Join Americans United for Life in Calling for Sensible Protections on The Abortion Pills
This is What Abortion Pills Do
Pro-Life Coalition Abortion Pill Letters to the FDA and DOJ
Americans United for Life and our partners in the pro-life movement have respectfully requested that immediate action be taken to safeguard public health with respect to Mifeprex, the “chemical abortion” pill regimen (Mifepristone & Misoprostol) approved by the FDA in 2000.
Specifically, the FDA has:
- 2016: Extended the gestational limit for mifepristone use from 49 to 70 days.
- 2021: Allowed the dispensing of abortion pills via mail without any in-person medical evaluation.
- 2023: Further undermined patient safety by permitting retail pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens to dispense these dangerous drugs.
These changes have eliminated vital safeguards and ignored the FDA’s own acknowledgment that mifepristone requires stringent oversight. This abdication of responsibility endangers women’s health and violates the FDA’s mandate to uphold safety. The FDA must immediately withdraw the abortion pill from the market or, at the very least, reinstate the original Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) that accompanied its approval. AUL and our partners in the pro-life movement are calling on the new Trump administration to reverse these disastrous policies and protect women and children. Read the full letter to the FDA here.
DOJ Must Enforce Comstock
The pro-life coalition have also written to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to enforce the anti-abortion trafficking rules in the so-called “Comstock Act” by (1) rescinding the Office of Legal Counsel’s (OLC) Memorandum Opinion, Application of the Comstock Act to the Mailing of Prescription Drugs That Can Be Used for Abortions (2022) and (2) taking immediate action to enforce the mail-order abortion prohibition within the Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1461‒62. These laws prohibit the distribution of abortifacient matter—including the abortion pill regimen of mifepristone and misoprostol—through the United States Postal Service, express companies, common carriers, and interactive computer services. Read the full letter to the DOJ here.
The Dangers of Mifepristone: What You Need to Know About the Abortion Pill
Mifepristone, commonly known as the abortion pill, is a medication used to terminate early pregnancies. While proponents of the medication argue that it is a safe and effective method of abortion, there are numerous dangers associated with its use. At Americans United for Life (AUL), we believe it is important for women to have access to accurate information about the risks associated with mifepristone so that they can make informed decisions about their health. This is why we encourage states to adopt “right to know” laws regarding the abortion pill. Americans United for Life also advocates at the federal level against these drugs.
How does Mifepristone work?
Mifepristone is a medication that blocks the hormone progesterone, which is necessary for the continuation of pregnancy. This causes the lining of the uterus to break down and the cervix to soften, making it easier for the pregnancy to be expelled. The medication is typically followed by a second drug, misoprostol, which causes contractions to expel the pregnancy.
What are the dangers associated with Mifepristone?
While proponents of mifepristone argue that it is a safe and effective method of abortion, there are numerous dangers associated with its use. These include:
- Incomplete Abortion: In some cases, the abortion pill may not fully terminate the pregnancy, leading to the need for additional medical intervention.
- Hemorrhage: Mifepristone can cause heavy bleeding, which can be life-threatening if not properly managed.
- Infection: The use of mifepristone can increase the risk of infection, which can also be life-threatening if left untreated.
- Ectopic Pregnancy: If a woman is unknowingly experiencing an ectopic pregnancy, or a pregnancy outside of the uterus, the use of mifepristone can lead to a life-threatening medical emergency.
- Psychological Effects: Women who undergo an abortion, including with the use of mifepristone, may experience psychological effects such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
In a study of 42,619 Finnish women receiving chemical abortions up to nine weeks gestational age, the overall adverse events were fourfold higher in chemical (20.0%) versus surgical abortions (5.6%). Women hemorrhaged more commonly after chemical abortion (15.6% compared with 2.1%). They also had incomplete abortions more often in chemical abortions (6.7% versus 1.6%). The rate of surgical (re)evacuation was higher after chemical abortions (5.9%) than surgical abortions (1.8%).
Today, in-person medical visits for a pregnant woman is not necessary for her to terminate her child with the abortion pill. Yet, without examination, there is no way for a doctor to know if she is further along than 10 weeks or unknowingly experiencing an ectopic pregnancy. Tragically, this is one of the reasons why 1 in 25 women who take the abortion pill end up in the emergency room with complications.
Abortion Pill “Right To Know” Laws
At Americans United for Life, we believe that women have the right to accurate information about the risks associated with any medical procedure, including abortion. Mifepristone, or the abortion pill, is not a safe or risk-free method of abortion. We encourage women to consider all of their options and to make informed decisions about their health. If you or someone you know is considering an abortion, please seek the advice of a medical professional who can provide you with accurate information about the risks associated with the procedure.
Roe v. Wade has been reversed, but abortion businesses and their activists are pushing for unrestricted abortion pill drugs by mail. We deserve to understand the risks and side effects of these dangerous abortion drugs. We’re asking you to stand with Americans United for Life today—sign AUL’s petition calling for sensible protections on the abortion pill and share it with your networks!