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Abortion/RU 486, abortion pill

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Expert: - 10/14/2009


Question
Dear Dr. Joan,
My friend needs an abortion.  I heard about the RU 486.  Is RU 486 the
same thing as the abortion pill?  How do I find a doctor in the United
States that will give you RU 486?
Please answer my question soon.  Thank you so much!

Answer
Dear Amanda,
RU 486 is the same thing as the Abortion Pill.  RU 486 was the original name for Mifepristone, when the abortion pill was developed in France.  Mifepristone, was approved for use in the United States in 2000, and it has come to be known as the abortion pill.  

The Abortion Pill is an excellent choice for ending early pregnancy, under 9 weeks.  You take one mifepristone tablet (RU 486) in the doctor's office.  You then take a second set of pills (misoprostol) 24-72 hours later.  These pills cause the uterus to contract and induce a miscarriage.  The advantage of the Abortion Pill is that it can feel natural, like a miscarriage, and that it can be completed in the privacy of your home.  The disadvantage of the Abortion Pill is that you can tend to have lengthy irregular bleeding for weeks to months,and it has a slightly higher failure rate than a procedure.

I recommend the Aspiration Procedure (Manual Vacuum Aspiration) as the most simple early abortion method.  It is a gentle nonsurgical procedure, that only takes minutes to complete.

The best resources for finding a doctor who offers RU 486 is: http://www.earlyabortion.com http://www.gynpages.com and http://www.prochoice.org  

You can find out more about RU 486 and the Aspiration Procedure at our website: http:www.earlyabortionoptions.com

I hope this answers your questions,
Doctor Joan
Early Abortion Specialist
Original Researcher RU 486 in the U.S.

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Doctor Early Options

Expertise

We are a group of family doctors who provide abortion care for over a decade. We can answer any health or medical related questions about early abortion, including the aspiration procedure, the abortion pill (RU486), or surgical abortion. We run a practice called Early Options, located in New York City: http://www.EarlyAbortionOptions.com. The practice is dedicated to making early abortion part of mainstream medical care. There are other family doctors around the United States who practice a similar approach to early abortion care: see http://www.EarlyAbortion.com. Please do not ask "private" questions so that other women can learn from your experience. Please tell me what country you are from so that we can better help you.

Experience

Experience in the area: We are all board certified family doctors who have special training in early abortion and reproductive health. Dr. Joan Fleischman is the founder of Early Options (earlyabortionoptions.com) dedicated to making early abortion part of mainstream medical care. Organizations: National Abortion Federation American Association of Family Physicians

Education/Credentials
Dr. Joan Fleischman, Founder M.D., Harvard Medical School M.P.A., John F. Kennedy School of Government

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