Safe Medication Abortion: A Game-Changing Possibility?
New research suggests over-the-counter medication abortion could be safe, but political obstacles may delay this pivotal shift in reproductive healthcare.
Medication abortion has emerged as a safe and effective alternative to surgical procedures, and a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine adds to the growing scientific evidence that these pills could be made available over-the-counter at pharmacies. This potential shift could revolutionize access to reproductive healthcare, but significant political opposition means it may not happen anytime soon.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin, the University of California, San Francisco, and Ibis Reproductive Health, examined the safety and efficacy of self-managed medication abortion using pills obtained without a prescription. The researchers reviewed data from 1,000 people who had self-managed their abortions using pills ordered online or obtained through informal sources.
Source: NPR
