"Abortion pill" hasn't broadened abortion access

[Heidi]

Source: BBC

Mon Sep 7, 2009 11:07am EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Even after the "abortion pill" RU-486 made it possible for all doctors to provide early abortions, access to abortions did not improve as dramatically as women had hoped.

When RU-486, also called mifepristone, was approved by the FDA in 2000 for early pregnancy termination, it was expected to improve access to early abortion because pregnancies could be terminated more privately, within a few days after conception, without surgery, and with only a prescription for the medication from a woman's personal physician, no matter where in the country she lived.

New research from across the U.S. shows, however, that early visions of broader geographic access to abortions have not been fulfilled.

Dr. Lawrence B. Finer and Dr. Junhow Wei from the Guttmacher Institute in New York City report that in 2005, 96 percent of providers who penned prescriptions for RU-486 were located in metropolitan areas, just 3 percent were in "micropolitan" areas, with 10,000 to 50,000 inhabitants, and only 1 percent were in smaller cities and towns.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE58633S20090907

[Warpy]

1. The main barrier is at the pharmacy level

because so many pharmacies refuse to stock it, leaving the only place to get it an abortion provider. That means women who don't live in big cities have to make the hike instead of getting a prescription, getting it filled, taking it, and then returning to their regular doctor for follow up care.

It's been ghettoized, in other words, to decrease its availability instead of offering choice to women who live far from clinics offering surgical abortion.

[customerserviceguy]

2. There are other ways of looking at this, as well

For starters, those who live in small towns and rural areas might be more likely to go to a more 'anonymous' urban area to purchase the drug. They know that the pharmacist in town knows everybody, and even though he or she is covered by professional ethics about disclosing who is taking what medication, it still may be more comfortable to go to a city where everybody is faceless and anonymous.

That may be happening to a lesser extent in suburban areas, as well.

Also, let's just consider sheer numbers. The percentage of women wanting to avail themselves of this method that live within an hour or two of a big city is much, much larger than those who are outside those areas.

Finally, women in rural areas who find themselves in a troubled pregnancy situation may find themselves to have the seemingly contradictory situation of more social stigma if they choose to abort (which has influnced their value system as well) and a greater number of resources available to help them should they decide to bear and keep the child.

[mwb970]

3. Women in rural areas are surrounded by right-wing men.

This has to have an effect on their behavior, no?

[customerserviceguy]

4. Women in rural areas

have a lot of influences that urban and suburban women have less of, and it's not only right-wing men. They often have mothers, sisters, and girlfriends of a more religious orientation who are more likely to suggest non-abortion alternatives. They are more likely to have connections with religious institutions that are against the alternative of abortion.

My point is, it's not simply a matter of access, it's also a matter of orientation to the idea of abortion.

[Solly Mack]

5. K&R

[MountainLaurel]

6. Not surprisingly

It seems that many of the states with the lowest rates also have low rates for access to abortion in general. I wonder how many women in these areas even consider it an option to get RU-486 from their family doctor?

[ShortnFiery]

7. I prefer the term "morning after pill" ... don't let the right wing DEFINE our terms. eom

[nonpareil]

9. RU-486 is NOT the Morning After Pill.

Emergency contraception (the Morning After Pill) works by preventing ovulation (first) and fertilization (second). It will not interrupt or harm an established pregnancy. It is not the abortion pill. It's sold under the brand name Plan B and is available from a pharmacist without a prescription to any woman over age 17.

This article is about the abortion pill, mifepristone (RU-486) which is used for early (less than nine weeks) abortions. It's taken along with a second drug,misoprostol, under a doctor's supervision.

[Honeycombe8]

8. It requires a prescription? That's the problem right there.

First, you have to make an appt with a doctor (a two week wait). Then you have to go and maybe the dr. will give you the Rx, but maybe not. Probably not, since 2 weeks after sex is too late.

It would HAVE to be over the counter to be of any use.

[defendandprotect]

10. Also understand rather expensive . . . . don't know comparison with

other methods?

[tammywammy]

11. I think you may be confused with the morning after pill

RU486 would still work 2 weeks after sex.

[Honeycombe8]

12. Earlier post said it would work for only a few days. So I don't know. But a Rx rules it out.

I speak as one having been a young, pregnant woman before.

First, you have to have the $ to go to the dr. Then you have to wait to get in. But before all that, you had to have missed a period so that you think you MIGHT be pregnant.

It would be pretty much useless in any situation, as far as I can see.

[tammywammy]

13. You can use RU486 up to the 9th week, I believe,

but it can be used within a few days of the pregnancy occuring.