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Medical abortion
Medical abortion uses a combination of mifepristone (a progesterone receptor antagonist) and misoprostol (a prostaglandin analog) to terminate early pregnancy by blocking progesterone signaling and inducing uterine contractions.
Medical abortion uses a combination of mifepristone (a progesterone receptor antagonist) and misoprostol (a prostaglandin analog) to terminate early pregnancy by blocking progesterone signaling and inducing uterine contractions. Used for Medical termination of intrauterine pregnancy up to 10 weeks gestation.
At a glance
| Generic name | Medical abortion |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Medication abortion, abortion with pills |
| Sponsor | Reproductive Health Training Center of the Republic of Moldova |
| Drug class | Progesterone receptor antagonist + prostaglandin analog combination |
| Target | Progesterone receptor (PR); prostaglandin receptors (EP1, EP2, EP3, FP) |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Reproductive Health / Obstetrics |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Mifepristone competitively blocks progesterone receptors in the endometrium and myometrium, causing decidualization reversal and detachment of the gestational sac. Misoprostol, administered 24–48 hours later, acts as a prostaglandin E1 analog to increase uterine contractility and cervical dilation, facilitating expulsion of pregnancy tissue. Together, these agents achieve complete abortion in >95% of cases when used in the first 10 weeks of gestation.
Approved indications
- Medical abortion in early pregnancy (up to 10 weeks gestation)
Common side effects
- Vaginal bleeding/heavy menstrual-like bleeding
- Abdominal cramping/pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness/headache
- Fever/chills
Key clinical trials
- A Real-World Study Comparing the Efficacy of Different Treatment Regimens for Early Missed Abortion (NA)
- Point of Care Tests in the Management of Very Early Medical Abortion
- Identification of Histories of Pregnancy Termination, Particularly Early Miscarriage, in General Medical Records
- Late-term Abortions Between 14 and 16 Weeks of Gestation: Comparison of Hemorrhagic Risks in Surgical vs. Medical Abortions
- Bronchiolitis Clearance Airways With Seaserum (NA)
- A Reduced Dose of Cabergoline for Lactation Inhibition After Second-Trimester Abortion or Pregnancy Loss (PHASE2)
- Composition of the Intestinal Microbiome in Patients With Recurrent Spontaneous Abortions.
- LUMIERE on the FETUS
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Medical abortion CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Medical abortion updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Reproductive Health Training Center of the Republic of Moldova portfolio CI