More than 50% of U.S. Abortions are Done with Pills, Study Says
About Abortions Pills and their Use
Due to the recent coronavirus pandemic, abortions through pills became extremely common. While pills accounted for 44% of the abortions earlier in 2019, in the year 2020, it surged up to 54%.
Note that pills for abortions are not a new regime. This roots back in 2000 when FDA approved a medicine called mifepristone for the same. In fact, many doctors claim that women preferred pills more than surgeries even before the pandemic.
However, its sales boosted vigorously when the pandemic kicked in. That’s because most people considered pills to be safer than surgery during the time of the escalated virus spread. Also, in-person visits had a higher chance of catching Covid, so pills were more favored.
Things became more common when the FDA came up with a change where women were allowed to take online consultations and get the pills through the prescription.
How Do These Medicines Work?
On consuming mifepristone, the medicine restricts the release of hormones that continue the pregnancy. It’s then combined with misoprostol, which causes stomach cramps and clears the mother’s womb. The medicines are prescribed to be taken within the first 2.5 months of pregnancy. However, many healthcare professionals prescribe them around the second trimester too.
Numerous abortion opponents came forward to add extra restrictions when offering abortion pills. They did so through state legislatures. Presently, 16 legislatures have banned or restricted the use of abortion medications. Likewise, additional restrictions were implemented in 3 states that banned the mailing of abortion pills. Also, 32 states permitted abortion pills only under professional physicians.
U.S. Abortion Rates: Numbers as of 2017 and 2019
Abortions are quite common in the U.S. Although numbers are dropping (19% decline in 2017), the cases are still considerable. If we take a look at the total number of U.S. abortions in 2017, it’s around 862K, where 38% of women stay in a state that’s supportive of abortion rights. Likewise, 59% of these abortions source from mothers. As of 2019, the number stands at 625,346 abortions.
About Guttmacher Institute, the Source Behind The Abortion Pills Claims
The source of this study is Guttmacher Institute, which accounts for offering comprehensive data on abortion in the United States. Their data are often considered more extensive than the ones from state and federal government sources. The main focus/aim of this institute is to work on:
- Evaluating the abortions
- Looking for the reasons why a woman would abort their child
- Characteristics and circumstances of the mother that stimulates her to abort their child
- Preparing an evidence-based case for situations where access to abortion services isn’t allowed
- Providing access to abortion services
Hopefully, with their initiatives and restrictions, the irresponsible use of abortion pills will decrease.
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