In the year 2000, the FDA approved a medically induced abortion regimen known as abortion pills. Since then, one third of known abortions are completed by use of abortion pills. Considering the financial pressure and increase in domestic violence during this pandemic, the abortion industry is using this as an opportunity to push at home abortions. The Abortion Rights Advocacy group continues to suggest that clinics should make these pills available through mail. Medical abortion by mail was recently implemented in the UK and Ireland while still being illegal in the US.
Using this abortion by mail service could possibly lead to an ectopic pregnancy, sepsis and even death without proper direction from a doctor or nurse. In 2018, the FDA reported 24 deaths from the abortion pill use as well as 42,000 adverse health effects and 1,042 hospitalizations. DANCO Laboratories is no longer requiring that the FDA report deaths or adverse effects of the pill, leaving us with no indication of the harm this regimen causes.
Planned Parenthood defends the safety of the abortion pill, stating there are very mild symptoms and that this pill is barely fatal. However, as mentioned previously, this is not completely true. In addition, the IPPS website is very ambiguous in its statements about abortion reversal, stating that it may be dangerous when evidence clearly states the safety and efficiency of this process. On June 1st of this year, The World Health Organization (WHO) updated its guidance on the pandemic response encouraging the use of “do it yourself” abortions and telemedicine to reduce clinic interactions. This limitation of interaction with clinics and pushing of abortion pills by IPPS and WHO in response to covid-19 could be disastrous to the health of many women and millions of unborn babies.
Increased access to the abortion pills by mail offers women a cheap and easy way to terminate an indispensable life.
In 2012, a man named George Delgado created a way to undo medical abortion. He stated that “People do change their minds all the time”. With increased accessibility for medical abortion, the need for reversal services is rising. On average, more than 150 calls are made a month to the Abortion Pill Rescue line from women who regret their decision to abort their baby. This number has since doubled due to covid-19. Information collected by the Abortion Pill Rescue Hotline indicates that many women immediately regret taking the first abortion pill and call the hotline in their car outside of the clinic.
The reversal process provides the woman with an influx of progesterone, reversing mifepristone’s effect. This progesterone is a common treatment seen in IVF. However, timing is important as this reversal should take place within one to two days of taking the first abortion pill mifepristone, proving to be ineffective after the second pill called misoprostol. The procedure is safe and could even be beneficial for the mother and baby. In a 2018 peer reviewed study, it states that 64%-68% of pregnancies were saved through abortion pill reversal, resulting in no side effects (Delgado G, Condly SJ, Davenport M, et al., 2018). The conclusion of this study affirms that abortion pill rescue is safe and effective. The rate of birth defects and preterm delivery is similar or less than the average population after the abortion reversal process.
Abortions are becoming easier and easier to access, devaluing the unborn and advocating for pregnancy termination when inconvenient for women. We must challenge this approach and move towards solidarity as we stand for the lives that cannot speak for themselves. Abortion pill rescue is essential and must be advertised for women seeking help after medical abortion. This reversal method offers women a second chance to choose life for their unborn babies and offers a glimmer of hope to women during a very confusing time.
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