Largest Study Reveals Abortion Pill Complications 22 Times Higher Than FDA Claims

A new large-scale study from the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC) has found that serious adverse events from mifepristone abortions occur at a rate of 10.93%, which is approximately 22 times higher than the less than 0.5% rate reported on the FDA-approved drug label. The study analyzed real-world insurance claims data from over 865,000 mifepristone prescriptions between 2017 and 2023, identifying complications such as sepsis, infection, hemorrhaging, and other life-threatening events within 45 days of the abortion. Researchers argue that prior FDA figures were based on clinical trials with far fewer participants and shorter or inconsistent monitoring periods. The EPPC authors urge the FDA to reinstate stronger safety protocols, require more comprehensive reporting of side effects, and reconsider mifepristone’s approval based on objective safety criteria. Advocates of the study contend that the current narrative portraying the abortion pill as 'safe and effective' does not align with the real-world data. The findings have intensified calls for regulatory review and greater transparency regarding the risks associated with medication abortions.