It’s almost three decades since the first abortion pill was introduced and approved for use in France. Then known as RU-486, the abortion pill now is popularly known by the brand name ‘Mifepristone’. Although it has been three decades since medical abortion was brought to the introduction, it is still criminalized and banned in certain countries and states around the world.

Lets’ see how Mifepristone came to be in some countries.

1. France

• Pregnancy termination in France is legal within 12 weeks of gestation since the introduction of Veil law in 1975.
• Surgical procedures are also allowed if the medical professionals conducting can attest that they can prevent a great injury to the woman’s health by terminating her pregnancy [ be it for physical or psychological reasons], i.e. if the fetus is abnormal and suffers from some disease that cannot be cured or if the pregnant women risks losing her life or suffer serious physical/ mental injury.
• In France, abortion with Mifepristone and Misoprostol pills is the most preferred type of pregnancy termination procedure.
• Comparing the statistics of women having an abortion with pills – in 1996 18% of women were recorded to choose this method, then the amount has been continuously increasing with 38% in 2003 to 44% in 2005 to 49% in 2007 and 49% in 2007 and has been growing since then.

2. Germany

• In Germany, abortion is the first trimester is allowed, whereas late pregnancy terminations are only allowed in serious cases.
• The Abortion pill Mifepristone, or RU-486 as it was called then, was approved in Germany in the year 1999. As per the latest research information, as of 2010, the abortion rate is 6.1 per 1000 women in Germany.
• Since the access to abortive drugs has become easier, the abortion pill cost has become more affordable.

3. The United States of America

• The right to abort with medication is legal in almost all states of America and with the assistance of the major pro-choice organizations, it is somewhat accepted. The Mifepristone abortion pill was approved in the United States in 2000. This revolutionary decision was based upon the tablets safe usage for 12 years in various European countries.
• In the US, the FDA [ Food and Drug Administration], after a series of research in regards to the safety of the abortive drug, approved the pill, accounting that a number of risks resulting from it were minimal. Some of the medical schools also offer special courses on usage on medical abortion and other contraception such as the day after pill like Plan B. The emergency birth control requires no prescription and you can buy Abortion pill Mifepristone it over the counter in some states as well.
• A recent report showed that in the US the number of women terminating a pregnancy with Abortion pill Mifepristone is almost on the same level now with women seeking surgical abortive procedures.
• Furthermore, since its advent, several countries like UK, Spain, Russia, Scandinavia, Germany, etc have reported successful medical termination of pregnancy results.  In many countries, women buy abortion pills online as well.