Are you considering a medical abortion, also known as the abortion pill? We know how scary a pregnancy decision may seem right now. You have lots of questions and concerns.
Here are the facts so you can make an informed decision when it comes to your pregnancy. We recommend taking a couple of pregnancy confirmation steps to protect your health.
Mifepristone & Misoprostol
Medical abortion, also known as the abortion pill, is a two-step process using the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol to terminate an existing pregnancy. It’s typically done in the first trimester of pregnancy and works to terminate an existing pregnancy. There are serious health risks to consider before making up your mind.
1. Mifepristone
Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone, causing the lining of the uterus to thin and preventing the embryo from staying implanted and growing.
2. Misoprostol
24-48 hours later, misoprostol is taken. Misoprostol causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy through the vagina.
The Risks of Medical Abortion
There is more than one physical risk to medical abortion. According to the Mayo Clinic, the potential risks of medical abortion include the following:
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
Since medical abortion is typically done at home, it’s essential to women’s safety to know what signs and symptoms to look for afterward, as they are in charge of safeguarding their health and getting medical help if something goes wrong.
First, Pregnancy Confirmation
Before any pregnancy decision, confirm your pregnancy with pregnancy testing and an ultrasound to be sure of your pregnancy details, including if it’s healthy and progressing.
It’s also important to confirm how far along you are with an ultrasound since the FDA only recommends medical abortion for women up to 10 weeks pregnant.
We offer no-cost, lab-quality pregnancy testing and limited ultrasounds. Schedule an appointment with us to begin.