Many crisis pregnancy centers advertise unproven ‘abortion pill reversal,’ study finds

A new research study found the vast majority of crisis pregnancy centers offer social and family support services. But nearly one-third of the centers also advertise “abortion pill reversal,” an unproven and potentially dangerous treatment.

Crisis pregnancy centers are operated by anti-abortion organizations and typically provide prenatal and sexual health services. The centers are often designed to look like health clinics, and have been criticized as providing false or misleading information to steer pregnant women away from abortion.

The study, which was released Dec 2, compiled the websites of about 1,600 crisis pregnancy centers across the country. The study was published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

The researchers identified 143 centers in Texas, which is the largest number in any state.

The research found about 90% of the centers nationwide advertised social support services, such as adoption or parenting classes. The study flagged, though, that about 30% of centers advertised abortion pill reversal services.

“Nearly one-third are selling snake oil,” said study co-author John Ayers, an epidemiologist and a professor at the University of California, San Diego. “Not just benign snake oil, potentially dangerous and toxic snake oil.”

So-called abortion pill reversal treatment is when the hormone progesterone is administered to a pregnant person who has already taken the first pill of a medication abortion. Medication abortion consists of two pills: mifepristone and then misoprostol. There have been some limited case reviews that indicate that pregnancies can continue if the hormone is administered after the first—but before the second—pill.

The treatment does not have approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has publicly spoken out against reversal.

“Claims regarding abortion ‘reversal’ treatment are not based on science and do not meet clinical standards,” the group’s website says.

A 2019 study into abortion pill reversal was canceled due to both low enrollment numbers and safety concerns, after three of the enrolled women were transported to the hospital for severe vaginal bleeding, NPR reported at the time.

Andrea Trudden, a spokesperson for Heartbeat International, which operates the Abortion Pill Rescue Network, said in an email statement that the reversal treatment is “rooted in medical science and compassion.”

Trudden linked to a 2018 study that found about two-thirds of pregnancies continued when the pregnant person was given progesterone after taking the first abortion pill. The first author of that study is Dr. George Delgado, a prominent figure in anti-abortion advocacy.

Delgado—who, according to the Los Angeles Times, is not certified in obstetrics or gynecology—has been called the founder of abortion pill reversal. His affiliation with the anti-abortion movement is not listed on the 2018 study page.

“Mischaracterizations of this protocol as ‘dangerous’ dismiss both the science and the lived experiences of thousands of women who have been helped by this treatment,” Trudden said in the email statement.

Ayers and his team organized their data into a publicly accessible website, ChoiceWatch.org, which provides more information on crisis pregnancy centers across the country. Ayers said he hopes the data can help inform policy to increase transparency and accountability at crisis pregnancy centers.

“Whatever your position is on abortion, shouldn’t we all agree that lying to and potentially endangering women in these vulnerable situations is wrong?” he said.

2024 The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

A new research study found the vast majority of crisis pregnancy centers offer social and family support services. But nearly one-third of the centers also advertise “abortion pill reversal,” an unproven and potentially dangerous treatment.

Crisis pregnancy centers are operated by anti-abortion organizations and typically provide prenatal and sexual health services. The centers are often designed to look like health clinics, and have been criticized as providing false or misleading information to steer pregnant women away from abortion.

The study, which was released Dec 2, compiled the websites of about 1,600 crisis pregnancy centers across the country. The study was published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

The researchers identified 143 centers in Texas, which is the largest number in any state.

The research found about 90% of the centers nationwide advertised social support services, such as adoption or parenting classes. The study flagged, though, that about 30% of centers advertised abortion pill reversal services.

“Nearly one-third are selling snake oil,” said study co-author John Ayers, an epidemiologist and a professor at the University of California, San Diego. “Not just benign snake oil, potentially dangerous and toxic snake oil.”

So-called abortion pill reversal treatment is when the hormone progesterone is administered to a pregnant person who has already taken the first pill of a medication abortion. Medication abortion consists of two pills: mifepristone and then misoprostol. There have been some limited case reviews that indicate that pregnancies can continue if the hormone is administered after the first—but before the second—pill.

The treatment does not have approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has publicly spoken out against reversal.

“Claims regarding abortion ‘reversal’ treatment are not based on science and do not meet clinical standards,” the group’s website says.

A 2019 study into abortion pill reversal was canceled due to both low enrollment numbers and safety concerns, after three of the enrolled women were transported to the hospital for severe vaginal bleeding, NPR reported at the time.

Andrea Trudden, a spokesperson for Heartbeat International, which operates the Abortion Pill Rescue Network, said in an email statement that the reversal treatment is “rooted in medical science and compassion.”

Trudden linked to a 2018 study that found about two-thirds of pregnancies continued when the pregnant person was given progesterone after taking the first abortion pill. The first author of that study is Dr. George Delgado, a prominent figure in anti-abortion advocacy.

Delgado—who, according to the Los Angeles Times, is not certified in obstetrics or gynecology—has been called the founder of abortion pill reversal. His affiliation with the anti-abortion movement is not listed on the 2018 study page.

“Mischaracterizations of this protocol as ‘dangerous’ dismiss both the science and the lived experiences of thousands of women who have been helped by this treatment,” Trudden said in the email statement.

Ayers and his team organized their data into a publicly accessible website, ChoiceWatch.org, which provides more information on crisis pregnancy centers across the country. Ayers said he hopes the data can help inform policy to increase transparency and accountability at crisis pregnancy centers.

“Whatever your position is on abortion, shouldn’t we all agree that lying to and potentially endangering women in these vulnerable situations is wrong?” he said.

2024 The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.