Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

Catherine Hennessey, MD
Physician
March 11, 2023
Share
Tweet
Share

As an OB/GYN, I know that medication abortion is safe, commonly used, and effective. Women’s rights, family building, and abortion are recognized in many international human rights documents. The United Nations’ 1966 Human Rights Treaty states that all people have a right to the highest attainable standard of health. The ability for someone to choose when and if they want to have a child is the basis of the Reproductive Justice framework and is paramount to protecting the health of a person and family. Family building is also intimately connected to economic and social well-being, contributing to overall health. Globally, unsafe abortions account for 4 to 13 percent of maternal deaths. The World Health Organization recognizes that access to safe and timely abortion is an essential public health intervention that reduces maternal morbidity and mortality. In other words, targeted political action that threatens access to abortion violates human rights.

Medication abortion is the most common method of terminating a pregnancy in the United States. Although abortions  can be done with misoprostol alone, the most effective regimen combines mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for pregnancy termination for over two decades and for use up to ten weeks in pregnancy. Mifepristone is also used for treatment of miscarriage, meaning that decreasing access has consequences beyond abortion care. Despite long-term safety data, the FDA highly regulates mifepristone because abortion care is politicized unlike any other form of health care. In January 2023, the FDA loosened restrictions on mifepristone by removing a requirement that only certified providers can give the medication to patients. Now, pharmacies can stock and dispense mifepristone for patients with a prescription. Expanded access is particularly important for those living in rural and legislatively restrictive environments since they are already disproportionately impacted by barriers to care.

A recent court case filed in Texas could potentially reverse this progress. The case was strategically filed by anti-abortion groups to be reviewed by Trump-appointee Judge Kacsmaryk, who is known for his conservative views. The clear intent of this lawsuit is to strategically leverage a judge who is likely to rule in a way that will decrease access to mifepristone and, subsequently, the most effective form of medication abortion.

The United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) declares, “All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law.” Mifepristone is used almost exclusively for reproductive health, and manipulating access to this medication for religious or political gain is a clear violation of UDHR because it targets people who can become pregnant. Such discrimination threatens the right to life, health, and privacy of those with reproductive capability. Additionally, misoprostol-only regimens increase the likelihood of side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chills, abdominal cramping, and incomplete abortion. Unnecessarily exposing people to less effective treatment with more side effects is cruel, unethical, and violates international human rights treaties.

Americans have become desensitized to the endless onslaught of political attacks targeting reproductive rights, but we cannot become complacent. So, what are actionable ways we can improve reproductive health moving forward? First, we must continue to educate people about the facts of abortion care: targeting mifepristone will not make medication abortion impossible, but it will force people to rely on a less effective option with more side effects. Second, we must support organizations dedicated to advancing reproductive rights. Abortion funds, for example, are community-based organizations that assist people monetarily and socially regardless of the political landscape. Lastly, we must vote for people who reflect the diversity of this country and pledge to uphold reproductive rights at the state and federal levels.

Religious and cultural ideology masked as politics trivialize reproductive health care and diminish forced pregnancy’s physical, mental, and emotional effects. As a country, we must move beyond politics and recognize reproductive health is a human rights issue. It’s time to reverse the assault on reproductive health.

Catherine Hennessey is an obstetrician-gynecologist.

Prev

Help is out there: a waitress' story of hope and inspiration

March 11, 2023 Kevin 0
…
Next

An inside look at the orphan drug revolution [PODCAST]

March 11, 2023 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: OB/GYN

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Help is out there: a waitress' story of hope and inspiration
Next Post >
An inside look at the orphan drug revolution [PODCAST]

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

  • Are negative news cycles and social media injurious to our health?

    Rabia Jalal, MD
  • What matters in an optimal consumer health care market

    Richard Reece, MD
  • How social media can help or hurt your health care career

    Health eCareers
  • Sharing mental health issues on social media

    Tarena Lofton
  • Protecting reproductive rights: the importance of abortion training for medical trainees

    Shreya Sridhara
  • 3 ways to advance the credibility of online health information

    Robert Pearl, MD

More in Physician

  • The shocking risk every smart student faces when applying to medical school

    Curtis G. Graham, MD
  • The physician who turned burnout into a mission for change

    Jessie Mahoney, MD
  • Time theft: the unseen harm of abusive oversight

    Kayvan Haddadan, MD
  • Why more doctors are leaving clinical practice and how it helps health care

    Arlen Meyers, MD, MBA
  • Harassment and overreach are driving physicians to quit

    Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD
  • Why starting with why can transform your medical practice

    Neil Baum, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why specialist pain clinics and addiction treatment services require strong primary care

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Conditions
    • Harassment and overreach are driving physicians to quit

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • Why peer support can save lives in high-pressure medical careers

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • When a medical office sublease turns into a legal nightmare

      Ralph Messo, DO | Physician
    • Addressing menstrual health inequities in adolescents

      Callia Georgoulis | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • The shocking risk every smart student faces when applying to medical school

      Curtis G. Graham, MD | Physician
    • Clinical ghosts and why they haunt our exam rooms

      Kara Wada, MD | Conditions
    • High blood pressure’s hidden impact on kidney health in older adults

      Edmond Kubi Appiah, MPH | Conditions
    • Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How declining MMR vaccination rates put future generations at risk

      Ambika Sharma, Onyi Oligbo, and Katrina Green, MD | Conditions
    • The physician who turned burnout into a mission for change

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 8 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why specialist pain clinics and addiction treatment services require strong primary care

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Conditions
    • Harassment and overreach are driving physicians to quit

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • Why peer support can save lives in high-pressure medical careers

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • When a medical office sublease turns into a legal nightmare

      Ralph Messo, DO | Physician
    • Addressing menstrual health inequities in adolescents

      Callia Georgoulis | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • The shocking risk every smart student faces when applying to medical school

      Curtis G. Graham, MD | Physician
    • Clinical ghosts and why they haunt our exam rooms

      Kara Wada, MD | Conditions
    • High blood pressure’s hidden impact on kidney health in older adults

      Edmond Kubi Appiah, MPH | Conditions
    • Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How declining MMR vaccination rates put future generations at risk

      Ambika Sharma, Onyi Oligbo, and Katrina Green, MD | Conditions
    • The physician who turned burnout into a mission for change

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters
8 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...