Non-surgical abortion following the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved guidelines and dosage recommendations for termination of pregnancy using Mifepristone (also referred to as RU-486, or Mifeprex) is administered by A Choice For Women, Inc. to those patients that choose this method and are good candidates with an interuterine pregnancy of 7 weeks or less.

Mifepristone (Mifeprex) has been used in France for over 10 years to induce abortion.  It causes the pregnancy sac to detach from the uterine wall, thereby facilitating a miscarriage.  It is only effective in terminating a pregnancy that is in the uterus, and does not affect a tubal or ectopic pregnancy.  Therefore, a pregnancy sac must be visible on our ultrasound before Mifepristone can be administered.

Misoprostol, also known as Cytotec, has been prescribed for several years for treatment and prevention of gastric ulcers.  Its abortofact qualities have been well documented.  It is used in combination with Mifepristone in the elective non-surgical termination of pregnancy.  Misoprostol causes the cervix to open and the contents of of uterus to expel, thus effecting a miscarriage.  Common side effects from Misoprostol include but are not limited to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever with chills. 

The use of these medications in medial abortion is a safe, but lengthy procedure that requires both a commitment to at least three office visits to ensure that the pregnancy has been completely terminated and the desire to actively participate in the abortion process. A candidate for medical abortion must be very early in her pregnancy (less than 7 weeks) and absolutely certain in her decision to proceed with the termination.  Once the mediations has been started the abortion must be completed since there is a significant risk of birth defects from either Mifepristone, or Misoprostol if the pregnancy were to continue.  The woman must also be prepared to undergo a surgical aspiration to complete the termination.  The combination of Mifepristone tablets and Misoprostol is effective in terminating the pregnancy  of 90% to 95% of women.  The remaining must undergo a surgical aspiration to complete the termination.

If a woman has a positive pregnancy test but no gestational sac is visible in the uterus, she may have a very early pregnancy that is not yet visible on ultrasound, or an ectopic, or tubal pregnancy.  A quantitative blood test will be drawn at that time, and ectopic precautions will be given, until further diagnosis proves the presence of an interuterine pregnancy or blood tests indicate the probability of an ectopic pregnancy, which would necessitate immediate hospitalization and treatment.

Women who have Rh Negative type blood will also require an injection of Rhogam.