It is safe for women to take pills to induce abortion at home, say medical experts
London — Women in England should be able to take abortion pills at home to avoid the "distressing experience" of suffering pain and heavy bleeding while returning from hospitals and clinics, medical experts said on Monday. Studies suggest that it is safe for women to take abortion drugs at home instead of in a clinic, and allowing them to do so does not increase abortion rates, according to an editorial in the BMJ (British Medical Journal) Sexual and Reproductive Health. "Women’s preference for home administration is easy to grasp: it allows for greater privacy, better control over timing, and better emotional support from family, while also reducing the burden on healthcare facilities," it said. After seeking medical advice, women will normally take the drug mifepristone followed by misoprostol a day or two later. Since the second dose can cause an abortion within an hour, which leads to heavy bleeding, women in Scotland have the option of taking the drug at home. That will soon be...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.