Buzz
The majority of early-term abortions are performed using pills that induce a miscarriage. Known as medication abortion, this approach is both straightforward and secure. However, until recently, federal regulations prohibited mailing these pills, unlike other prescription medications. The FDA has now permanently revised this regulation.
To clarify: these pills are designed to terminate an existing pregnancy and are entirely distinct from emergency contraceptives such as Plan B, which work to prevent pregnancy after intercourse.
Understanding Medical Abortion: What Does It Entail?
Medication abortion is suitable for pregnancies within the first 10 weeks. Mifepristone halts the pregnancy's progression, while misoprostol triggers the uterus to expel it. This process closely resembles a miscarriage, as detailed by Planned Parenthood here.
What changes have been made to the law regarding abortion pills by mail?
The recent update to the rule was quietly added on this FDA web page, but The New York Times provides further insights. Among the two drugs used in this abortion method, mifepristone is heavily regulated. Only specially certified providers can prescribe it, and patients must sign an agreement acknowledging they have been informed about the medication.
Previously, there was an additional rule: mifepristone had to be given in person. This meant visiting a clinic, not just a pharmacy, to obtain the pill. However, this requirement was illogical, as the pill's effects occur later at home. Clinics dispensing the pill did not enhance patient safety, as doctors have long contended—and now, the FDA concurs.
The in-person rule was temporarily lifted during part of the pandemic, and the new regulation makes this change permanent. Instead of in-person dispensing, pharmacies must now be specially certified to provide the pill. While mifepristone remains more cumbersome to acquire than other prescriptions, those unable to find a certified clinic or pharmacy locally can now access early abortion services via telemedicine. This involves a video consultation with a certified provider, followed by mail delivery of the pills from a certified pharmacy.
Naturally, abortion regulations will always face opposition. Currently, as reported by The New York Times, 19 states have laws banning telemedicine abortions. This means that even though the federal government permits remote prescription of these pills, residents of those 19 states must travel to legally obtain the pills by mail.
