User:Molybdenum Franklin/Abortifacient
An abortifacient ("that which will cause a miscarriage" from Latin: abortus "miscarriage" and faciens "making") is a substance that induces abortion. Abortifacients for animals that have mated undesirably are known as mismating shots.
Common abortifacients used in performing medical abortions include mifepristone, which is typically used in conjunction with misoprostol in a two-step approach.[1] Oxytocin is commonly used to induce abortion in the second or third trimester.[2] There are also several herbal mixtures with abortifacient claims,[3] though there are reports that they may have caused severe side-effects, including death.
Notes for future edits Ideas for improving: Discuss the term “abortifacient” as an umbrella/broad/nonspecific term. It is not quite a medical term, because in a medical setting you would talk about the specific drug/chemical/compound. Discuss “abortifacients” vs abortion procedures Many “abortifacients” have multiple uses--not all “abortifacients” are taken in order to specifically induce an abortion--some might be cancer treatment drugs or ulcer treatment drugs. (This is different from a teratogen) History is good--long history of chemical/medication abortion, this is nothing new. Safety discussion could be more robust--the danger with herbs, etc is often that 1) they have other side effects 2) dosage is not certain 3) because of dosage could be toxic. Medication abortion is much safer in comparison because we have studied it, have a good sense of the dose and protocol, and know how it works.
- ↑ Planned Parenthood. The Abortion Pill (Medication Abortion). Archived from the original on 7 February 2009. Retrieved on 22 January 2009.
- ↑ Induction Abortion.
- ↑ Riddle, John M. (1992). Contraception and Abortion from the Ancient World to the Renaissance. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press ISBN 0-674-16876-3.