Opinion: Mifepristone Was A Lifesaver For Me

UJ
 — 

the recent decision by a Texas federal judge to halt the FDA’s approval of a drug commonly used for medication abortions strikes a personal chord with me.

This is personal because I took mifepristone years back during a miscarriage, and it was a lifesaver for me.

At the time I was prescribed mifepristone, it had not yet become a focal point in America’s abortion discourse. Unlike many women today in states with restricted access to medication abortion or severe abortion bans, I didn’t have to take a hurried trip across state lines to obtain my medication.

I wasn’t coerced into arranging a secretive meeting with a stranger to buy medication from the black market, as many women I recently spoke with indicated they were planning to do. I also didn’t have to navigate the dangers of ordering mifepristone online amidst the many scammers exploiting the convoluted landscape of state abortion laws in the U.S.

Mifepristone is one of two medications used in the process of medication abortion; the second, misoprostol, was not affected by the Texas judge’s ruling. These two drugs can assist in managing a miscarriage when the fetus is not viable.

This event took place a while back: After enduring over a day of heavy bleeding during my first trimester, I consulted my ob-gyn, who informed me after an examination that my blood pressure was dangerously low and the severe bleeding indicated a miscarriage.

For numerous women, receiving a prescription for mifepristone is part of standard medical practice. However, my case was different: My doctor explained that I was in a critical medical situation. I was extremely grateful for the medication that ultimately saved my life.

The miscarriage came as a shock to me. My first pregnancy, nearly ten years prior, had been joyous, and as a healthy woman, I had no reason to worry upon becoming pregnant again. By the time I started taking mifepristone, I was grieving a life I had already begun to cherish. Like many women, irrespective of education or financial circumstances, I couldn’t escape the statistics that highlight the increased risks Black women face.

Up to one in four known pregnancies may result in a miscarriage, and the statistics are particularly concerning for Black women. An analysis of 4.6 million pregnancies across seven nations shows that Black women have a 43% higher risk of miscarriage compared to White women.

Traditionally, women in the Black community have been encouraged to bear their hardships quietly — to keep personal matters private — even following significant losses such as miscarriage. We often feel compelled to continue on, striving to overcome the numerous statistics indicating the dangers we face, be it health concerns, societal inequalities, or other stressors.

During my miscarriage, I was a terrified woman, experiencing intense pain and hemorrhaging, urgently needing safe medical help. Thanks to mifepristone, I was afforded dignity during my miscarriage — something every woman deserves, whether dealing with a critical miscarriage or pursuing an abortion.

My experience taught me that every miscarriage is significant. Women should have access to the medications and counseling necessary for healing, including mifepristone. What we certainly don’t need is to face criminal charges imposed by lawmakers and reproductive regulations that are vastly disconnected from public sentiment. In fact, despite ongoing political assaults on women’s reproductive rights, over 61% of adults in the U.S. believe abortion should be legal in most cases, according to Pew Research Center.

After the U.S. Justice Department requested that the Supreme Court step in, Justice Samuel Alito issued a temporary order to maintain the current situation, ensuring continued access to the drug while the justices take more time to review the matter.

I sincerely hope the justices can set aside political bias and concentrate on the scientific facts regarding the safety of mifepristone, a medication that, fortunately, was available to me at a time when my life was at risk. Mifepristone, a synthetic steroid, is even safer than commonly prescribed medications like penicillin and Viagra.

Respecting scientific findings means that, regardless of personal beliefs about abortion, we must consider situations like mine and the countless other women who have safely utilized this medication for managing miscarriage complications over the years.

The future of the legal dispute regarding medication abortion remains uncertain. Women throughout the country — in states governed by both political parties — are closely observing these developments. Harsh regulations, such as the recent law enacted by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, aim to criminalize reproductive care providers. Even more troubling is that they are stripping away rights that men often take for granted — it’s unlikely that men would face legal prohibitions regarding healthcare decisions for their own bodies.

This must come to an end. I firmly believe that whether through our voices or our votes, women will ultimately have the final say.