Thread by @DrDGrossman, Hey Senator Cruz!It's me again, Dr. Grossman the ob/gyn and abortion provider. [...]

Hey Senator Cruz!

It's me again, Dr. Grossman the ob/gyn and abortion provider. We've gone over this a few times before, but I'm happy to explain pregnancy and abortion to you. It's complicated, I know.

Here's my last fact check on your article: https://twitter.com/DrDGrossman/status/1293159568680263680?s=20 https://twitter.com/SenTedCruz/status/1301203239140954112

https://twitter.com/DrDGrossman/status/1293159568680263680?s=20

Pregnancy is a medical condition and no two patients or their pregnancies are the same. Pregnancies can change as they progress, and some can become life-threatening. This is evidenced by pregnancy complications, ectopic pregnancies, and our nation's maternal mortality rate.

Don't believe me? Here are the CDC stats on pregnancy mortality: https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternal-mortality/pregnancy-mortality-surveillance-system.htm

Additionally, the pandemic is exacerbating racism within healthcare and maternal health outcomes: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/06/nyregion/childbirth-Covid-Black-mothers.html and straining our maternal health system: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/us/coronavirus-pregnancy-maternal-health-system.html

Coronavirus Threatens an Already Strained Maternal Health System

No visitors. Induced labor. Converted delivery wards. Tens of thousands of women across the country are giving birth in unprecedented circumstances.

https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternal-mortality/pregnancy-mortality-surveillance-system.htm

We should always be working to make pregnancy and delivery safer for pregnant patients by ending racism and lack of prenatal care in our country, and the fact is that currently an abortion is 14 times safer than carrying a pregnancy to term. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22270271/

The comparative safety of legal induced abortion and childbirth in the United States - PubMed

II.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22270271/

Now, on to your confusion around the safety of medication abortion. Mifepristone was approved by the FDA 20 years ago this month. We have a lot of research to show how safe it is. As I explained when I fact checked your article, the death rate is 0.00035%
https://www.ansirh.org/sites/default/files/publications/files/mifepristone_safety_4-23-2019.pdf

This is helpful to better understand the death rate. It's important to note that nearly half of the reported deaths over 20 years had nothing to do with the medication abortion pills. Any patient death is heartbreaking, and it's important to be accurate.
https://www.ansirh.org/sites/default/files/publications/files/mifepristone_safety_4-23-2019.pdf

The overall complication rate for medication abortion is also very low. Patient cases requiring blood transfusions, surgeries, or hospital admissions—are extremely rare and occur in less than 0.5% of medication abortions within the US.
https://www.ansirh.org/sites/default/files/publications/files/mifepristone_safety_4-23-2019.pdf

Did you know, @SenTedCruz, that medication abortion is safer than Tylenol and Viagra?

I think the safety of medications is very important, and let's make sure we're using evidence-based research to inform opinions.
https://www.ansirh.org/sites/default/files/publications/files/medication-abortion-safety.pdf

I'm happy to make myself available if you, @SenTedCruz, or your colleagues have questions about pregnancy, pregnancy complications, medication abortion, or abortion in general. I can send more research for you to review if that would be helpful as well. https://www.nap.edu/catalog/24950/the-safety-and-quality-of-abortion-care-in-the-united-states

The Safety and Quality of Abortion Care in the United States

Download a PDF of "The Safety and Quality of Abortion Care in the United States" by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for free.

https://www.nap.edu/catalog/24950/the-safety-and-quality-of-abortion-care-in-the-united-states

Lastly, I look forward to seeing you and your colleagues become co-sponsors on the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Bill (S3424). It seems you still aren't a co-sponsor. This is a great opportunity to show your support and make change for pregnant patients.
https://www.c-span.org/congress/bills/bill/?116/s3424#bill-cosponsor-list

You can follow @DrDGrossman.

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