Abortifacient

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An abortifacient is a substance that induces abortion.

Contents 1 History 2 Present time 2.1 Herbal abortifacients 2.2 Pharmaceutical abortifacients 3 Pre-implantation labeling controversy 4 References 5 External links

History

The ancient Greek colony of Cyrene at one time had an economy based almost entirely on the production and export of silphium, a powerful abortifacient in the parsley family. Silphium figured so prominently in the wealth of Cyrene that the plant appeared on the obverse and reverse of coins minted there. Silphium, which was native only to that part of Libya, was overharvested by the Greeks and was effectively driven to extinction.

As the Catholic Church gained control of European society, women who dispensed abortifacient herbs found themselves classified as witches and were often persecuted (see witch-hunt). ^[1]

Present time

Herbal abortifacients

Many herbs and plants sold "over the counter" today, including Wild carrot, Black cohosh, Pennyroyal, Nutmeg, Mugwort, Papaya, and Common Rue are themselves abortifacients. Typically the labeling will contraindicate use by pregnant women, but will not contain an explanation for this contraindication. There is little available data on their efficacy.

King's American Dispensatory of 1898 recommended a mixture of brewer's yeast and pennyroyal tea as "a safe and certain abortive"

Pharmaceutical abortifacients

The methods of operation of prescription drugs used as abortifacients are better understood than those of traditional herbal remedies, but they have been controversial since the 1980s. The most prominent of these is Mifepristone (also known as "RU-486" and marketed under the brand name "Mifeprex"), which is used in conjunction with Misoprostol (an anti-ulcer drug marketed under the name "Cytotec"). Mifepristone has been approved for inducing abortions in many Western countries since the late 1990s, while this use of Misoprostol is off-label.

Misoprostol alone is sometimes used for self-induced abortion in Latin American countries where legal abortion is not available, and by some immigrants from these countries in the United States who cannot afford a legal abortion.

Pre-implantation labeling controversy

There is controversy as to whether pregnancy begins at the moment of fertilization, or at the moment the blastocyst implants in the uterine lining. Some substances are believed to prevent implantation and thus destroy the blastocyst, although their primary effect is to prevent fertilization. American federal law and British law mark the beginning of pregnancy at implantation; thus, these substances are labeled as contraceptives, rather than abortifacients. They are generally not effective if taken after implantation.^[2] Labeling of these agents as abortifacient is supported by some opposed to abortion,^[3] usually due to their belief that human life begins at fertilization.

The following agents may prevent implantation of a blastocyst, although in most cases they also prevent fertilization:^[4]

• Hormonal contraceptives
  • Combined estrogen & progestogen:
    • Combined oral contraceptive pill ("The Pill")*
    • Contraceptive patch
    • Contraceptive vaginal ring
    • Lunelle (monthly injection)
  • Progestogen used alone:
    • Progestogen only pill (POP)*
    • Depo Provera (injection every three months)
    • Implants (such as Norplant or Implanon)
    • IntraUterine System ("IUS")
• Intrauterine device ("IUD")*
• Some herbal contraceptives may work primarily by preventing implantation
• The Lactational Amenorrhea Method is known to cause luteal phase defect (LPD). LPD is believed to interfere with the implantation of embryos.^[5]
• Fertility awareness methods - it has been speculated that intercourse during the less-fertile times of the cycle might create embryos incapable of implanting (due to aged gametes at the time of fertilization).^[6]

(*) These methods may also be used as Emergency contraception. POPs are also packaged for use as emergency contraception under the brand name "Plan B".

References

1. ^ Kramer, Heinrich, & Sprenger, Jacob. (1487). Malleus Maleficarum. (Montague Summers, Trans.). Retrieved June 3, 2006.
2. ^ Vivian M. Dickerson (June 2005). Emergency Contraception: Out of Sight, Out of Mind? (PDF). Advanced Studies in Medicine, Vol. 5, No. 6 283-284. Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine. Retrieved on 2006-08-03.
3. ^ Finn, J.T. (2005-04-23). "Birth Control" Pills cause early Abortions. Pro-Life America — Facts on Abortion. prolife.com. Retrieved on 2006-08-25.
4. ^ Abortion Facts. Center for Bio-Ethical Reform. Retrieved on 2006-08-03.
5. ^ Díaz S, Cárdenas H, Brandeis A, Miranda P, Salvatierra A, Croxatto H (1992). "Relative contributions of anovulation and luteal phase defect to the reduced pregnancy rate of breastfeeding women.". Fertil Steril 58 (3): 498-503. PMID 1521642. 
6. ^ Luc Bovens (2006). "The rhythm method and embryonic death". Journal of Medical Ethics 32: 355-356. 

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