FYI - that link is a "mailto" link.

I thought they were referring to at-home use. I believe in the US you must get the first dose administered at a clinic or doctor's office, and only do the second dose at home. Right/wrong?

Well, you typically take the mifepristone (which actually terminates the pregnancy) in the clinic, and take the misoprostol (which expels it) at home. Most of the process really happens at home, which is why a lot of women choose the medication option. They want to go through the procedure in a private, familiar setting.

Call me when you can buy this OTC at the local Walgreens-Walmart-Supermarket.

Better yet to be able to buy it online and have it fed ex'd overnight.

There are still too many rural or just plain backwards places where doctors are afraid to even write a prescription for this.

Whitemore, you're totally right.

SDstuck--medical abortion has too many risks and possible complications to be so easily available. I think it's best to be required to have one-on-one time with a doctor so patients are fully informed. It makes the medication regimen safer.

Whitemore, you're totally right.

SDstuck--medical abortion has too many risks and possible complications to be so easily available. I think it's best to be required to have one-on-one time with a doctor so patients are fully informed. It makes the medication regimen safer.

I wish I had this option when I had my abortion 12 years ago. Altough, from reading about it, the surgical bortin sounds a lot less like work.

Shameless plug. Over at DailyKos I wrote a series of three diaries, entitled Coming out of the Abortion closet. As one commentator put it, "my work is unpolished" but I like it.

I am going to post the 3rd part here, because it links to the first and second.

I am not saying it's great writing, but honestly, I think it makes an valid point that to demytholigize and de-demonize abortion, we who have had them and are fine need to start publicly speaking out.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/11/9562/5352

Kamikazebirds, medical abortion, for all its risks, is still safer than pregnancy and childbirth, or other "do-it-yourself" abortion methods. If a woman wants an abortion but can't find a doctor willing to help her, I'd rather her be able to buy RU-486 from a reputable online store than go without an abortion or try to figure out how to do one herself. Of course the best situation involves understanding doctors, but we don't have those everywhere, and all woman need options, not just women in cities.

In the UK you collect it free of charge mostly at a family planning clinic or womens health clinic where you take the pills (same is also true of the US). Typically however you take the first pill there and go home after that. They are currently pursuing a change in legislation allowing you to take both the pills at home following medical consultation as well as loosening legislation to allow a nurse only to prescribe it and/or surgical abortions. You can also pay privately for the pill via a different number of clinics. Im not sure if they require you to stay in for a few hours.