How does Mifepristone 50 mg work?

Mifepristone 200 mg in combination with misoprostol has been used in the Netherlands for more than 20 years for inducing an abortion and treating miscarriages. Research shows that a lower dosage of mifepristone can effectively prevent pregnancy.

Mifepristone 50 mg works in two ways to prevent pregnancy:

• It mainly works by stopping a fertilized egg from attaching to the womb. After ovulation, the ovaries make a hormone called progesterone. This hormone helps build up the lining of the womb so that a fertilized egg can settle in and start a pregnancy. Mifepristone blocks the action of progesterone, which changes the womb lining and makes it hard or impossible for a pregnancy to start.
• Mifepristone 50 mg can also delay or stop ovulation, but if you take it weekly, ovulation usually still happens.

Mifepristone 50 mg changes menstrual periods:
Because mifepristone changes the uterine lining, blood loss during menstruation is reduced. In three out of every four people who use mifepristone 50 mg weekly, their period lasts one day or even less. In a quarter of people, there is no more bleeding during their period after a few months.