For years, abortion activists and businesses like Planned Parenthood have pushed the debunked claim that abortion drugs are “safer than Tylenol.” But alongside real-life accounts, a growing body of peer-reviewed evidence shows these drugs are far more dangerous than advertised, putting women and girls at serious risk.

The truth is clear: while the abortion lobby dismisses women’s experiences and downplays the risks, science continues to expose the dangers of abortion drugs. Let’s look at what the research really shows.

The Myth of “Safer than Tylenol”

Recent peer-reviewed research from Charlotte Lozier Institute completely debunked the misleading claim that abortion drugs are safer than the common painkiller, Tylenol. This is a claim that continues to be aggressively pushed by pro-abortion politicians and businesses like Planned Parenthood.

Comparisons between the two drugs combine unrelated data, ignoring their distinct purposes, risks and contexts. This oversimplification led to the creation of the catchy phrase, abortion drugs are “safer than Tylenol.” The abortion lobby uses this phrase to reduce abortion drug regulations and minimize concerns from women considering an abortion.

As the author of the paper, Cameron Louttit, Ph.D., stated:

“For years now, the abortion lobby’s claim that abortion drugs are ‘safer than Tylenol’ has dominated public discussion, propelled by the illusion of scientific consensus. However, no such support exists. This baseless claim, repeated by medical societies, politicians, media pundits and researchers, has profoundly influenced public opinion and policy.”

Complication Rates Are Far Higher Than Advertised

• Four times the risk: International studies show abortion drugs carry four times the risk of complications compared to surgical abortion.
• Severe ER visits: 75% of visits from women who went to the ER after taking abortion drugs were coded as severe or critical. They were also twice as likely to receive a severe or critical rating compared to women not pregnant according to peer-reviewed research.
• Intense pain: About 40% of women reported severe pain, rating it between 8–10 on the pain scale according to a recent study.
• Alarming ER trends: New reports by Foundation for the Restoration of America and the Ethics & Public Policy Center provide fresh evidence that far more women are presenting to the ER with abortion drug complications than the drug label suggests, demonstrating the real-world dangers of abortion drugs for women and girls.

Widespread ER Miscoding Hides the Real Risks

One major study uncovered extensive miscoding of ER visits related to abortion drug use. Between 2016 and 2021, nearly 84% of abortion drug-related ER visits were incorrectly recorded as miscarriages – compared to only 21% for surgical abortions. Miscoded visits were also 50% more likely to be labeled high acuity (a measure of the severity and complexity of each patient’s condition) over correctly coded visits.

This miscoding prevents physicians from making fully informed decisions during emergencies, delaying proper care and risking women’s health.

The Bottom Line

The evidence is undeniable: this growing body of research reveals the serious dangers these drugs pose to women, girls, and unborn children. Behind industry slogans and political talking points, women are suffering life-threatening complications, emergency surgeries, and excruciating pain – and the science confirms it.

Women deserve better. Women deserve the truth.