Texas Women Hitting Up Mexico For Over-The-Counter Ulcer Medication To Terminate Pregnancy

As expected, the 2011 cuts in Texas family planning—not to mention the patently absurd new law that women are required to get a sonogram 24 hours before their abortion procedure—are taking their toll on the ladies of the Lone Star State. Concerned women’s health providers in Texas report that they’re seeing a higher number of women who cross the Mexican border to acquire misoprostol in order to terminate their unwanted pregnancy, but show up to their regular clinic to ask for a pregnancy test shortly after, finding that the pills hadn’t been effective.

The Pfizer drug Cytotec, which requires a prescription in the U.S., is used for ulcer prevention stateside and not recommended as a standalone for pregnancy termination, although it is sometimes paired with RU-486 to produce a “medical abortion.” According to the World Health Organization, Cytotec and its generic form can be effective if used correctly within the first 9 weeks of gestation. However, Mexican pharmacies often sell the drugs without clear instructions on the dosage or even a trained pharmacist to speak to the women, exacerbated by the fact that abortion is illegal outside of Mexico City—even if a pharmacist was knowledgeable about misoprostol, they might be wary to educate the consumer on precisely how to use it for that purpose.