Medication
abortion is a safe and effective way to end an early pregnancy
using a combination of drugs. At Preterm we use the drug
Mifeprex™ (also known as RU-486 or mifepristone)
in combination with misoprostol (also called cytotec).
Mifeprex™ causes changes in the uterine lining. misoprostol
causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy.
This method of abortion is effective in terminating pregnancies
up to 63 days (9 weeks) from the last normal menstrual
period.
How
it Works
During your first appointment, you'll have lab tests, a medical history review, and an ultrasound. You'll also meet with a patient advocate and a physician. During your second appointment, our doctor will administer an oral dose of Mifeprex™. You'll take a second drug (misoprostol) home with you to insert buccally (in your mouth between your cheek and lower gums) 24 to 36 hours later. Within about 1 to 4 hours after taking the misoprostol, your uterus will begin to contract. You'll have cramping and bleeding, and the pregnancy is expelled. The process is usually completed within 24 hours.
You must return to Preterm
for an ultrasound examination to determine whether the abortion
has been completed. If it has not been completed, we'll
talk to you about your options, which could include a surgical
procedure to end your pregnancy.
The
Effectiveness of Abortion Using Mifeprex™
Studies
have shown that medication abortion using Mifeprex™
is highly effective. Over 500 women at Preterm and 2,000
women nationally participated in the FDA clinical trials
of Mifeprex™. Worldwide millions of women have successfully
used mifepristone for many years. There is a 5-7% chance
that this abortion method will fail, making it necessary
for the woman to return to Preterm for a surgical abortion.
Preterm will perform a surgical abortion at no additional
charge.
Symptoms
and Side Effects
Most
women will experience cramping and bleeding, which usually
means that the method is working. Bleeding may be similar
to or heavier than a normal heavy period. You may see blood
clots and tissue that come from the uterus. This is an expected
part of ending the pregnancy. Bleeding or spotting will
usually last an average of 9 to 16 days and may last for
up to 30 days. In rare cases (1 woman in 100), bleeding
can be very heavy and may need to be stopped by a surgical
procedure. Common side effects include nausea, abdominal
pain, fatigue, fever, dizziness, and diarrhea.
Advantages
and Disadvantages of Medication Abortion
Women in the clinical trials
cited several reasons for choosing medication over surgical
abortion, including avoiding surgery or anesthesia, greater
privacy, a greater sense of control, and wanting a method
that is "more natural, like a miscarriage." However,
medication abortion requires more visits to the clinic and
may take several weeks to complete. If the method is unsuccessful,
the woman will need to undergo a surgical abortion. Also,
there are the side effects mentioned previously.
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Safe
and effective alternative to surgical abortion
