Which medication is specifically used to induce abortion?

Mifepristone is specifically used to induce abortion as it functions by blocking progesterone, a hormone vital for maintaining pregnancy. By inhibiting this hormone, mifepristone causes the uterine lining to break down, leading to the termination of the pregnancy. This medication is typically used in combination with another medication, misoprostol, to effectively complete the abortion process within the first trimester.

Given the other options, while oxytocin is a medication used to induce labor, its primary purpose is not abortion but facilitating childbirth. Dinoprostone is used to ripen the cervix and can also be involved in labor induction; however, it is not primarily intended for abortion. Indomethacin, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), does not play a role in abortion at all, as it is used for pain relief and inflammation. Therefore, mifepristone stands out as the correct choice for its specific role in inducing abortion.