n.d.). Pregnancy: The first trimester. Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/pregnancy_and_childbirth/first_trimester_85,p01218
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