The Truth About Misinformation, Medical Testing, and the Approval Process: A Call to Action

In recent weeks, I’ve noticed a disturbing trend—disinformation being spread online about whether there’s a test that can differentiate between a natural miscarriage and a medication abortion. Let me be clear: I have extensively researched this topic, and to date, I have not encountered any such test that exists in clinical practice. Yet, these claims persist, muddying the waters for patients and healthcare providers alike.

This kind of misinformation underscores a critical issue in public discourse: the gap between what is theoretically possible and what is practically available in medicine. As someone with both an MD and a PhD who actively practices medicine, I can tell you firsthand that this gap is wide—and often misunderstood by those who do not provide patient care.

Why This Misinformation is Harmful

Let me be perfectly clear: misinformation about reproductive health, especially around abortion and miscarriage care, is not a neutral issue. It can actively harm people. Patients are already navigating restrictive legal environments, stigma, and fear. When disinformation spreads, it creates confusion, erodes trust in clinicians, and in some cases, deters people from seeking the care they urgently need.

I’ve seen this in action. Patients delay care because of something they read online. They don’t trust their providers because of half-truths perpetuated on social media. These are life-and-death issues, not abstract academic debates. If you are spreading disinformation, you are complicit in this harm. Period.

Current Medical Evidence

After a thorough review of the medical literature and clinical resources, it is clear that no test currently exists to distinguish between a natural miscarriage and a medication-induced abortion.

Here are the facts:

1. Clinical Similarities:

Both natural miscarriage and medication abortion result in uterine bleeding and expulsion of tissue, presenting indistinguishable symptoms. The physiological processes involved overlap extensively. (ACOG)

2. No Test to Detect Abortion Pills:

Planned Parenthood states clearly that there is no medical test available that can detect whether someone has used abortion pills, such as mifepristone and misoprostol. (Planned Parenthood)

3. Overlap in Care Guidelines:

Mifepristone, a medication commonly used in both abortion and miscarriage management, facilitates uterine evacuation in both scenarios. Its use underscores how similar these processes are, making differentiation through testing unfeasible. (ACOG)

4. Legal and Practical Guidance:

Organizations like If/When/How provide guidance on navigating legal and healthcare systems, especially for individuals in restrictive environments. They recommend presenting symptoms of miscarriage without disclosing specific details about medication use, emphasizing honesty while protecting patient autonomy and safety. (If/When/How)

These citations affirm that current claims of a diagnostic test to differentiate between a natural miscarriage and a medication abortion are scientifically unfounded and deeply misleading.

The Disconnect Between Research and Practice

What is theoretically possible in medicine and what is accessible in clinical practice are two entirely different things. And this is where people without hands-on clinical experience often do the greatest disservice to patients.

The process of developing diagnostic tests or drugs is long and arduous. It requires rigorous clinical trials, FDA approval, and finally, integration into the healthcare system. Even after a test or treatment is approved, there are additional barriers, such as obtaining insurance coverage and ensuring widespread adoption among clinicians.

In practice, even the most innovative tests can face significant hurdles before reaching patients. For example, at smaller hospitals where I work, I cannot even get same-day tumor marker results. When I need to make surgical decisions about an ovarian cyst, I rely on my clinical judgment, patient demographics, and imaging—not advanced biomarkers that might be available at a tertiary care center.

This is not a hypothetical scenario. It is the lived reality of practicing medicine. And if you are not actively taking care of patients, you will not fully grasp these limitations.

Why Non-Clinicians Must Stay in Their Lane

Here’s where the problem lies: people who are adjacent to healthcare—whether they are PhDs, researchers, or others without direct patient care responsibilities—often blur the lines between scientific possibility and clinical reality. They comment on what could be done without understanding what is being done or what can reasonably be done under current systems.

This is dangerous. It creates confusion and fear among patients who rely on trusted sources for accurate medical advice. Worse, it can deter people from seeking the care they need.

If a test differentiating between a miscarriage and a medication abortion existed, practicing physicians would know about it. Why? Because we are the ones who would have to order it. We are the ones working within the confines of current testing capabilities, insurance coverage, and medical guidelines.

The reality is this: most clinicians have not heard of such a test because it does not exist in clinical practice. If it did, it would have had to pass through rigorous stages of development, including clinical trials, FDA review, and the education of healthcare providers to ensure its appropriate use.

The Harm of Misinformation

Those who do not practice medicine often lack this context, yet they continue to weigh in with authority. This is not only irresponsible—it is dangerous. By spreading misinformation, they perpetuate fear, mistrust, and confusion. This can lead to delayed care, worse outcomes, and even preventable deaths.

If you do not take care of patients, you should not be giving medical advice. Period. The stakes are too high, and the consequences too severe, for anything less than informed, evidence-based communication.

A Call to Action

The spread of misinformation about reproductive health, including miscarriage and medication abortion, must stop. This issue is more than an intellectual debate—it’s a matter of life and death.

If you want to see more education like this, here’s how you can help:

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Let’s work together to counter the misinformation machine that is harming patients and eroding trust in healthcare. The lives of women depend on it.