RU 486 DANGERS AND RISKS

What Is RU 486

RU 486 is a deadly, powerful synthetic steroid used to induce abortions. RU 486 must be used in conjunction with a prostaglandin which induces contractions. (EE Baulieu, "RU 486..." Journal of the American Medical Association. Oct. 1989) Prostaglandins are accompanied by serious problems of their own, including potentially lethal side affects. (Alan Riding, "Frenchwoman's Death Is linked to Abortion Pill and a Hormone," New York Times. April 10, 1991) Another problem lies in the fact that there are only two prostaglandins available in the US and neither of them can be used with RU 486. (Phillip Stubblefield, "Induced Abortion ... " Fertility Control 1989.)

What Are the Dangers of RU 486?

Prolonged heavy bleeding, severe cramps, nausea, diarrhea, headaches, skin rashes and vomiting are usual side affects of RU 486. (Balieu ... ) The average duration of bleeding is 10 days and it has lasted as long as 43 days. Five percent of all women bleed so severely that a D&C is required to stop the bleeding. Some women have required blood transfusions and two heart attacks and one death have occurred. RU 486 can also cause sever disabilities in babies who survive the abortion, can injure and kill women, and can lead to harmful effects on any subsequent offspring. Other preliminary findings of independent studies reveal serious under reporting of the abortion technique's adverse side effects. In 5-10% of the women who use RU 486, the drug fails to kill the developing child . These women usually have to have follow-up surgery. (RU 486: The Science and Politics. Alan Guttmacher Institute, 1989.)

Research on RU 486

Most all of the research done on RU 486 thus far reveals that women undergo many adverse side affects in the short term,. However, nothing has been done to even begin to depict the ill long-term affects of this drug. There is much concern that the drug could be a chemical time-bomb of sorts since it has chemical properties similar to DES, a drug given to women in the 70's to prevent miscarriage (later results showed that women exposed to the drug developed cancer or developed deformities in their reproductive tracts). (Kolata, "The Medical Record on DES Emerges After Years of Research and Anxiety," New York Times. April 9, 1989.)

Medical Authorities

The importation of RU 486 into the US for personal use was prohibited by the FDA in June 1989 to protect women from serious side affects of RU 486. The American Medical Association supports the FDA ban because RU 486 is too serious of a drug to be sold over the counter and without strict medical supervision.

Conclusion

For the most part, RU 486 is a relatively untested drug. And the limited testing that has been done has shown drastically severe results the U.S. should not support. To support the drug in this country would be irresponsible on our part. The US public does not favor most abortions and they support the harmful physical and emotional effects of the RU 486 drug even less.

Article used with permission from www.prolifeinfo.org