If you are in the early stages of an unexpected pregnancy, you may be looking into a medication abortion, which is FDA approved for up to 10 weeks (70 days gestation).
An abortion pill is often an option for unplanned pregnancies because it seems private and convenient. However, read this article to learn more about the process, potential risks, and associated side effects.
How Does the Abortion Pill Work?
The abortion pill is a series of two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol. The first drug, mifepristone, blocks the pregnancy from receiving the hormone progesterone. A pregnancy cannot develop without this, so it ends the pregnancy.
Now that the pregnancy has ended, the second drug, misoprostol, is taken 24-48 hours later. It induces contractions to expel the fetus and pregnancy remnants from the womb.
What Are the Side-Effects of the Abortion Pill?
According to the Mayo Clinic, potential risks of medical abortion include:
- 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
If you’re experiencing the above symptoms, you must have access to emergency medical care if taking the abortion pill.
What Are the Risks of an Abortion Pill?
The most common side effects of a medical abortion are vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping. However, other symptoms may also include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Headache
How Do I Know If I’m Eligible for the Abortion Pill?
Because the abortion pill is only available within the first ten weeks of pregnancy, it’s essential to confirm the age of the pregnancy beyond trying to track it back to your first missed period.
At Innervisions Healthcare, we offer no-cost ultrasounds that can provide the pregnancy’s age and confirm its viability. Up to 20% of known pregnancies end in a miscarriage, so it’s helpful to get confirmation aside from a pregnancy test, which can give a false-positive result if your body does not yet know it has miscarried.
Contact us today for your no-cost ultrasound or consultation for your pregnancy options!