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Non-Surgical Procedure
What is RU-486 - Medical Abortion?
RU 486 is the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved non-surgical option for ending early pregnancy. Mifeprex is an antiprogestin, which blocks progesterone, a hormone necessary to sustain a pregnancy. When followed by the oral prostaglandin, misoprostol, RU 486 ends pregnancy.
What Experience Has There Been with RU 486?
RU 486 followed by misoprostol has gone through the rigorous FDA approval process for safety and effectiveness. Mifeprex is the first FDA approved early option pill for ending early pregnancy. More than 2,000 women in the United States participated in clinical trials; the results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and the American Medical Association's Archives of Family Medicine Journal. In the past decade more than half a million women in Europe have used this drug for ending early pregnancy. Worldwide, this early option has now been approved in eighteen countries.
What is a medical abortion?
Medical abortion is a method for ending a woman's pregnancy without surgery. In the United States, the conventional, more common method for performing an abortion is a surgical procedure called a Dilation & Evacuation or D&E. A surgical abortion is simple and quick and is effective in over 99% of cases. In a very small percentage of surgical abortions, however, certain risks and complications can occur, some of which are related to the surgical procedure. With medical abortion%2, however, there is no surgery. Medications are administered to a pregnant woman and these medications cause her body to abort the pregnancy, very much like a miscarriage. In approximately 5% of medical abortions, the medications do not work and the woman must undergo a surgical abortion anyway. But for 95% of the women choosing a medical abortion, the process is successful and no surgery is necessary. Although both medical and surgical abortions are considered safe risks, exist for both. A nurse will review the risks and benefits of both in order to assist you in your choice.
Do I qualify for a medical abortion?
In order to have a medical abortion, you must be less than 9-1/2 weeks from the first day of your last normal period. We will do an ultrasound to confirm that you are early enough into the pregnancy to have a medical abortion. The medical staff will also review your medical history to be sure you medically qualify. It is important that you have access to transportation and that you have a telephone available that you can use to contact the clinic and that the clinic staff can contact you if necessary. Because you will most likely abort the pregnancy at home, you will want to consider your home situation when deciding whether to choose medical abortion.
How is medical abortion done?
After the medical staff confirm through lab work, medical history, exam and ultrasound that you are elgible for a medical abortion, you will meet with a counselor who will review the procedure for both medical and surgical abortion, the risks and benefits of both, and your instructions. The actual procedure for the medical abortion will proceed as follows:
Day 1: You will recieve the Mifeprex pill.
Day 3: You will insert, vaginally, (4) Misoprostol pills at home. The Misoprostol usually produce cramping in about 2 to 4 hours and vaginal bleeding within 1/2 to 10 hours after crampingbegins. In most cased pregnancy will pass within 24 hours of when the bleeding begins.
Day 21: You will be sent home with with a pregnancy test to take and are to call the office with your results.
What are the side effects?
Bleeding and cramping are a normal part of the process. Women may experience bleeding that is similar to or greater than a heavy period can can expect bleeding or spotting for an average of 9-16 days. In some cases, women may have severe bleeding and need to contact their doctor right away. Side effects that may occur include nauseau, headache, vomiting, and diarrhea. A pain reliever can be taken to alleviate discomfort.
What Happens During and After Taking Mifeprex?
Bleeding and cramping are a normal part of the process. Some women will have light bleeding after taking RU 486. If bleeding has not occurred after taking Mifeprex. Most women probably will begin to bleed once they take misoprostol on Day 3. This bleeding may be similar to or greater than a heavy period. Bleeding or spotting can be expected for an average of 9-16 days. As an expected part of the process, women will pass blood clots and tiss
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