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Abortion medication user says she has 'no regrets,' 25 years since the FDA approved the medication

FILE - Boxes of the drug mifepristone sit on a shelf at the West Alabama Women's Center in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on March 16, 2022. The Supreme Court is deciding whether women will face restrictions in getting a drug used in the most common method of abortion in the United States, while a lawsuit continues. (AP Photo/Allen G. Breed, File)
Allen G. Breed/AP
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AP
FILE - Boxes of the drug mifepristone sit on a shelf at the West Alabama Women's Center in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on March 16, 2022. The Supreme Court is deciding whether women will face restrictions in getting a drug used in the most common method of abortion in the United States, while a lawsuit continues. (AP Photo/Allen G. Breed, File)

Last week marked the 25-year anniversary of the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of Mifepristone. It comes at a time when reproductive health care rights are under attack by federal administrators.

Meantime, protections for healthcare providers and reproductive care continue to expand in New York State. Governor Kathy Hochul has signed several pieces of legislation that strengthens shield law protections, doctors, and access to care.

To discuss the impact of this medication, that serves as an at-home medication used, in conjunction with misoprostol, to end an early-stage pregnancy, we spoke to a mother who used the drug.

Marissa “Sunni” Rudd is a content creator and founder of For the Family, a New York City Based family services organization. Rudd. who had a successful medication abortion and vlogged about it, sharing the experience with millions of viewers and WAMC's Samantha Simmons.

This week, federal officials approved another generic version of the pill that’s approved for pregnancies through 10 weeks.

Samantha joined the WAMC staff in 2023 after graduating from the University at Albany. She covers the City of Troy and Rensselaer County at large. Outside of reporting, she hosts WAMC's Weekend Edition and Midday Magazine.

She can be reached by phone at (518)-465-5233 Ext. 211 or by email at ssimmons@wamc.org.
Related Content
  • On this week’s 51%, we recognize the 25th anniversary of the Food & Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone, which, in conjunction with misoprostol, is now used for the majority of abortions in the U.S. WAMC’s Samantha Simmons speaks with abortion-rights advocate and vlogger Marissa Rudd about her experience using mifepristone, and why she personally chose to have an abortion. We also chat with Kimberly Mutcherson, a professor at Rutgers Law School, about the challenges mifepristone faces in court and in the Trump Administration.
  • The Supreme Court has rejected a challenge of the Food & Drug Administration’s approval and regulation of mifepristone, preserving access to one of two pills commonly used in medication abortions in the U.S. On this week’s 51%, we break down the Court’s ruling.