(3) For comparison, the rate of severe maternal morbidity in the United States is 1.4%, approximately 10 times the rate with this model of
medical abortion. (4)
There has been much talk of
medical abortion being "safe" and "easy".
This study was carried out to find the consequences of self-administration of
medical abortion pill by women to induce abortion.
After taking women on board in local harbours, the specially-equipped ship sails to international waters where it can provide legal and safe
medical abortion services.
A spokeswoman for Marie Stopes International said: "Very occasionally, the
medical abortion pill can fail.
Since like other prostaglandins this agent increases uterine tone5 it has been used off-label for cervical priming or ripening in
medical abortion induction of labor and prevention of postpartum hemorrhage.
Taking more misoprostol, unlike more mifepristone, is scientifically believed to make the
medical abortion safer and more effective.
(3.) Fjerstad M et at., Rates of serious infection after changes in regimens for
medical abortion, New England Journal of Medicine, 2009, 361(2):145-151.
New data: Use of IUD after
medical abortion. A randomized trial conducted by Shimoni and colleagues showed 1) no significant difference in expulsion after immediate versus delayed placement and 2) several pregnancies in the delayed group.
A typical protocol for
medical abortion involves taking 200 mg of oral mifepristone, then 800 mcg of vaginal or buccal misoprostol, with an in-office follow-up visit a week later for a transvaginal ultrasound to make sure the abortion is complete.