November 20, 2025

The Society of Family Planning launched “Science Unpacked,” a new document series underscoring the expertise, humility, and rigor required for research to meet the threshold of sound science. By addressing the science behind studies, theories, or narratives that have achieved prominence in public discourse, this series also seeks to elevate the importance of legitimate scientific exchange, demonstrate a commitment to evidence, and promote public trust in the scientific process.

“As a source for science and a community of scholars, our commitment extends beyond simply telling people what the science says – it includes making the evidence base readily accessible and digestible, and building public trust in the scientific process. Science is a public good, and we hope that uplifting the transparency and rigor of scientific exchange will serve as an antidote to the politicization of science and health information,” said Amanda Dennis, DrPH, MBE, Executive Director of the Society of Family Planning.

The inaugural document in the series, False serious adverse events claims with medication abortion, responds to an April 2025 paper from the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC) claiming a rate of serious adverse events in people using mifepristone several fold higher than the established body of research, finding that it does not meet the rigor, integrity, or transparency necessary to contribute to the evidence base.

Anti-abortion policymakers have cited the discredited EPPC paper in legal, legislative, and regulatory efforts to restrict access to medication abortion, including efforts to undermine mifepristone’s FDA label.

“Access to accurate information about abortion is fundamental to reproductive autonomy and it is dismaying to see deception disguised as research sow distrust in decades of evidence affirming mifepristone’s safety. It is especially pernicious that anti-abortion policymakers are leveraging these false claims to justify abortion restrictions,” said Jenny O’Donnell, ScD, Vice President of Research and Evaluation at the Society of Family Planning.

The Society invited Mitch Creinin, MD and Dave Turok, MD, MPH to write this Science Unpacked response, and the document underwent multiple layers of review and community input before publication. The findings reaffirm and complement the chorus of clinicians and scholars trained and experienced in methodologically rigorous research who have gone on the record this year supporting mifepristone’s safety and efficacy.

For additional clinical and scholarly resources on the safety and effectiveness of mifepristone, please visit the Society of Family Planning’s webpage on advancing access to medication abortion.

About the Society of Family Planning: The Society of Family Planning is an academic society of clinicians, scholars, and partners who are dedicated to just and equitable abortion and contraception informed by science. Leveraging the tools of science and medicine, and working in partnership with our broad community, the Society supports evidence-informed and person-centered healthcare.