
For decades, clinicians relied on the gold standard of medication abortion care: a two-pill regimen. Mifepristone is taken first, followed by misoprostol 24 to 48 hours later.
However, misoprostol can be used alone for abortion. Recent research on patients in the U.S. confirms that misoprostol-only abortion is not only safe and effective, but that patients respond positively to using it.
In light of the FDA’s recent decision to reopen its safety review of mifepristone—a move advocates warn may lead to new restrictions—abortion providers say they are ready to offer the misoprostol-only regimen to keep telehealth abortion available in all 50 states.
“Despite decades of medical evidence supporting the safety of mifepristone, it is entirely possible that Trump’s FDA could ignore the data and impose further restrictions on mifepristone, including a return to in-person dispensing requirements,” said Elisa Wells, co-founder and access director of Plan C, an abortion pill information and advocacy campaign. “If this happens, we know that many providers would pivot to a misoprostol-only regimen, which is also safe and effective.”