The abortion pill, a method to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. Here you can read how the abortion pill, called RU 486, works and what the side effects are.
Operation
The abortion pill, also called RU 486, consists of mifepristone. Mifepristone is a steroid with antiprogestin activity. This means that it rejects an implanted or already prepared shared egg until the 49th day of pregnancy.To work this process, the woman must undergo the following process:
- The woman must take three abortion pills in the presence of a doctor. After this the woman goes home.
- 48 hours later the woman should take 3 more Prostaglandin capsules . These are a number of hormone-like substances that regulate processes in the body and protect the body. Taking these pills induces contractions , causing the woman to have a miscarriage because the egg is rejected.
- Three weeks later a pregnancy test is done. If this is positive and there is also blood loss, the woman undergoes a suction curettage. Blood loss does not mean that the pregnancy has been terminated.
Contraceptive
The abortion pill should not be seen as a contraceptive , as it rejects a previously implanted egg. RU 486 is only an alternative method that belongs to the surgical procedures. If you want to use the abortion pill, you should only do so under strict supervision by doctors.The abortion pill has been on the market in France since 1988, in England and Sweden since 1991 and in America since 1997. The abortion pill was introduced in the Netherlands in 1999.
Side effects
The abortion pill has a number of side effects, such as:
- dizziness
- nausea
- cramps that can be very painful
- heavy bleeding
Finally
Heavy bleeding can occur after taking 3 tablets of RU 486. Many people think that this means that the pregnancy has been terminated, which is not the case. If the woman takes Prostaglandin 48 hours later, bleeding will occur again. At this time the egg is usually rejected. If the pregnancy test is positive three weeks later, a suction curettage will be undergone.