The abortion pill is another name for medical abortion. Although they call it “the abortion pill,” it isn’t just one pill and your abortion is over. It’s a series of two very powerful drugs taken over a 24 to 48-hour timeframe to terminate your pregnancy.
Why would it be called the abortion pill method when there’s more than one pill? Perhaps it’s to make you think abortion is a quick and easy solution to your unplanned pregnancy when it really isn’t.
You need the facts about abortion, the abortion pill procedure, the side effects of abortion, and potential risks.
What Do You Need Before An Abortion?
Before you schedule an abortion, you need to know more about your pregnancy. The type of abortion procedure you qualify for is determined by how many weeks you’ve been pregnant. Are you confident you know the exact dates? If not, you need an ultrasound.
An ultrasound shows where your pregnancy is located, how far along you are, and if the pregnancy is proceeding normally and growing. We offer limited ultrasound scanning for free.
How Does The Abortion Pill Method Work?
Your pregnancy cannot be longer than 10 weeks and 0 days to qualify for a medical abortion. If you’ve been pregnant longer than 10 weeks, you’ll need to have a surgical abortion.
The first drug you take in a medication abortion is mifepristone (Mifeprex®). Because it’s highly regulated, the drug is distributed through a restricted program only. Mifepristone stops the hormone, progesterone, which allows the pregnancy to continue. It usually causes nausea and possibly vomiting.
Within 24 – 48 hours, you’ll take the second drug, misoprostol. This drug causes the uterus to contract. You can expect heavy bleeding and cramping as your body expels the pregnancy.
What Are The Side Effects and Potential Risks of the Abortion Pill Method?
Potential Risks:
According to the Mayo Clinic, these are the potential risks of medical abortion:
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- An ongoing unwanted pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
Possible Physical Side Effects:
- Heavy bleeding, sometimes passing large blood clots
- Severe abdominal cramping or back pain as you expel the fetus
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Fever and Chills lasting more than 24 hours
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Foul-smelling vaginal discharge
Possible Emotional Side Effects:
- Guilt
- Sadness
- Shame
- Loss
Your Next Step
If you’re considering abortion, make sure you get accurate information before scheduling an appointment. Having a medical abortion past 10 weeks can be dangerous. An ultrasound will give you the information you need. We offer free and confidential pregnancy testing and ultrasound at our pregnancy center.
You deserve to have the facts about abortion procedures, side effects, and possible risks. Get the answers you need before moving forward. Schedule an appointment or just come by. We’re here for you. How can we help you today?
If you need to speak to someone immediately please visit www.optionline.org
