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Ohio sees sharp increase in complications from so-called abortion pill
A study by Operation Rescue shows that the use of medical abortions are on the rise in Ohio, even though the overall number of abortions being performed is down. (Zffoto/Getty Images)

Ohio sees sharp increase in complications from so-called abortion pill

Complications from the abortion pill called RU486 have risen sharply over the past two years, Operation Rescue reported.

The rise in complications was attributed to a “dramatic increase” in medication abortions in the state. Although medication abortions have increased, the overall abortion rate has decreased since 1997, according to the report. Operation rescue noted that some clinics use the method because it cuts down on costs associated with surgical procedures.

What complications occurred?

The most common complication was an "incomplete abortion." Others included "severe bleeding, failed abortions, and infection,” the report states. “Many women suffered more than one complication.”

The number of reported complications rose from 59 in 2016 to 106 in 2017, an increase of nearly 80 percent.

The numbers came from abortion clinic reports from 2014 to 2018 that were obtained by Operation Rescue. Ohio law requires doctors, hospitals and abortion clinics to report any complications that occur during or after an abortion.

According to Operation Rescue's report released Friday, one of the worst cases came from a Planned Parenthood clinic in Northeast Ohio. The clinic reported a total of 38 abortion complications in 2017.

“The increased use of the abortion drug Mifepristone has led to a dramatic rise in serious abortion complications,” Troy Newman, president of Operation Rescue, said on the organization's website.

“We appreciate Ohio’s reporting requirements because it helps us understand the true dangers of this type of abortion so we can help other women avoid them,” Newman added.  “Operation Rescue encourages every state to enact similar laws. Knowledge is power, and if we don’t understand the true extent of the problem, we will never be able to adequately address it or stop it."

What does the abortion pill do?

Abortion pills are administered up to 10 weeks after a woman's last menstrual cycle. Operation Rescue explained in graphic detail what the mother and her unborn baby can endure:

For those who take Mifepristone with Misoprostol, the process can be slow, bloody, and painful. Mifepristone blocks the hormones that maintain a pregnancy while Misoprostol causes uterine contractions that expel the contents of the uterus. The process, which is compared to a miscarriage, can take about three days or more.

Operation Rescue is a prominent and national pro-life Christian activist organization, according to its website.

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