The term "abortion reversal" refers to a technique — not of reversing completed abortions — but rather of attempting to try to stop the effects of a drug induced abortion before it is completed.
For some early abortions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of the drug mifepristone, used to induce an abortion. The drug is currently used in conjunction with another drug called misoprostol to end early pregnancy. However, It is only available for women who are less than 9 weeks pregnant.
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The pill (Mifeprex or Mifepristone) works by blocking the hormone progesterone, which is important in sustaining an early pregnancy.
Women seeking a medical abortion takse a dose of Mifepristone first. A second drug called misoprostol, which is intended to empty the contents of the uterus, is taken later. Side effects of Misoprostol includes heavy bleeding and cramping.
Those promoting abortion reversal techniques say that an abortion can be potentially stopped if a woman who takes the first pill, then changes her mind about wanting an abortion, seeks specific medical treatment that includes progesterone therapy.
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The science behind abortion reversal includes
a 2012 study published in the Annals of Pharmacology which examined the effectiveness of offering progesterone therapy to women who took the first pill of a medically induced abortion, but later changed their minds and chose not to take the second pill.
The study found that four of six women were able to carry their pregnancies to term after the progesterone therapy. The progesterone supplement effectively reversed the effects of mifepristone.
Researchers concluded that "health care professionals should be aware of the possible use of progesterone to reverse mifepristone in women who have begun the medical abortion process by taking mifepristone and then change their minds."
The Food and Drug Administration advises that Mifepristone (Mifeprex) and Misoprostol can have serious side effects including death and that women should "contact a healthcare practitioner right away if they have taken these medications for medical abortion and develop stomach pain or discomfort, or have weakness, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea with or without fever, more than 24 hours after taking the misoprostol."
These symptoms could be signs of an infection, which can lead to very serious consequences.
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