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  • Title: RU-486 hits snags in U.K.
    Author: Diconsiglio JM.
    Journal: Family Plan World; 1992; 2(1):1, 5. PubMed ID: 12317119.
    Abstract:
    With over 2 years in clinical trials and 1500 uses of RU-486, family planning leaders have claimed that RU-486 is not going to be as popular as it has promised. In France, 25% of the women who are eligible to use it do. The problem is that the public perception of the abortion bill is that you take and call the doctor in the morning. However, in actual use, it is more expensive and requires more time in the clinic than a vacuum abortion. There are also restrictions on its use. Women over 35 or who smoke heavily are not recommended to use it. It is also illegal to use after the 63rd day of pregnancy because of diminished effectiveness and increased risk of complication. Its complication rate is 1-2% which is equal to vacuum abortions. When polled women have said that they like RU-486 because it is not invasive, does not require anesthesia, and feels more natural. The pill requires 4 visits and about 9 hours of time in the clinic compared to 2 visits and 6 hours for a vacuum abortion. The 1st visits is to determine if a women qualifies to use it. Then she returns a 2nd time to have the drug administered, after which she must remain at the clinic for 2 hours to be monitored for side effects like nausea. 48 hours later she must return to have a dosage of prostaglandins which cause the uterus to contract. The women will then miscarry in 4 to 6 hours. The 4th visit is compulsory because up to 30% of women will not miscarry, although they are confident that this figure will decrease as physicians acquire more experience using it. The cost will be between 40-70L higher than vacuum abortions. It is predicted that when the extra time and money are factored into the decision, most women will choose vacuum abortion over RU-486.
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