Here's how medication abortion works with just one drug that's still fully available

Key Points:

• A federal appeals court ruled that starting May 1, 2026, mifepristone must be prescribed in person, reversing the FDA's relaxed telehealth prescribing rules established under the Biden administration for medication abortions.
• Mifepristone, used with misoprostol, has been the standard two-drug regimen for medication abortions up to 10 weeks gestation in the U.S., but misoprostol alone is a safe and effective alternative, especially where mifepristone access is restricted.
• Misoprostol-only abortions tend to cause more side effects like nausea and prolonged cramping but work faster than the two-drug regimen, typically ending the pregnancy within 9-12 hours.
• Patients should seek medical care if they experience heavy or prolonged bleeding, fever over 100.4°F lasting more than 24 hours, or no bleeding/cramping after medication, as these may indicate complications or incomplete abortion.
• In states banning abortion, telehealth access to medication abortions is restricted, but some organizations provide pills through mail services, including Aid Access, which operates internationally and sends medications regardless of local laws.