The “abortion pill” typically refers to a two-step process of taking mifepristone (brand name “Mifeprex”) followed by misoprostol. Together, these drugs end an existing pregnancy. The abortion pill now accounts for over half of all abortions in the United States.
How does the abortion pill work?
Mifepristone blocks progesterone, the hormone necessary to sustain a pregnancy. Without progesterone, the lining of the uterus breaks down, and the embryo (a child, created the moment that an egg is fertilized) can no longer survive. Misoprostol, taken 24–48 hours later, causes uterine contractions to expel the remains of the embryo.
How should Christians think about the abortion pill?
From a pro-life perspective, the abortion pill directly and intentionally ends the life of a preborn child. Because human life begins at conception, mifepristone’s mechanism of action— terminating an already-implanted embryo—constitutes abortion. Pro-life Christians cannot support its use.
What is the current policy landscape with the abortion pill?
Mifepristone remains at the center of ongoing legal, regulatory, and policymaking battles.
While the FDA first approved the abortion pill in 2000, legal challenges have contested the approval of the drug and the FDA’s subsequent decisions that have increased access to it. Additionally, safety and regulatory concerns abound. Since the drug’s initial approval, the FDA has taken steps to:
- roll back safety requirements of mifepristone,
- allow mail-order distribution,
- remove in-person dispensing requirements,
- and extend approved use up to 10 weeks of pregnancy.
In October 2025, the FDA approved a new generic abortion pill, which is cause for deep concern. In response, several states have enacted restrictions on chemical abortion, while others have moved to protect or expand access to abortion-causing drugs.
Conclusion
As pro-life advocates who believe that life begins at conception, we must be clear that the abortion pill ends a human life and should be opposed. As the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 attests, Southern Baptists hold that we should speak on behalf of the preborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life, from the moment of conception to natural death.
For a more detailed discussion on mifepristone, see ERLC’s 2022 explainer on abortion pills.
