Understanding Mifepristone: Uses and Applications

Mifepristone is a drug used in combination with misoprostol for medication abortion, blocking the hormone progesterone necessary for pregnancy and causing the body to expel the pregnancy. Studies show it is over 99% effective and as safe as a clinic-administered abortion. While the FDA approves its use up to 10 weeks of pregnancy, the World Health Organization suggests it can be used up to 12 weeks. Medication abortion has become more common during the Covid-19 pandemic, and some women in states with abortion restrictions have turned to mail-order pills.