About

• Mifepristone is a synthetic steroid  prescribed to end pregnancies by dilating the cervix and blocking the hormone progesterone.

• Due to Mifepristone’s antiprogestin property, it blocks the effect of progesterone and does not allow the foetus to grow. Hence it is used to terminate the pregnancy.
• It is usually taken with a prostaglandin (a hormone like substance) which induces contraction of the uterus and helps to expel the foetus.
• Mifepristone is majorly used in the first trimester for early termination of pregnancy (up to 63 days). 
• It isn’t prescribed at a later stage of pregnancy as consuming the medicine late in pregnancy can cause severe bleeding and even death.

Sources

• https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-law/us-supreme-court-abortion-pill-9397754/
• https://indianexpress.com/article/health-wellness/abortion-pill-mifepristone-misused-sending-young-women-er-8562847/