Misoprostol is seen at Parker Road Drug Store in Greenville, S.C., on Thursday, June 13, 2024. Misoprostol is used alongside Mifespristone, also known as the “abortion pill”. The Supreme Court rejected a bill to restrict access to mifepristone on Tuesday.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has launched a Food and Drug Administration review of mifepristone, a pill used in nearly two-thirds of abortions across the U.S.

In a letter to 22 Republican attorneys general who requested the FDA review, per CNN and ABC News, Kennedy and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said the agency would conduct "its own review of the evidence, including real-world outcomes and evidence, relating to the safety and efficacy of the drug."

A study cited by the Republicans, Kennedy and Makary was conducted by the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a conservative think-tank whose president formerly worked at the Heritage Foundation, which published Project 2025.

The study was not peer-reviewed or published in a scientific journal. It reported that almost 11% of women experienced a "serious adverse event" due to mifepristone, which is much higher than the 0.5% rate found in clinical studies and listed by the FDA on the medication label.

So what does this mean for access to the abortion pill?

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, lawmakers have already made various attempts to block the distribution of abortion pills. Wyoming became the first state to outlaw abortion pills in March 2023 — though a state judge blocked this law in November 2024.

After the 2024 presidential election, some women feared a second Trump presidency would bring further restrictions on abortion and contraceptives, and began stocking up on Plan B and pregnancy tests. On Nov. 6, 2024, "Is the morning after pill legal?" increased in searchability by 700% on Google, and "shelf life of morning after pill" and "abortion pill online" became breakout trending terms.

Wisp, a telehealth service that provides sexual and reproductive healthcare, saw a significant increase in sales following the election results, according to its Chief Executive Officer, Monica Cepak. Emergency contraception sales increased by approximately 1,000% and new patient emergency contraception sales were up 1,650%; birth control sales were up 50%, and medication abortion orders went up by 600%. In comparison, Wisp experienced a 900% increase in emergency contraception sales following the Dobbs v. Jackson decision in 2022.

"The spike in sales we’ve seen (since the election) has underscored the fear women around the country are feeling," Cepak told USA TODAY in November 2024. "Women are and should continue taking control of their healthcare and feel empowered to invest in preventative reproductive health in a time of uncertainty."

Experts say it's safe to keep a small supply of contraceptive and abortion medications — with a few caveats.

Is it safe to stockpile Plan B?

In most cases, experts say yes.

If women have the morning-after pill on hand, they can immediately use it when needed, which increases its efficacy. It is safe to stockpile the morning-after pill for as long as its shelf life, which is on average four years, according to Cepak.

"Many local pharmacies have to limit the number of Plan-B packs women can buy, which is why we’re proud to offer 3 and 6-packs of the pill for our patients," she previously told USA TODAY. "This approach encourages women to take agency over their own reproductive health and ensures they have resources available when needed most."

Dr. Jane van Dis, an obstetrician in New York, called stockpiling the morning-after pill and abortion medications "disaster preparedness."

"You want some disaster preparedness in the event that these medications aren't available," she previously told USA TODAY. "The more of those medications that are out in the community, in people's private medical cabinets, I think the better."

The majority of patients who take mifepristone have the completion of the termination of pregnancy, but in some cases, additional medication or a Dilatation and Curettage (D&C) is needed, according to van Dis, adding another layer of complication and risk in the states where abortion care is illegal.

Will we see a shortage of these medications?

Since Dobbs, the landscape is changing. For example, Louisiana has reduced access to some abortion medications by classifying mifepristone and misoprostol as controlled substances.

At Wisp, they are continuing their focus on spreading awareness and educating women on the resources still available while "keeping a close eye on evolving legislation."

"We have patients living in reproductive care deserts, and a large portion of our patients living in restricted states like Texas and Florida," Cepak says. "So we’re going to double down on expanding access by working with our pharmacies on supply, and partnering with organizations who share our same mission."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: RFK Jr. launches FDA review of mifepristone. Is it safe to stock up on the abortion pill?

Reporting by Alyssa Goldberg, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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