Medication abortion: How clinicians can help patients in this battle
Key Takeaways
Over half of all abortions in the US involve prescription medications, but overturning Roe v. Wade is already restricting access.
As many as one-third of patients would take matters into their own hands if they were unable to receive abortion care at a healthcare facility.
Doctors must provide factual, timely information based on evidence to any patients seeking abortion care, regardless of their personal opinion.
With growing restrictions on abortion across the US, women are increasingly turning to medication abortion to end pregnancy as an alternative to a clinic-based procedure.
According to data from Guttmacher Institute, 54% of all abortions in the US now involve abortion medications.[] But this method has also come under legal fire in the wake of the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade, with growing restrictions on access to these medications.
As patients turn to the internet and other resources to self-manage abortion care, physicians must be prepared to give factual, evidence-based, timely information to help prevent unintentional harm.
'Abortion pill' defined
The so-called "abortion pill" is actually two drugs: mifepristone (Mifeprex) and misoprostol (Cytotec), which are used in combination to end pregnancy (first and second trimesters).
Abortion medications such as mifepristone and misoprostol can only be prescribed by licensed healthcare professionals (HCPs) with specific qualifications.[] To induce early abortion, HCPs must prescribe both mifepristone and misoprostol together.[] The first drug stops the production of progesterone, which is essential to maintaining a pregnancy; misoprostol then works on uterine tissues to expel the products of conception.
While the combination of these drugs is effective at ending early pregnancy, they also demonstrate efficacy individually for several other conditions.
Mifepristone, for example, was approved by the FDA in 2012 for the treatment of Cushing’s disease. Researchers are also examining mifepristone to treat Gulf War Syndrome, certain cancers, alcohol use disorder, and even depression.
Misoprostol has already been useful in treating various stomach ulcers. Investigated applications for the medication include treating postpartum hemorrhage, C-section complications, and uterine fibroids. There is some indication it may also help increase IUD insertion success rates.
Thus, restricting access to these two medications also limits treatment options available for patients not seeking abortion.
And it's not just the "abortion pill" being restricted.
The Supreme Court ruling also carries unexpected ramifications for patients, providers, and pharmacists with regards to other prescription medications such as methotrexate—a drug commonly used to treat arthritis. Methotrexate may also be prescribed in some cases to induce abortion or treat patients after an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage, and now some patients are reporting difficulty getting their methotrexate prescriptions filled as individual states restrict access.[]
“This is a terrible situation since so many patients depend on methotrexate,” said Donald Miller, PharmD, professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice at North Dakota State University, in an article published by the Arthritis Foundation.
"It’s very sad that pharmacists must protect themselves from going to jail for filling a prescription."
— Donald Miller, PharmD
Patients want solutions
Studies show that patients are increasingly turning to online and other resources to try to manage abortion care on their own. A study published in Reproductive Health in 2022 suggested that about one-third of patients would definitely or probably consider taking matters into their own hands if they were unable to receive abortion care at a medical facility.[]
While the overturning of Roe is perhaps the most obvious factor, other variables influence a person’s decision to self-manage abortion care.
Privacy concerns, cost, travel distance to healthcare facilities, and fear of violence or negative response all play a role.
In some cases, patients travel across state lines to receive abortion medications.[] They may also consult with physicians using telehealth technologies to obtain the drugs by mail using prescriptions in other states and countries.
This raises questions about ethical and legal ramifications, including enforcement and punishment (under individual states’ laws) for those attempting to obtain abortion care remotely.
Providing care in uncertain times
It’s too early to know exactly how the overturning of Roe will ultimately impact a person’s ability to receive an abortion—but leading medical associations and others in healthcare industry are speaking out for patients’ rights.
“The American Medical Association is deeply disturbed by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn nearly a half century of precedent protecting patients’ right to critical reproductive healthcare,” wrote AMA President Jack Resneck, Jr., MD, in a June 2022 press release. “We will fight to protect the patient-physician relationship, and we will oppose any law or regulation that compromises or criminalizes patient access to safe, evidence-based medical care, including abortion.”
"As the health of millions of patients hangs in the balance, this is a fight we will not give up. "
— AMA President Jack Resneck, Jr., MD
What this means for you
Overturning Roe v. Wade effectively restricts a person’s access to abortion care; as a result, “abortion medications” like mifepristone and misoprostol are becoming less available, while drugs like methotrexate (which may induce early abortion) are also in short supply as states restrict access. As these drugs are also indicated for other conditions, this has implications for patients with a variety of medical issues. Doctors must provide the most up-to-date information regarding abortion care to any patient requesting information.
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