More than a year after the Federal Drug Administration approved the so-called abortion pill, Mifeprex, the drug still is not widely available in Iowa.

Mifeprex, better known as RU-486, has been available around the world since 1988, but was not approved for use by the FDA until last September. It is used to terminate pregnancy within seven weeks of pregnancy, according to a press release from Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa in Des Moines.

Pill-induced non-surgical abortions, or medical abortions, are offered at the Planned Parenthood offices for $900, the same fee charged for a first-trimester surgical abortion, in Bettendorf, Des Moines, Iowa City and Sioux City. They also are offered at private practices around the state.

Sue Ferden, quality assurance director for Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa, said in order to be a provider of Mifeprex, practices must sign a contract with the manufacturer, have access to ultrasound technology and have surgical backup.

Mifeprex blocks the hormone progesterone, which the body needs to sustain pregnancy, according to the press release. The cervix softens and bleeding begins. A few days later, the patient is given Misoprostol, causing the uterus to contract and empty. Patients also receive two ultrasounds, education and medical attention, Ferden said.

“The most important thing that we make sure clients understand is what a commitment this is,” she said. “The medical abortion is a process – you don’t just take a pill and terminate the pregnancy. It requires so much more and is permanent.”

Mifeprex is not an emergency contraceptive, Ferden said. Emergency contraceptives can be taken up to five days after unprotected intercourse to reduce a woman’s risk of becoming pregnant.

Not everyone around campus agrees with Mifeprex’s approval.

“People are generally for or against abortion, and their opinions about [Mifeprex] go along with those views,” said Gary Schmalz, campus director of Campus Crusade for Christ. “Obviously, we are not happy about the decision to make this option available, but I don’t think it’s changed people’s perspectives on abortion in general.”

Abby Hansen, president of the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, said Mifeprex is simply another choice for women.

“It’s not easy by any means,” said Hansen, senior in women’s studies. “But it seems to offer a better choice for those unable to get to a surgeon or those who can’t afford a surgical abortion.”

Ferden said even though Mifeprex is the most common pill used, methotrexate, a cancer-fighting drug, and tamoxifen, an anti-estrogen drug, also have been used for medical abortions.

“For women who choose to terminate pregnancies, it’s important for them to have choice and feel they have access to different options,” she said. “With Mifeprex, they feel it’s a much more natural process, and they feel more in control – which are both important issues.”

Between December 2000 and September 2001, more than 270 women received medical abortions from Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa. That number is about 10 percent of the clinic’s total medical and surgical abortion patients for that time period, Ferden said.

The original numbers the office saw in 1994 when the FDA did test trials and was considering legalizing Mifeprex was a success rate of about 97 percent, she said.

Since Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa began offering Mifeprex in December 2000, she said it has seen a 99.4 percent success rate and limited side effects, Ferden said.

“There are not more [practices] in the private sector that offer Mifeprex, because they aren’t capable,” she said. “And I commend them for realizing that. This requires clinical care in a timely fashion that most private practices can’t provide, but Planned Parenthood can, because we offer 24-hour access to our clients.”