The pregnancy-terminating RU-486 medication, aka "The Abortion Pill," remains the most effective medical way to end pregnancies of seven to nine weeks.
According to a report by the American Journal of Public Health, half of U.S. pregnancies are unintentional, and 40 percent of these are aborted. Further, the Guttmacher Institute, which specializes in reproductive health, says that nearly 53 million legal abortions have occurred from 1973-2011. In 1973, the Supreme Court made its landmark Roe v. Wade decision.
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Such statistics show the importance of an effective, non-invasive and safe option to help women who have decided to end their pregnancy. Before proceeding, there are some legal aspects to consider, so here are four legal facts about the Abortion Pill:
1. Mifeprex, aka RU-486, must be doctor prescribed within the first 63 days of a pregnancy, though it's 49 days (seven weeks) in some states, according to Planned Parenthood.
2. The medication is available only from a clinic, doctor's office or hospitals, and must be supervised by a physician. Women must visit their health care provider's office three times in two weeks.
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3. There are no age restrictions in the FDA guidelines for prescribing Mifeprex, though many states have parental consent laws for minors that cover all abortions.
4. The Guttmacher Institute, which specializes in sexual and reproductive health, provides a comprehensive look at each state's abortion laws. The Institute points out that just 13 states have abortion laws that favor women, an unkind stat for the one out of every three women who will have an abortion in her lifetime.
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