Health and Me

Ishita Roy

Would RFK Jr. Limit The Access To Abortion Pills?

Abortion rights in US

Despite the questioning at the hearing, Robert F Kennedy Jr has been confirmed as the Health and Human Service or HHS Secretary under President Donald Trump. However, his confirmation has raised significant concerns about the accessibility of birth control and abortion services in the United States.

Abortion rights had already been facing many restriction in many states and reproductive health advocates now fear that RFK Jr's role in shaping policies would further limit access to contraception, especially of the abortion pill, mifepristone.

Access to birth control and abortion services has always been a contentious issue in the US. This is because of the shifting regulations that changes every time the power is shifted. While RFK Jr has in the past expressed support for a woman's right to choose, his confirmation hearings were clear that he closely aligned himself with Trump's policy. This could signal towards a potential restriction on reproductive healthcare. 

The biggest concern is the potential increased limitation on mifepristone, a medication that is used in most abortions. The administration could target this pill and restrict abortion access without having to pass any new laws. This apprehension has led to many women in the US to hoard on to birth control and abortion pills. The Guardian reports that right at the moment when the election results were handed down, US women had ordered in abundance the birth control and abortion pills. The Guardian spoke to Rebecca Gomperts, the founder of Aid Access who is also the top supplier of abortion pills by mail in the US, who said that they shipped over 9,000 abortion pills a month. New requests on the website to order pills ticked almost every second. This is just one of the many cases of hoarding on to medications that are essential for women's health.

<h4>What Could Change If Abortion Pills Are Limited?</h4>

Mifepristone, when used with misoprostol, is a widely used and FDA-approved medication for abortion. Last year, the Supreme Court upheld access to the pill after a legal challenge, but under the Trump administration, new restrictions could emerge through HHS policies.

Kennedy has already stated that Trump has asked him to “study the safety of mifepristone,” though he has not taken a stance on regulation yet. Critics argue that such a review is unnecessary, as extensive research has already proven mifepristone’s safety. According to the Guttmacher Institute, medication abortions accounted for nearly two-thirds of all U.S. abortions in 2023, demonstrating its widespread use.

While the FDA maintains that mifepristone is safe and effective, anti-abortion groups see an opportunity to push for restrictions. Possible changes include:

Ending telehealth access: Requiring in-person doctor visits before prescribing mifepristone could eliminate the option of telemedicine, making it harder for people in restrictive states to obtain the medication.

Increasing reporting requirements: By mandating additional safety reporting on mifepristone, HHS could create bureaucratic barriers that discourage its use.

Limiting distribution: Restricting which pharmacies or clinics can dispense mifepristone could make it harder for patients to access the pill.

Despite these potential restrictions, some healthcare providers may continue offering misoprostol-only abortions, a slightly less effective but still widely used method.

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JFK Jr

John F Kennedy Jr

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Despite the questioning at the hearing, Robert F Kennedy Jr has been confirmed as the Health and Human Service or HHS Secretary under President Donald Trump. However, his confirmation has raised significant concerns about the accessibility of birth control and abortion services in the United States. Abortion rights had already been facing many restriction in many states and reproductive health advocates now fear that RFK Jr's role in shaping policies would further limit access to contraception, especially of the abortion pill, mifepristone. Concerns Over AccessibilityAccess to birth control and abortion services has always been a contentious issue in the US. This is because of the shifting regulations that changes every time the power is shifted. While RFK Jr has in the past expressed support for a woman's right to choose, his confirmation hearings were clear that he closely aligned himself with Trump's policy. This could signal towards a potential restriction on reproductive healthcare. The biggest concern is the potential increased limitation on mifepristone, a medication that is used in most abortions. The administration could target this pill and restrict abortion access without having to pass any new laws. This apprehension has led to many women in the US to hoard on to birth control and abortion pills. The Guardian reports that right at the moment when the election results were handed down, US women had ordered in abundance the birth control and abortion pills. The Guardian spoke to Rebecca Gomperts, the founder of Aid Access who is also the top supplier of abortion pills by mail in the US, who said that they shipped over 9,000 abortion pills a month. New requests on the website to order pills ticked almost every second. This is just one of the many cases of hoarding on to medications that are essential for women's health. What Could Change If Abortion Pills Are Limited?Mifepristone, when used with misoprostol, is a widely used and FDA-approved medication for abortion. Last year, the Supreme Court upheld access to the pill after a legal challenge, but under the Trump administration, new restrictions could emerge through HHS policies.Kennedy has already stated that Trump has asked him to “study the safety of mifepristone,” though he has not taken a stance on regulation yet. Critics argue that such a review is unnecessary, as extensive research has already proven mifepristone’s safety. According to the Guttmacher Institute, medication abortions accounted for nearly two-thirds of all U.S. abortions in 2023, demonstrating its widespread use.While the FDA maintains that mifepristone is safe and effective, anti-abortion groups see an opportunity to push for restrictions. Possible changes include:Ending telehealth access: Requiring in-person doctor visits before prescribing mifepristone could eliminate the option of telemedicine, making it harder for people in restrictive states to obtain the medication.Increasing reporting requirements: By mandating additional safety reporting on mifepristone, HHS could create bureaucratic barriers that discourage its use.Limiting distribution: Restricting which pharmacies or clinics can dispense mifepristone could make it harder for patients to access the pill.Despite these potential restrictions, some healthcare providers may continue offering misoprostol-only abortions, a slightly less effective but still widely used method.