What medication can be used to terminate a pregnancy?

Medical abortion—taking oral medications—is the simplest and most convenient method of induced abortion. However, to ensure its success, it is essential to take the medications correctly. Incorrect administration not only fails to achieve a complete abortion but may also cause significant harm to women’s health. So, what medications are used for medical abortion? Below, we address this question.

What medications are used for medical abortion?

The most commonly used drugs are mifepristone and misoprostol. Used in combination, these two medications effectively terminate early intrauterine pregnancies, achieving a complete abortion rate exceeding 90%. However, medical abortion is only appropriate for confirmed intrauterine pregnancies of up to 49 days’ gestation. It is strongly recommended that individuals consult a physician at a reputable hospital and obtain prescriptions directly from a qualified healthcare provider. Mifepristone primarily induces necrosis of the gestational sac tissue, while misoprostol effectively stimulates uterine contractions to facilitate expulsion of the gestational sac. As both drugs are hormonal agents, they can disrupt the body’s natural hormonal balance, potentially leading to menstrual irregularities. The most serious adverse effect is incomplete abortion, which may necessitate surgical uterine evacuation (dilation and curettage) or even lead to secondary infertility.

Additional Information: How to Take Medications for Medical Abortion

1. To terminate pregnancy via oral medication, women should take two tablets of mifepristone on an empty stomach each morning—before consuming any food—for three consecutive days, until the full prescribed course of mifepristone is completed.

2. After an interval of 36–72 hours, under direct supervision by the attending physician, the patient should take three tablets of misoprostol orally on an empty stomach. Following administration, the patient must remain at the hospital for observation for 3–6 hours. If vaginal bleeding remains minimal and no severe adverse reactions occur, the patient may be discharged to continue recovery at home.

The above outlines the medications used for medical abortion. We hope this information is helpful to you.