Medical abortion

A medical abortion, also known as medication abortion or non-surgical abortion, occurs when drugs (medication) are used to bring about an abortion. Medical abortions are an alternative to surgical (also called procedural or instrumentation) abortions such as vacuum aspiration or dilation and curettage. Medical abortions are more common than surgical abortions in most places around the world.

Medical abortions are most commonly performed by administering a two-drug combination: mifepristone followed by misoprostol. This two-drug combination is more effective than other drug combinations. When mifepristone is not available, misoprostol alone may be used in some situations.

Medical abortion is both safe and effective throughout a range of gestational ages, including the second and third trimester. It gets progressively riskier and less effective as the pregnancy advances, especially in third trimester. In the United States, the mortality rate for medical abortion is 14 times lower than the mortality rate for childbirth, and the rate of serious complications requiring hospitalization or blood transfusion is less than 0.4%. Medical abortion can be administered safely by the patient at home, without assistance, in the first trimester. However, access to at home use varies by country and jurisdiction depending on legal, regulatory, and medical guidelines. In the second trimester and beyond, it is recommended to take the second drug in a clinic, provider's office, or other supervised medical facility.