A small number of women may need curettage to stop the bleeding. Very rarely, a woman may need a blood transfusion. Medical abortion gives women an alternative to even early surgical abortion, allowing them to choose to terminate their pregnancies much sooner, in some cases before they have missed a period. Medical abortion may offer women more privacy in the abortion decision because they will not necessarily have to seek services at women's health clinics that are often targeted for violence and harassment by abortion opponents. Medical abortion gives women who want it greater personal control over the process of ending their pregnancy.
Mifepristone has many potential uses beyond pregnancy termination.
Researchers have found that it is more than 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy when used as a post-coital contraceptive within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse or when other birth control methods may have failed. It is also useful as a hormonal contraceptive method. Mifepristone is also being tested for possible treatment of breast and prostate cancer, meningioma, Cushing's syndrome, glaucoma, endometriosis, and induction of labor. Prepared by the PPFA Media Relations Department.