Long before the June decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, medical providers and pro-choice advocates braced for a future with diminishing access to legal abortions. Some states now completely outlaw abortion, even in cases of rape or incest, due to a series of trigger laws set in place before the court ruling. With further bans looming, experts think medication abortions may serve as the sole option for millions of women.
This method of abortion typically involves two types of medication. The first, mifepristone, blocks a hormone called progesterone. The lining of the uterus then thins and prevents the embryo from staying implanted and developing. Between 24 and 48 hours later, patients take misoprostol. This causes the uterus to contract and expel the embryo through the vagina, similar to an early-stage miscarriage — in fact, physicians prescribe this same drug for natural miscarriages. Both pills come ...
