RU 486

1
RU 486

• Amanda Munsey, Jenelle Nelson, Megan Schmidt,
  Michael Neuenschwander

2
So what is RU 486 (Mifepristone)?

• Sold in the U.S. under brand names Mifeprex or
  Early Option.
• Used as an artificial steroid that blocks
  progesterone, a hormone that is need to continue
  pregnancy.
• Taken alone, RU 486 only has a 60 chance of
  complete abortion. A second pill, a prostaglandin
  (name brand in U.S Cytotec) is taken to increase
  chance of complete abortion. The second pill
  causes contractions that expels the embryo.
• It is legal in the U.S. (under the brand names
  listed above) but not many doctors will prescribe
  it.

3
Reproductive Uses

• RU 486 induces abortions by blocking
  progesterone.
• However, when taken alone, it only induces
  complete abortions in about 60 of patients.
• After about 48 hours, patients are usually given
  prostaglandin to induce contractions.

4
Chemical Classification

• RU 486 is an artificial steroid that interferes
  with the action of progesterone - a hormone
  crucial to the process of early pregnancy.

5
Mechanism

• Progesterone stimulates the proliferation of the
  uterine lining, which in turn nourishes the
  developing child.
• Progesterone also suppresses normal uterine
  contractions, which could dislodge the child that
  is implanted and growing on the wall of mothers
  womb.

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Mechanism cont.

• RU 486 fills the chemical receptor sites normally
  reserved for progesterone, but does not transmit
  the progesterone signal.
• Since the females body never receives the signal
  from progesterone, it shuts down the preparation
  of the uterus and initiates the normal menstrual
  process.
• The child is deprived of nutrients and starves to
  death.
• It is then detached and swept out of the body
  along with the decayed uterine lining.

7
Adverse Events and Side Effects

• Within recent years, there have been 9 deaths
  associated with RU 486 abortions.
• In studies done in the U.S., 99 of patients
  experienced side effects including (but not
  limited to)
• Abdominal pain (97), Nausea (67), Headache
  (32), Vomiting (34), Diarrhea (23)
• Patients often experienced more than one adverse
  effect.
• Many patients also experienced pelvic infections,
  excessive bleeding, allergic reactions,
  cardiopulmonary problems, and emotional and
  psychological problems.

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Conclusion

• RU 486 is a very dangerous drug that induces
  abortions in a natural way that could be
  considered similar to having a miscarriage.
• Studies proved that there were several deaths and
  many other adverse effects associated with the
  drug.
• Many women still needed a surgical procedure to
  end the pregnancy or control excess bleeding.
• Although it is legal in the U.S., most doctors
  will not prescribe RU 486

9
References

• www.ru486info.org
• http//www.nrlc.org/RU486/ru486info.htmlWhat20is
  20RU486?
• http//www.theannals.com/cgi/reprint/aph.1G189v1