Who can have an EMA?
EMA can be safely offered to pregnant people up to 10 weeks (70 days) who have made an informed, voluntary choice for an abortion and:
- have an intrauterine pregnancy
- have had a caesarean section
- have a multi-fetal pregnancy
- are obese
- have uterine abnormalities, including fibroids
- have positive STI pathology and have commenced treatment
- wish to avoid surgical intervention
- are currently breastfeeding
- have available supports, can access emergency care and be active in post-procedure follow-up
What the medication does
The combined use of mifepristone and misoprostol:
- prevents progesterone from supporting the pregnancy
- softens and dilates the cervix
- increases uterine contractility.
The medications are self-administered 24 to 48 hours apart to induce the abortion; the effects are similar to a spontaneous miscarriage.
Combining these two medicines is a well-established method for early medical abortion and is known to be safe and effective.