Abortions Induced by Mifepristone and Misoprostol vs Methotrexate and Misoprostol
The abortion pill is a convenient and accessible way to induce abortions. One of the medications used to cause an abortion is mifepristone. Mifepristone blocks the production of a chemical that is needed for continued pregnancy. It is taken first, followed by misoprostol. Products such as the MTP Kit contain both mifepristone and misoprostol.
Other than these two medications, another substance known as methotrexate can be used to induce an abortion. Methotrexate is also used with misoprostol to cause an abortion. It has been reported that mifepristone can be considered the better alternative as there seem to be lesser side effects. Mifepristone, however, is not always accessible in all countries. Methotrexate is easily accessible. Methotrexate is also used to treat certain types of cancer. It is used to effectively treat ectopic pregnancy and rheumatoid arthritis.
Mifepristone vs Methotrexate
Compared to surgical abortion, medical abortion is preferred because it is convenient. In the USA and Canada, the most widely used method of inducing abortion includes misoprostol with methotrexate or mifepristone. Studies have proven that combining methotrexate with misoprostol is a safe process and can successfully induce an abortion. It has become a common process in recent years.
Mifepristone is more commonly used outside the United States and Canada. After being approved by the FDA, mifepristone has become more widely available in North America. Methotrexate on the other hand has been widely available for a while now, primarily due to it being used in other forms of treatment as well. This is also why it was much more easily available, along with it being easier to afford. As of now, RU-486 (Mifepristone) is preferred as an abortifacient, internationally as well as domestically. The pill is combined with misoprostol, although misoprostol can induce an abortion by itself. However, misoprostol is often combined with methotrexate or mifepristone generally. Abortion pills can be taken orally instead of being injected. After FDA approval of mifepristone around 2000, the success rate of the pill became higher and it has been in frequent use ever since.
How does Mifepristone work?
The pills used are for different purposes each. Mifepristone is used to block the production of a hormone known as progesterone. Progesterone is a hormone that is produced during pregnancy, and blocking this hormone leads to the lining of the uterus breakdown. This results in the embryo being unable to grow anymore. Due to this, the pregnancy can no longer continue.
Misoprostol, the second pill that is taken after mifepristone, is responsible for discharging the fetus from the body. It makes the uterus contract, resulting in cramps and even bleeding. It is similar to how a miscarriage takes place. In this way, both the pills are used to induce an abortion. The doses are administered within 1 to 2 days. The symptoms may continue for a few weeks. The pills are administered in a specific order; misoprostol is administered 24 hours after mifepristone. In case the medicine is administered orally, the pills are placed under the tongue. The tablet will dissolve. Misoprostol can be taken at home, or it can be done by a healthcare official. The pregnancy should be terminated within four hours of administration, and cramps may continue for two days or so.
How does Methotrexate work?
Methotrexate induces abortions by reducing the ability of the human body to utilize folic acid. Folic acid is essential to sustain a pregnancy, and reducing access to folic acid during pregnancy can lead to the termination of the pregnancy. Folic acid is also important for the development of the fetus. Thus, methotrexate induces abortion by mimicking a miscarriage.
Cytotec 200 mg (Misoprostol) is used along with methotrexate, and the latter stops fetal cell duplication. Along with that, methotrexate also interrupts the process of implantation. This is the reason why methotrexate is useful for the treatment of other diseases such as cancer, as it can disrupt the process of cellular replication. It can, therefore, to some extent, prevent the replication of cancer cells. Attempting pregnancy after having consumed methotrexate in the recent past is also difficult. In such cases, the person will need an extra dosage of folic acid to compensate, as per the doctor’s recommendation. It takes about a week for methotrexate to clear out from the body. This can differ according to an individual’s physical composition. Other substances may interrupt the speed at which methotrexate clears out. However, in general, it takes around seven days for an adult.
Conclusion
The efficiency of using mifepristone and misoprostol 200 mcg is higher than that of methotrexate and misoprostol. The numbers are close in range, however, and it must be noted that methotrexate is somewhat more available. Abortions done by using mifepristone tend to be faster than those induced by methotrexate. In terms of overall success rate, the two medications are close enough in number.
