January 23, 2020, Lansing, Mich. — A bill to ensure women who are prescribed the abortion pill are given information about the abortion pill reversal protocol was introduced yesterday in the Michigan Legislature. House Bill 5374 was introduced on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade.
House Bill 5374’s lead sponsor is Rep. Beth Griffin (R-Mattawan).
The abortion pill regimen first uses RU-486 (mifepristone) to break down the connection between the baby and mother’s womb. Then 24 to 48 hours later, a different pill, misoprostol (Cytotec), is given to induce contractions and expel the baby. The abortion pill reversal protocol uses the hormone progesterone to reverse the effects of RU-486, which is a progesterone blocker. Progesterone is a common treatment used to prevent miscarriage.
Research shows the progesterone treatment is effective 64 to 68 percent of the time. Without the treatment, the abortion may not be successful in women who only take the RU-486 pill. The treatment is not effective in women who take the second misoprostol pill.
Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing said, “Offering information to women about their options should be something abortion businesses have no issue with, as they claim to support all women’s choices. The abortion pill reversal protocol is another choice for women who experience regret after taking the first abortion pill.”
Michigan abortion data show that pill abortions have risen to 35 percent of all abortions. The percentage of pill abortions will continue to grow following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanding the official range for using the abortion pill from 7 weeks gestation to 10 weeks.
Listing said, “With the increasing use of the potentially dangerous abortion pill, there will also be an increase in women who instantly regret their decision. Abortion pill reversal has helped hundreds of women reverse a decision they regret, and welcome their child into life. There’s no good ethical argument for keeping women in the dark about this common treatment as an option.”