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RU 486 Fact Sheet
Comparison of Chemical Abortion Methods:
RU 486/Prostaglandin and Methotrexate (MTX) /Prostaglandin
| Similarities |
1. require two drugs.
2. kill unborn baby whose heart has started to
beat.
3. can injure and possibly kill women.
4. abort women 5-to-7-weeks pregnant.
5. effectiveness decreases significantly after
7 weeks.
6. could harm woman’s subsequent offspring.
7. could deform babies who survive abortion attempt.
8. could cause psychological complications.
9. could increase number of abortionists, which
will
10. increase annual number of abortions.
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| Differences |
1. use either RU 486
or MTX.
2. MTX/PG abortion takes about twice as long.
3. MTX/PG has lower effectiveness rate than RU
486/PG (claimed 90% versus 95%).
4. RU 486/PG much more widely tested (thousands
versus hundreds).
5. MTX is a generic drug and costs under $5.00.
RU 486 is not generic and the cost will be about
$350, and
6. manufacturers of MTX and Cytotec oppose using
their drugs for abortion. Maker of RU 486 is promoting
use for abortion.
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Issue
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RU 486/Prostaglandin
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MTX/Prostaglandin
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| Drugs Used |
RU 486 (mifepristone) and
Cytotec prostaglandin (misoprostol), licensed
as anti-gastric ulcer drug. Manufacturer G.D.
Searle opposes use for abortion.
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Methotrexate (MTX; generic).
Manufacturer Lederle opposes use for abortion. And
Cytotec prostaglandin (misoprostol), licensed
as anti-gastric ulcer drug. Manufacturer G.D. Searle
opposes use for abortion. |
| Method of Action |
RU 486 starves unborn baby
to death by causing nutrient lining of uterus to
disintegrate. Cytotec causes uterine contractions
to expel dead baby and bloody uterine contents. |
MTX starves unborn baby to
death by attacking fast-growing cells.
Cytotec causes uterine contractions to
expel dead baby and bloody uterine contents.
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| Procedure |
Day 1: pregnancy test; woman
takes RU 486 orally. Day 3: woman returns
to abortion facility; takes Cytotec orally; waits
4 hours; goes home. Day 14: woman returns
to abortion facility for checkup and possible surgical
abortion if drugs fail. |
Day 1: pregnancy test; woman
gets shot of MTX; goes home. Day 6 to 8:
woman inserts Cytotec tablets into her vagina; waits;
aborts at home. Day 10 to 14 (or longer):
woman returns to abortion facility and possible
surgical abortion. |
| Complications |
Nausea, vomiting, pain, excessive
bleeding, psychological damage, genetic abnormalities. |
Nausea, vomiting, pain, excessive
bleeding, psychological damage, genetic abnormalities. |
| "Effectiveness" |
Claimed about 90% to
95%. |
No more than 90% with one dose of
PG. Claimed 95+% with 2 (or more) doses of PG. |
| Status |
U.S. tests completed on 2,121 women;
licensed to Population Council; marketing stalled
by lawsuit against prospective manufacturer; accepted
as "safe and effective" by U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA). |
Both MTX and Cytotec on market for
non-abortion. uses. Preliminary tests conducted
on about 1,000 women nationwide from 1993 to present.
Planned Parenthood starting nationwide test for
abortion in 17 sites on about 3,000 women. |
Prepared by Richard D. Glasow, Ph.D.,
consultant to Life Issues Institute, September 25, 1996.
Updated April 1998.
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