Methotrexate, was originally developed in the 1950s in the United States of America as a treatment for cancer, and is licensed for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Well documented research has shown that in single doses, used in conjunction with misoprostol, another licensed drug, methotrexate can successfully and safely be used to induce abortions in the earlier stages of pregnancy. The two drugs are currently in regular use for medical abortion in a number of countries, including Canada.

Jill Michelson, Marie Stopes International Australia’s acting CEO today said that, “Australian women are currently being denied access to non-surgical abortion because RU486 is the subject of a protracted and frankly unnecessary political and moral debate that looks set to continue.”

“Marie Stopes International Australia was founded on the principle of offering the widest possible choices in sexual and reproductive health. Given that a licensed, safe alternative method already exists, we feel it incumbent upon us to make medical abortion immediately available to Australian women.”

Methotrexate will initially be piloted at one of Marie Stopes International Australia’s seven Australian centres. It will be offered to women whose pregnancies have not exceeded the seventh week who wish to avoid undergoing a surgical procedure. The medical abortions will be conducted according to international protocols with full medical support and will not be offered to women who do not have ready access to emergency facilities.

Ms Michelson added that Marie Stopes International Australia does not see methotrexate / misoprostol as the long term solution to the current medical abortion debate, but rather as a stop gap pending a satisfactory resolution of the RU486 debate.

“It’s been almost a decade since RU486 was engineered out of the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s control,” she said.

“In that decade, potentially thousands of women who might have preferred to undergo a medical, rather than a surgical abortion, have been denied the choice. Introducing methotrexate will at least end that discrimination. We hope that reproductive choices for Australian women will be given the opportunity to reflect public opinion, which a recent independent Newspoll revealed supports the introduction of RU486 by 68% against 21% who oppose it.”

For further information please contact:

Gail Carland
Public Relations Manager
Ph: 03 9658 7507