If you are going back and forth with your pregnancy decision, you may wonder about the safety of online, also known as at-home abortion. Online and at-home abortion are terms used interchangeably and work the same way. Online abortion is an at-home medical abortion.
Though women see this option as convenient and private – online abortion comes with major health risks for women. In this blog, we want to share these risks and more about the process of online (at-home) abortion.
How Does Online/At-Home Abortion Work
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has permanently lifted all restrictions on the two drugs needed for the abortion pill method. Women can now receive both drugs through a telemedicine appointment rather than in person.
With online medical abortion, there are two different drugs prescribed in the process. These two drugs include Mifepristone and Misoprostol.
Mifepristone works to block the womb from absorbing the Progesterone pregnancy hormone and causes the lining of the uterus. This prevents the embryo from implanting or growing. Secondly, Misoprostol causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy.
Common risks of medical abortion include infection, incomplete abortion, heavy, prolonged bleeding, and more.
Is Online (At-Home) Abortion Safe?
Though online abortion is accessible to women, there are major risks to consider before making your pregnancy decision. It’s important to note that medical abortion is ONLY for women 10 weeks pregnant or earlier.
What are the Risks?
There has been great debate and hesitation about online abortion, as it bypasses many safeguards created to protect women. The major risks to online (at-home) abortion, include…
- Unverified ingredients or inaccurately listed risks and side effects
- Chance of incomplete abortion (some online abortion pill providers do not follow FDA guidelines)
- The ability to skip pre-abortion screenings (could lead to severe health risks)
- No medical supervision – (chance for health complications if drugs are taken incorrectly)
First, Confirm Your Pregnancy
To know if you qualify for abortion, medical or surgical, confirm your pregnancy results with lab-quality pregnancy testing and an ultrasound. At The Pregnancy Center, we offer both of these pregnancy confirmation services, free and confidential.
Schedule your appointment today to learn more about your pregnancy options. You don’t have to face this journey alone.
