Which states allow partial birth abortion

Non-surgical abortion methods

The abortion pill

Chemical formula of mifepristone ©

This is a method of terminating early pregnancy using medications taken by mouth or by injection which produce a miscarriage.

It was developed in France in the 1980s. It was launched in the UK in 1991 and the USA in 2000.

Medical abortion works in two stages: First the women is given the drug mifepristone, which blocks a hormone needed to make fertilised eggs stick to the womb lining.

After 48 hours, the woman is given a different drug, which triggers contractions and bleeding and causes the foetus to be expelled from her body.

Medical abortion can be used in the first 7 weeks of a pregnancy, while surgical abortion is usually delayed until 6 weeks or later.

The earlier an abortion is performed, the safer it is for the woman.

Some women say they would prefer this method because it somehow "seems more natural", and because it avoids surgery.

Supporters of abortion rights point out that medical abortion, because it needs much less training than surgical abortion, has the potential to make abor