Counteracting Chemical Abortions in Kentucky with Abortion Pill Reversal

Despite abortion being illegal in Kentucky, abortion pills are still being advertised and sold in over 80 gas stations across the state. The article highlights a recent incident where a woman, having started a chemical abortion, sought to reverse its effect through Abortion Pill Reversal (APR) at a pregnancy center. A healthcare provider at this center reported seeing five such women in the past year, with three successful reversals.

Chemical abortion, the most common form of abortion, entails administering two drugs. Mifepristone is used to halt the flow of nutrients necessary for the fetus to survive, while misoprostol causes the pregnant woman to go into labor and deliver her deceased child.

Despite a ban on abortion in Kentucky since 2022, abortion pills are being sold in the state, and officials are working to address the situation. A Kentucky Today article noted that a third-party group promoted chemical abortion pills in places like Paducah, Owensboro, Manchester, and Lawrenceburg.

The APR treatment, which reverses the effects of mifepristone, has reportedly saved over 7,000 lives to date. APRN, an organization responsible for administering APR, consists of about 1,500 healthcare professionals, pregnancy centers, and hospitals. A 2018 study indicated a 64%-68% success rate of APR in saving pregnancies, with no increases in birth defects. Several calls are made to APRN each month, indicating a steady demand for reversal starts.

Kentucky has 13 APR healthcare professionals within its borders, experiencing a 46% increase in reversal starts since 2019. Furthermore, a board-certified OB/GYN and medical advisor for the APRN, Dr. Jonathan Abbott, expressed concerns about the ease of access to chemical abortion pills in Kentucky citing major medical red flags. According to a recent study by the Ethics and Public Policy Center, the abortion drug is 22 times more dangerous than previously thought.

More extensive information on APR treatment is available from APRN. Heartbeat International, the organization that manages APRN, is currently facing two lawsuits regarding the sharing of information about APR.