After a miscarriage, the body may retain tissue in the uterus. This can lead to heavy bleeding or infections. Medications like misoprostol and mifepristone help the uterus clear naturally. They reduce the need for surgery and lower health risks. For many women, these drugs offer a safer, less invasive path to recovery.
Health experts recommend timely treatment. Without it, women can face prolonged pain, fever, and even life-threatening complications. In rural or under-resourced areas, post-miscarriage drugs may be the only practical option. Ensuring broad access saves lives and helps women heal both physically and emotionally.
Abortion laws are often written in broad terms. Restrictions aimed at elective abortion sometimes sweep in medically necessary care. When laws ban or limit the use of mifepristone, for example, they can block its use after a miscarriage. Clinics may fear legal repercussions and stop stocking these drugs.
In some states, pharmacists must refuse to fill any prescription that could be used for abortion. This leaves women with miscarriages unable to obtain the same medicines that their doctors prescribe. Confusion over regulations adds delay. Every day of delay can worsen health outcomes.
Several policy issues make it harder to access miscarriage medication:
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