|
The “Abortion
Pill”
To many women facing an unwanted pregnancy, the “abortion
pill” sounds like a simple, fast solution. Pop a pill and
you’re no longer pregnant, right? Wrong. There is a lot you
should know about this pill before you ever consider using
it.
What is RU-486?
RU-486 (formally called Mifepristone) is a steroid that
causes an abortion when taken orally.
How Does It Work?
This drug stops the natural function of your body. The
uterine lining softens, breaks down and the growing baby is
shed from the uterus. RU-486 ends 65%-80% of all
pregnancies.
The FDA requires three visits to a doctor’s
office or abortion clinic to complete this process.
First Appointment. A pelvic exam, blood
test, and a vaginal ultrasound exam are conducted a the
doctor’s office or abortion clinic. The ultrasound shows the
age of the baby. RU-486 works between six and nine weeks
after the last menstrual period (LMP). A single oral dose of
RU-486 (Mifepristone) is administered.
Second Appointment. Two days later a
return visit to the clinic is required. Here, another drug
(Cytotec or Misoprostol) is given. This makes the uterus
contract as if in labor. In most cases (95%), the baby,
tissue, and blood will come out of the vagina within four
hours.
Third Appointment. This occurs twelve to
fourteen days later to ensure that the abortion was
complete. If the abortion is not complete, a surgical
abortion will then be necessary. Eight out of 100 women are
still pregnant after using RU-486.
How Much Does It Cost?
RU-486 costs about the same as a surgical abortion.
Are There Any Side Effects?
In U.S. trials, 79 percent to 96 percent of women taking
RU-486 reported prolonged pain requiring some form of
painkiller. Between 24 and 61 percent of RU-486 patients
experienced nausea. Other side effects included very heavy
vaginal bleeding, diarrhea, vomiting, infection, fatigue,
hot flashes, fainting, anemia, heart palpitations,
dizziness, mood changes, skin conditions, and breast
conditions.
Another side effect is the psychological impact of using
RU-486. Because the actual abortion and expulsion of the
child most often occurs at home, the woman actually sees the
human remains of her child. This is an image that can often
haunt her for the rest of her life and cause tremendous
emotional distress.
Some people claim that RU-486 is more private, quicker,
less expensive, safer, and less painful than a surgical
abortion. None of these claims is true. The side effects are
just as hard on a woman, if not worse, than a surgical
abortion. So far, in the US, tests have not been conducted
to determine if these drugs will cause long-term health
problems for women or for future, wanted children. No tests
have been done with teenagers.
If you are seriously considering the use of RU-486, it
would be wise to ask your doctor the following questions,
before consenting to an abortion:
- What can I expect to happen if I take this drug?
- Will it hurt?
- How long will I bleed? What do I do if my bleeding
seems unusually heavy?
- Will this affect future wanted children? How do you
know?
- Will this cause any health problems for me that I
will regret when I am older?
If you do not receive satisfactory answers to these
questions, this could be cause for concern. If you have any
additional questions about abortion or RU-486, contact us at
LifeChoices @ 417-624-8030 or 1-800-638-1023.
|
