Here's how medication abortion works with just one drug that's still fully available
Following a court ruling, mifepristone must now be prescribed in person, affecting medication abortion access in the U.S. However, misoprostol alone remains a safe and effective option for medication abortion. Doctors say the single-drug protocol, though associated with more cramping and bleeding, is still viable and widely used globally.
- ▪Misoprostol can be used safely and effectively for medication abortion without mifepristone, according to medical experts.
- ▪The court order reinstates in-person prescribing requirements for mifepristone, halting telemedicine prescriptions and mail delivery of the drug.
- ▪Misoprostol is typically taken in repeated doses every three hours until the pregnancy is expelled, with the process taking 9-12 hours on average.
- ▪Originally approved for gastric ulcers, misoprostol is also used in IUD insertion and treating hemorrhage.
- ▪A two-drug regimen using mifepristone and misoprostol is more effective and causes fewer side effects than misoprostol alone.
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Here's how medication abortion works with just one drug that's still fully available May 4, 20267:38 AM ET By Mara Gordon , Selena Simmons-Duffin , Diane Webber Medication abortion is still possible with just one drug. Here's how it works Listen · 4:25 4:25 Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/g-s1-119947/1169145619" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript Enlarge this image Misoprostol is typically used as part of a two-drug protocol for a medication abortion. But it is also safe and effective when used alone, doctors say.
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