By Dr Calum McKellar
PARTIAL home medical abortions have been available since 2017 in Scotland. These usually take place in the first 10 weeks of gestation whereby a woman is given two sets of pills. The first (mifepristone) is generally taken in a clinic and obstructs a hormone which is necessary for the uterus to support the implanted embryo/foetus. The second pill (misoprostol) is taken at home (if the woman so wishes) two days later and causes the lining of the womb to break down resulting in the expulsion of the dead embryo/foetus.
