Woman

Morning After Pill and RU-486

Morning After Pill

The morning after pill, also known as Plan B®, contains the same hormone as regular birth control pills, but the dosage prescribed is several times the strength of a daily birth control pill.

The morning after pill is not for routine use. Failure rates and side effects increase with repeated use of the morning after pill.

Plan B® prevents pregnancy by stopping the release of an egg from the ovary, preventing fertilization of an egg or by preventing a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus. Plan B® will not affect a fertilized egg that is already attached to the uterus; it will not affect an existing pregnancy.

The side effects with Plan B® include:

Source: Plan B®

RU-486

RU-486 is not the same as the morning after pill; it is a medication induced abortion. RU-486 is a combination of two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, which in turn makes the lining of the uterus less hospitable for the developing embryo. Misoprostol causes uterine cramping and expulsion of the baby from the uterus. This method can be used up to 49 days from your last menstrual period; some practitioners will prescribe up to 63 days from your last menstrual period but failure rates and complications increase after 49 days.

Up to three office visits are usually required. During the first visit, pregnancy is confirmed, medical history is taken, counseling may be offered, an ultrasound confirms that the pregnancy is not in the fallopian tube, consent papers are signed and mifepristone is given. Two days later misoprostol will be given either orally or in the form of a vaginal tablet. Another follow-up visit is required to confirm that the abortion was complete. This can be verified with ultrasound. In most cases the baby, tissue and blood will be expelled from the vagina within four hours of receiving misoprostol. The whole process can take up to two weeks.

Reported complications include painful cramping, bleeding which may be heavy and prolonged, nausea, diarrhea, systemic bacterial infection, incomplete abortion requiring a surgical abortion and emotional trauma. About 1 in 20 or 5% of women who take RU-486 will have an incomplete abortion and will require surgical abortion. Since 2001, there have been 4 deaths in the U.S. related to RU-486. Four other deaths have been reported in other countries since 1991. The cost of an RU-486 abortion is similar to that of a surgical abortion.

This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional medical advice.