Chemical abortions account for around half of the abortions committed in Australia. This page provides FAQs about chemical abortions – the procedures which use the “abortion pill.”

FAQs about chemical abortions:

How do chemical abortions work?

The abortion pill is produced by Marie Stopes International under the name MS-2 Step and was formerly known as RU-486. The new name reflects the two-stage protocol for a chemical abortion: first the drug Mifepristone is consumed to stop progesterone production; this effectively stops the unborn baby from accessing nutrition from its mother. Then 36-48 hours later, the drug Misoprostol is taken to expel the dead child.

How common are chemical abortions?

Legally available since 2006, chemical abortions now account for around half of Australia’s 90,000 abortions.

How safe are chemical abortions?

A recent US study analysed the insurance claims related to more than 800,000 mifepristone abortions, finding that almost 11% of women reporting a serious adverse event within 45 days of their abortion. The study did not include ‘mild’ or ‘moderate’ adverse events in its conclusions.

What serious side-effects are women experiencing?

Serious adverse events include: repeat surgical terminations due to an incomplete abortion; haemorrhage, including some requiring a blood transfusion; sepsis and ectopic pregnancy. A staggering 5% of women required a visit to a hospital emergency department.

What are some of the milder side-effects?

Milder side-effects include shivering, chills, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, hyperthermia, nausea, vomiting, flatulence, constipation, dyspepsia, headache, breakthrough bleeding, menstrual irregularities, syncope (fainting), lethargy, weakness, and vertigo.

Who can prescribe the abortion pills?

Doctors previously required special certification in order to prescribe MS-2 Step, but since August 2023, the Therapeutic Goods Act has allowed any GP to do so. Additionally, nurses, midwives and other medical professionals are now legally able to prescribe chemical abortions.

Can the abortion be stopped if the mother changes her mind?

If the second pill is not consumed and high doses of progesterone are given to the mother after the first pill, then there is a good chance that the action of the abortion pill can be reversed and the baby saved.

How effective is the abortion pill?

Included among the serious adverse reactions to the abortion pill is a high failure rate. The American study found that more than 5% of chemical abortions fail – somewhat higher than the rate currently quoted by the abortion industry of around 3-4%.

Does this mean the mother gives birth at home?

A chemical abortion is designed to leave a mother to give birth alone at home, without medical assistance. An increasing number of women are speaking out on their experience of passing a fully-formed baby.