More about RU486
- RU 486 is a chemical compound that, taken in pill form, can induce abortion in women up to nine weeks pregnant.

RU486: Some Frequently Asked Questions

What is RU486?
How does RU486 work?
Is this the "morning after" pill?
How has the baby developed by the time RU-486 is used?
How long does it take and how many steps?
Is RU486 really "safe" and "effective?"
Are chemical abortions safer than surgical abortions?
What about psychological after effects?
How has the drug been received?
Why does the pro-abortion crowd want the abortion pill?

For a complete list of questions and answers, click here

FAST FACTS on RU486

It isn't a contraceptive. Used at 5 to 7 weeks, RU 486 kills an unborn baby whose heart has already begun to beat. This is the only purpose for which the sponsor ever sought U.S. government approval.

It isn't safe or easy.

Heavy bleeding, nausea, vomiting, and painful uterine contractions are common features of a process TIME magazine calls "A painful, messy, and protracted." About 2% hemorrhage and more than 1 in a 100 require hospitalization. An Iowa woman took RU486 and lost nearly 3/4 of her blood and likely would have died without emergency surgery.

It isn't simple or convenient.

At a minimum, the RU486 procedure involves two drugs and three trips to the doctor's office over a two week period. For 4-5% of women, the pills don't work, making them return for surgical abortions.

It won't make abortion rare.

The pill's promoters have reason to believe RU486 will help them increase the number of doctors willing to perform abortions. Since there has always been a corrolary between the number of abortions and the number of abortionists, RU 486 is likely to increase the number of abortions in the U.S. beyond the already appalling 1.3 million a year.