A new study shows that self-managed medication abortion offered via telemedicine can be safe and effective.
This study adds evidence to the large body of research that supports the safety and effectiveness of telemedicine, which involves virtual visits with providers who prescribe abortion pills via mail.
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide soon whether or not to restrict the access to mifepristone, an abortion pill.
The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the case against mifepristone, an abortion pill. The hearing will take place on 26 March. Their decision may have a significant impact on people’s ability to access medication abortion safely and easily.
The hearing comes after a 2023 decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals of the 5th Circuit, which challenged the authority of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the abortion pill. This pill has been evaluated and reviewed for safety Sources over the past two decades.
If the court rules against the FDA, this could severely restrict the availability of medication.
More than half of all abortions are medication abortions. This procedure involves taking mifepristone followed by another medication.
Recent studies show that if mifepristone is restricted, misoprostol can still be used to perform medication abortions. Experts say this form of medication abortion is less effective.
Medication-induced abortion is safe and effective.
Research has shown that self-managed medication abortive procedures are safe and effective, regardless of whether they are performed in person or remotely using telehealthTrustedSource.
Researchers from the University of California San Francisco now have more evidence to support Telehealth as a safe, effective, and efficient way to end pregnancy.
A brief filed with the Supreme Court before the hearing cites the national study published on Thursday in Nature MedicineTrusted Source. According to a press release, more than 300 reproductive researchers have endorsed the research.
This study has a huge impact on policy and, in particular, the upcoming Supreme Court decision regarding mifepristone. (One of two medications used for medication abortion). This research demonstrates that the FDA followed the science when it expanded the way this medication can be dispensed and that the Supreme Court must follow suit”, lead study author Dr. Ushma UPadhyay is a professor at UCSF in Obstetrics and Reproductive Sciences. She spoke to Healthline.
Telehealth Abortion is just as safe and effective as seeing a doctor.
Researchers examined medical records of more than 6,500 people who were prescribed abortion pills by telehealth clinics from 20 states, including Washington D.C., between April 2021 and January 2022.
The study found that 99.8% did not report any adverse events and that 98% of people who underwent abortions didn’t require further care.
The study authors note that these findings show similar success rates for patients who obtain abortions at clinics and doctor’s offices.
Telehealth abortions can involve video calls and secure text messages with a healthcare professional, who may send prescribed abortion pills via mail or engage in virtual follow-up visits.
“Just like any other medical appointment via telehealth, the doctor takes a patient’s history, performs a physical examination, reviews the lab results and the ultrasounds, and checks for contraindications before prescribing the mifepristone tablet,” explained Dr. Lydia Prevost, a family physician in Kansas who provides abortions via Telehealth. She is also a Fellow at Physicians for Reproductive Health.
Dr. Sarah W. Prager is a professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She said that the UCSF research supports the data from previous studies and “unambiguously shows that medication-abortion is safe and effective.”
Prager, a spokesperson for Healthline, said that it doesn’t really matter if the medication is dispensed after a clinic visit in person or via a virtual clinic. Mifepristone (misoprostol) and misoprostol both work and are safe.
“These data further underscore the reasons why mifepristone should stay available — without any of the REMS restrictions – and highlight that the restrictions are all political, and only serve to harm pregnant women.”
Researchers noted that telehealth abortive procedures are more accessible and protect patient privacy. This is a growing concern for states that have abortion restrictions or bans.
Prevost said that Telehealth can help overcome geographic, transportation, and resource barriers to abortion care. This is especially true in recent months since Dobbs. This court decision reversed Roe v. Wade.
“Medication abortion with mifepristone or misoprostol can be a good option for many women who need abortion care.” She told Healthline that Telehealth can provide the same level of safety and effectiveness as face-to-face education to patients about their decisions and how to take medications.
What will happen if the pill to induce abortion is banned?
After the Supreme Court’s decision in June 2022 to overturn Roe V. Wade, 21 states have banned abortion or added additional restrictions. Other pills have increased. In states that allow abortion, waiting times can be weeks long at clinics. Some have no availability.
The Supreme Court’s decision to ban the abortion drug mifepristone could drastically limit the availability of the medication. The ban on mifepristone would prevent telehealth prescriptions and the shipment of drugs via mail. This could create additional barriers for women who are already struggling to end their pregnancy.
Prager stated that if the Supreme Court reinstates further restrictions on mifepristone, it will not only ignore all credible scientific evidence, but it will also increase barriers to abortion access, increasing morbidity and death for pregnant women.
Experts warn that mifepristone combined with misoprostol may be more effective than using the drug alone to end a pregnancy.
Prevost stated that the combination of mifepristone with misoprostol was currently the standard of care in medication abortion care. While other regimens, such as misoprostol alone, are safe and also exist, medications like mifepristone with a proven safety record should no longer be targeted due to political beliefs.
Takeaway
A large study conducted in the United States has shown the effectiveness and safety of self-managed abortions via telemedicine.
You can safely deliver medication abortion via telemedicine, including video visits, secure texts, and by mailing prescribed pills.
The new research is a significant addition to the body of evidence that demonstrates the safety of self-managed medication abortion.
Prevost stated, “Telehealth is growing rapidly in many areas of medicine, especially since the pandemic. We have good data showing it’s safe and effective.”
