Success rate of medical abortion at 4 weeks

Editor's note: This article was originally published on August 22, 2022.

In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v.

Wade, interest in medication abortion has skyrocketed.

At the same time, confusion about the safety, effectiveness, and legality of medication abortion has spread. A 2023 Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that about half of adults are "unsure" if the medications are legal in their state, including 41% of women ages 18-49.

What are the disadvantages of medical abortion

By contrast, while most U.S. adults (91%) have heard of emergency contraception, a full 73% of those incorrectly believe that so-called Plan B pills can end a pregnancy in its early stages.

AAMCNews spoke to several academic reproductive health experts to clear up misconceptions about abortion medication and emergency contraception, as well as explain how each works and how physicians are providing care in the wake of the Dobbs decision.

What is medication abortion?

Medication abortion is the process of ending a pregnancy through medication.

There are