title: RU 486: an alternative to surgical abortion.
abstract: After 5 years of use in more than 100,000 European women, RU 486, an antiprogestin medication used as a medical abortifacient, has recently come under scrutiny in the United States. This article discusses the current and potential uses of RU 486. Also addressed are the history, advantages, and disadvantages of medical abortion (including the acceptability of the method from a woman-centered perspective); new clinical trials; and ethical issues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine and Reproductive Endocrinology, Mercer Medical Center, Trenton, NJ.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Donaldson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Briggs
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McMaster
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects; D004995:Ethics, Professional; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D015735:Mifepristone