Expert: Doctor Early Options - 11/6/2009

Question
Can you tell me more about taking a pill for an abortion? Can you get the abortion pill on line or at a pharmacy? How late in a pregnancy can you take the abortion pill?

Answer
Dear Lisa,
Thank you for your question about taking a pill for an abortion.

Taking pills for an abortion, or "medical abortion" is a safe  and effective way to end early pregnancy under 9 weeks.  The success rate is about 95-98%. The Abortion Pill is also called mifepristone, or RU486.  In the United States, you can only get the Abortion Pill in a dedicated doctor's office, that has a contract with the pharmaceutical company.  The Abortion Pill is not available in a pharmacy or online.  In some countries, women choose to end their pregnancies with misoprostol or Cytotec, because mifepristone is not available.  Misoprostol abortions are much less effective (80%).

The Abortion Pill is basically a three step process.  1) You go to the doctor's office and see if you are eligible to take it.  You take the mifepristone.  2) 24-72 hours later you take misoprostol at home.  Within hours, you start to have a miscarriage and will experience cramping and bleeding.  3) You follow up at the doctor's office to make sure the Abortion Pill was successful.

There is much more information on the Abortion Pill on my website: http://www.earlyabortionoptions.com  You can find doctors who offer the Abortion Pill at http://www.earlyabortion.com gynpages.com, and prochoice.org.  

I hope this is helpful,
Doctor Joan
New York City