Risks Associated with RU-486 (Mifepristone) Medical Abortions
In August 2007, articles appeared in major news outlets reporting on a recent study on data from a national health database in Denmark. Each of the articles included headlines stating that medical abortions using RU-486 (Mifepristone) are safe.
However, the articles did not accurately report on the conclusions that were actually drawn from the study. The study titled "Medical Abortion and the Risk of Subsequent Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes" which appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, specifically focused on whether the risk of problems with subsequent births after surgical abortion differed from the risk of subsequent birth problems after medical abortion.
The study -did not- evaluate the overall health risk of RU-486 abortions to women.
The Women's Health Collaborative is concerned about the misinformation being presented through the major media outlets about the drug; women are being led to believe that RU-486 is safe when there are in fact a number of serious health concerns related to it's use.
Below are a number of articles and studies describing problems associated with RU-486 (Mifepristone).
Fatal Infections Associated with Mifepristone-Induced Abortion (New England Journal of Medicine)
Fatal Clostridium sordellii Toxic Shock Syndrome Following Medical Abortion (New England Journal of Medicine)
RU-486/Mifepristone Risks (Source: Medscape)
Mifepristone FDA Health Advisory (Source: Medical News Today)
Analysis of Adverse Events Related to the use of Mifepristone (Source: Annals of Pharmacotherapy)