WOMEN’S BODIES: RU486 ABORTION PILL. GENERAL COMMUNITY SERVICES
An abortion pill for Australia?
For several years we have been heart’ about the abortifacient drug RU486 (mifepristone) that was developed in Fran’ and is now available in some countries.
RU486 is a synthetic substance that opposes the action of progesterone, ovarian hormone that is essential for implantation of the developing embryo in uterus. When RU486 is given within the first seven weeks of pregnancy (that within three weeks after the first missed period) its anti-progesterone action causes the implanted embryo to separate from the lining of the uterus. Vaginal bleeding and expulsion of the separated pregnancy starts within three days and in the majority of cases has finished one week later. Giving a dose of prostaglandin (a hormone that causes the uterus to contra’ on the third day after RU486 shortens bleeding time.
Three visits to a doctor or clinic are necessary for an RU486 abortion. Тhe first confirms that the pregnancy is no more than seven weeks from the last period; if so the drug is given (usually three pills by mouth). Two days later the woman returns for the dose of prostaglandin. A third visit is necessary to make sure that the abortion is complete. Before treatment is given, all women are asked to consent to surgical abortion if RU486 fails.
The efficacy or safety of RU486 are not under question. Studies on 60 000 French women who have used it report 96 per cent successful termination of pregnancy, very few complications and no major side-effects. There has been one death in France from heart attack, but the woman who died had a serious heart condition before treatment.
Minor side-effects have been few. A small number of women report a feeling of weakness and vomiting after taking RU486, but it’s hard to know if these symptoms are related to the drug or the pregnancy. Many women experienced uterine cramps, like period pain, after being given the prostaglandin.
Women who have used RU486 prefer it to surgical abortion because it is less painful and it avoids the risks of surgery, anaesthetic and infection. The total cost is about half that of surgical abortion. The real controversy that surrounds RU486 is that it introduces another method of abortion. Anti-abortion protests have prevented RU486 from becoming freely available in many countries. The Australian protesters have kept up their vigilance. Every time RU486 is mentioned in the media the campaign of lobbying against it intensifies.
Politicians don’t hear nearly so much from those who want RU486 made available, even though they’re in the majority. A recent opinion survey in Queensland, reputed to be our most conservative State, found that two-thirds of those surveyed were in favour of introducing RU486 and of repealing the State’s anti-abortion laws. It seems wrong to me that women who need it are denied a safe, effective, cheaper and less intrusive means of abortion because of the harassment of a minority group.
In an ideal world there would be no abortion debate: contraception would be perfect and all pregnancies would be planned or wanted. So far we haven’t achieved this ideal. Safe, lawful abortion services will be needed until we do.
General community services for women
The following services may be useful. You’ll find them listed in your local telephone book. Many have toll-free numbers.
• Many services for women and families are listed in the indexes for ‘Community: Help and Welfare’, Accommodation’ and ‘Disabled Persons’ at the front of the white pages of the telephone book. They include:
health services
alcohol and drugs
family and personal services
emergency accommodation
services for people with disabilities.
• Family Planning Association provides women’s health checks (including breast checks, Pap smears, STD checks), contraceptive services, counselling and education about sexuality, pregnancy testing and counselling, and referral for antenatal care or abortion.
• Pregnancy Counselling and Support and Pregnancy Termination These services are listed in the yellow pages of the telephone book.
• Rape and Sexual Assault These 24-hour telephone counselling services listed under ‘Emergency Help’ in the index for ‘Community: Help and Welfare’ at the front of the white page of the telephone book.
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March 11, 2009 - 4:57 PM