Up to 49 days after a patient’s last menstrual period, she may choose to induce an abortion of pregnancy through the use of the “abortion pill.” The technical name of this orally administered medication is mifepristone.
Women considering this option should be aware that terminating a pregnancy in this way involves several steps over the course of at least 16 days. First, a doctor administers three mifepristone pills (also known as RU-486, or by the brand name Mifeprex®) which prevent the embryo from receiving nutrients and blood. Two days after this dosage, the patient is given a drug called misoprostol (Cytotec®), which results in contractions to expel the embryo.
To verify that the pregnancy was effectively terminated, the patient sees the doctor again after two weeks.
Bleeding or spotting from the vagina is normal for 9 to 16 days following this procedure. The FDA advises that some women (8%) may experience bleeding for 30 days or more. 25
The FDA advises that Mifeprex® is associated with some risks, including serious infection and heavy bleeding. The FDA states that in about 1% of cases “bleeding will be so heavy that it requires a surgical procedure to stop it.” 26 As to infection, in 2010 the FDA stated, “Since the approval of Mifeprex® in September 2000, FDA has been informed of eight deaths in the United States due to serious infections following medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol that FDA has concluded may possibly be related to the use of these drugs.”27
If you experience symptoms including heavy bleeding, diarrhea, nausea/ vomiting, back pain,or fever following the use of Mifeprex®, you should contact a health professional immediately. Heavy bleeding is described by the FDA as bleeding “enough to soak through two thick full-size sanitary pads per hour for two consecutive hours.” 28
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1.800.FDA.1088. 29
