The United States Supreme Court ruled on Friday to preserve access to the abortion pill used in more than half of the country’s abortions, suspending restrictions imposed by lower courts, AFP reported.

The federal government appealed to the High Court to stay these decisions, which the US court granted. This is the most important decision of the Supreme Court on the issue of abortion since the repeal of the constitutional guarantee of abortion in June 2022.

The Supreme Court on Friday specifically blocked a decision by a federal judge from Texas, known for his Christian faith because of his ultraconservative views and appointed by Donald Trump, who on April 7 revoked his approval to sell mifepristone after a notification by anti-abortion activists.

The Supreme Court ruling means, among other things, that women in the United States can continue to receive mifepristone by mail.

On Tuesday, a coalition of anti-abortion doctors asked the U.S. Supreme Court to limit access to a widely used abortion pill.

The big legal battle over the abortion pill

Ever since a federal judge in Texas sued by anti-abortion activists revoked the FDA’s approval to sell mifepristone on April 7, it’s been a real legal battle. Despite the scientific consensus, he believed that it posed a risk to women’s health.

An appeals court, to which the federal government appealed, allowed the abortion pill to remain licensed but limited FDA access over the years.

The ruling banned mail-order mifepristone and reinstated limited use to seven weeks of pregnancy instead of ten.

The federal government then appealed to the Supreme Court, which temporarily upheld access to the abortion pill, suspending the appeals court’s decision to give it more time to consider the case.

Over the past two decades, five million women have used it

More than two decades ago, the FDA approved the abortion pill “based on a comprehensive review of the available scientific evidence and determined that it is safe and effective for the indicated use of early medical termination of pregnancy,” the agency said.

In combination with another drug, mifepristone is used in more than half of all abortions in the United States. More than five million American women have already taken it since it was approved by the FDA more than 20 years ago.

In the 15 or so US states that recently outlawed abortion, the abortion pill is no longer officially available, although secondary channels have developed.