QuestionDear Dr. Joan,
My friend needs an abortion. I heard about the RU 486. Is RU 486 the
same thing as the abortion pill? How do I find a doctor in the United
States that will give you RU 486?
Please answer my question soon. Thank you so much!
AnswerDear Amanda,
RU 486 is the same thing as the Abortion Pill. RU 486 was the original name for Mifepristone, when the abortion pill was developed in France. Mifepristone, was approved for use in the United States in 2000, and it has come to be known as the abortion pill.
The Abortion Pill is an excellent choice for ending early pregnancy, under 9 weeks. You take one mifepristone tablet (RU 486) in the doctor's office. You then take a second set of pills (misoprostol) 24-72 hours later. These pills cause the uterus to contract and induce a miscarriage. The advantage of the Abortion Pill is that it can feel natural, like a miscarriage, and that it can be completed in the privacy of your home. The disadvantage of the Abortion Pill is that you can tend to have lengthy irregular bleeding for weeks to months,and it has a slightly higher failure rate than a procedure.
I recommend the Aspiration Procedure (Manual Vacuum Aspiration) as the most simple early abortion method. It is a gentle nonsurgical procedure, that only takes minutes to complete.
The best resources for finding a doctor who offers RU 486 is: http://www.earlyabortion.com http://www.gynpages.com and http://www.prochoice.org
You can find out more about RU 486 and the Aspiration Procedure at our website: http:www.earlyabortionoptions.com
I hope this answers your questions,
Doctor Joan
Early Abortion Specialist
Original Researcher RU 486 in the U.S.
