How Mifepristone Was a Lifesaver for Me
Roxanne Jones, a pioneer at ESPN The Magazine and former executive at ESPN, has also worked with the New York Daily News and The Philadelphia Inquirer. She co-authored “Say it Loud: An Illustrated History of the Black Athlete” and shares her insights on politics, sports, and culture on Philadelphia’s 900AM WURD. Her opinions are her own.
A recent decision by a Texas federal judge to halt the FDA's approval of a commonly used drug for medication abortions hits close to home for me. Years ago, mifepristone was crucial during my miscarriage and ultimately saved my life.
At the time I was prescribed mifepristone, it wasn’t yet a focal point in the abortion debate. I didn’t face the challenges many women do today, such as traveling across state lines to access the medication due to restrictive laws or bans on abortion. Unlike some women I've spoken to who had to resort to the black market or navigate online scams to obtain the drug, I was able to receive it without such hurdles.
Mifepristone is part of a two-drug regimen for medication abortions, with misoprostol being the other. The Texas judge's ruling did not affect misoprostol. These medications can also be used in miscarriages to help when the fetus is not viable.
Years ago, during the first trimester of my pregnancy, I experienced severe bleeding and my ob-gyn informed me that my blood pressure was dangerously low, indicating a miscarriage. For many, mifepristone is a standard part of medical care, but in my case, it was a life-saving necessity. I was grateful for the medication that preserved my life.
My miscarriage was unexpected. Having enjoyed a healthy first pregnancy a decade earlier, I had no reason to be concerned when I became pregnant again. By the time I received mifepristone, I was losing a child I had already begun to love. Despite my education and economic status, I couldn't escape the statistics that put Black women at a higher risk.
Miscarriages occur in up to one in four known pregnancies, with Black women facing a 43% higher risk than White women, according to a study of 4.6 million pregnancies across seven countries.
In the Black community, women often bear their struggles silently, even after a loss as profound as a miscarriage. We are conditioned to keep moving forward, despite the statistics that highlight the dangers we face from health risks to societal challenges.
During my miscarriage, I was terrified, in severe pain, and in urgent need of medical care. Mifepristone provided me with dignity during this ordeal, something every woman deserves whether facing a miscarriage or seeking an abortion.
My experience taught me the importance of access to necessary medications and support, including mifepristone. We don't need to be criminalized by outdated reproductive laws. Despite political attacks, a majority of Americans believe abortion should be legal in most cases, according to Pew Research Center.
The US Justice Department has asked the Supreme Court to intervene, and Justice Samuel Alito has issued a temporary order to maintain access to the drug while the justices review the case.
I hope the justices prioritize the scientific evidence regarding mifepristone's safety, a drug I was fortunate to access when my life was at risk. Mifepristone is even safer than many common prescriptions like penicillin and Viagra.
Regardless of one's stance on abortion, the science supporting mifepristone's safety for miscarriage complications must be acknowledged.
Women nationwide are closely watching the legal battle over medication abortion. Laws like the one recently signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis aim to criminalize reproductive care providers and strip away rights that men take for granted.
This must change, and I believe that through our voices and votes, women will ultimately prevail.