Title: RU486. Abortion by pill is not as simple as it seems.

POPLINE Document Number: 129304

Author(s):

Murphy C

Source citation:

WASHINGTON POST HEALTH, 1997 Feb 4;:10, 12.

Abstract:

Mifepristone (RU-486) is a synthetic steroid which makes it difficult for a fertilized egg to adhere to the uterine lining. When RU-486 is taken with misoprostol, a drug which induces uterine contractions, abortion results. RU-486 has been used by more than 200,000 women in Europe and China since 1988, but has received only tentative approval from US health officials. Such a medically-induced abortion is a noninvasive, nonsurgical way to terminate pregnancy which requires no anesthesia and can be used up to the 63rd day of pregnancy. However, the proper use of RU-486 requires 3 visits to a physician or clinic over a period of approximately 15 days. Moreover, the side effects of a medical abortion may include extensive bleeding, cramping, nausea, and vomiting. On average, women experience varying degrees of bleeding for 8-9 days following medical abortion, compared with 5 days after surgical abortion. The legal fight to get RU-486 approved, clinical trials in the US of the drug's safety and effectiveness, the chronology of RU-486 development, how the pill works, and the planned limited distribution through only physicians are described.

Keywords:

United States
RU-486
Abortion
Needs
Obstacles
Side Effects
Complications
North America
Americas
Developed Countries
Hormone Antagonists
Hormones
Endocrine System
Physiology
Biology
Fertility Control, Postconception
Family Planning
Economic Factors
Organization and Administration
Treatment
Diseases