Planned Parenthood Northern New England Statement in Response to U.S. Supreme Court’s Opinion on Medication Abortion Case
For Immediate Release: June 13, 2024
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – In reaction to today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the Food and Drug Administration Et Al. v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine Et Al., Planned Parenthood of Northern New England released the following statement:
Statement from Nicole Clegg, Interim CEO of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England:
“The most important thing to know is that medication abortion remains legal in New Hampshire for now. As the government made clear in this case, mifepristone is safe and effective and has been used in the United States for more than two decades. This case was built on lies about science, but it’s clear the plaintiffs’ real objection was to our autonomy and freedom.
Let's also not forget that this is the same Supreme Court that revoked federal protections for abortion nearly two years ago, and is about to decide another critical abortion case. Our rights are still under attack.
PPNNE will continue to offer all abortion care options to our patients throughout Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.”
THE FACTS ON MEDICATION ABORTION
What is medication abortion?
Medication abortion, also known as the “abortion pill,” commonly refers to the process of using two drugs to induce an abortion early in pregnancy. The two drugs are mifepristone, which blocks the hormone progesterone and stops the pregnancy from continuing, and misoprostol, which causes the uterus to empty.
Medication abortion can be used up to 77 days, or 11 weeks, after a patient’s first day of their last menstrual period. Both drugs are extremely safe and effective and have been used by more than five million people to safely end their pregnancies. A complete description of the mifepristone/misoprostol medication abortion protocol can be viewed here.
What is mifepristone?
Mifepristone is one of two drugs commonly used in a medication abortion. Mifepristone works by blocking the hormone progesterone. Mifepristone has been safe and legal in the United States since 2000, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the brand name Mifeprex. In April 2019, the FDA approved the first generic form of mifepristone, following a review of evidence that medication abortion is a safe, effective way to end an early pregnancy.
How effective is this medication abortion protocol?
The mifepristone/misoprostol medication abortion protocol is extremely effective. Its efficacy is highest early in pregnancy, through approximately 11 weeks. The sooner the protocol is administered, the better the efficacy. In general, the mifepristone/misoprostol protocol has a success rate of more than 95%.
What percentage of PPNNE’s patients choose medication abortion?
Approximately 70% of our patients who decide to end their pregnancy in the first 11 weeks choose medication abortion.
Why would someone choose a medication abortion over an in-clinic/procedural abortion?
People choose medication abortion for many reasons, such as the ability to end their pregnancy at home or in another setting where they feel most comfortable. Medication abortion also reduces barriers to care, such as travel to an in-clinic setting and paying for associated costs such as gas, lodging, or childcare. Some patients opt for medication abortion to avoid the potential harassment and intimidation of protesters at health centers.
Are the abortion pill and the morning after pill the same thing?
No. Medication abortion, also known as the abortion pill, ends an existing pregnancy. Emergency contraception, also known as the morning after pill or Plan B, prevents pregnancy from occurring.
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About Planned Parenthood of Northern New England: PPNNE is the largest provider of sexual and reproductive health care across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. In FY23, PPNNE provided care to more than 31,000 patients for more than 42,000 visits. There are 15 health centers across the region. PPNNE was named a 2021 and 2022 Guardian of Excellence Award® winner by Press Ganey, the national leader in health care consumer and workforce engagement. Press Ganey recognizes PPNNE as a top-performing health care organization, achieving the 95th percentile or above for performance in patient experience, out of more than 20,000 medical practices.