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Abortion pills: An option not talked about enough

Katelyn Jetelina's avatar
Heidi Moseson, PhD MPH's avatar
Katelyn Jetelina and Heidi Moseson, PhD MPH
May 06, 2026
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In August 1986, a stomach ulcer medication called Cytotec arrived on pharmacy shelves across Brazil. It came in a small box, and on the label, printed clearly, was a warning: do not take it if you are pregnant because it can cause miscarriage.

Abortion had been illegal in Brazil since 1890, so women who needed one faced a brutal menu of options that were…

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Heidi Moseson, PhD MPH's avatar
A guest post by
Heidi Moseson, PhD MPH
Heidi is an epidemiologist who studies medication abortion safety and effectiveness, access, and models of care.
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