What Is the Abortion Pill?

It sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? Take a pill, and move on with your life. But the abortion pill method isn’t just one pill, and there are possible physical and emotional consequences.

If you’re considering ordering the abortion pill, learn about the procedure, its side effects, and potential risks first.

How Does the Abortion Pill Method Work?

The abortion pill method is also known as a medical, medication, or chemical abortion. It uses two drugs to terminate a pregnancy. 

The first drug, mifepristone, blocks the hormone progesterone. Progesterone is required for every pregnancy to grow and thrive. Without this vital hormone, a pregnancy ends. 

Misoprostol, the second drug, expels the pregnancy from your body by starting contractions.

What Are the Side Effects of the Abortion Pill?

Bleeding and cramping are always a part of every abortion. The Mayo Clinic lists the following as other side effects:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Chills
• Diarrhea
• Headache

Every woman’s abortion experience is unique. How you respond to the drugs cannot be determined ahead of time. 

One study found that many women were caught off guard by the severe pain the abortion pill method caused.

The Potential Risks of the Abortion Pill

It’s paramount that you get critical details about your pregnancy before considering the abortion pill. For instance, you’ll want to know the gestational age (how far along you are) of your pregnancy to determine if you’re eligible to take the abortion pill.  

The FDA only approves it through 10 weeks. 

Undergoing an ultrasound is the best way to get this information and more, such as the location and viability of your pregnancy. 

Knowing the location is especially important to rule out an ectopic pregnancy, where the embryo implants outside of the uterus. It’s a serious condition that the abortion pill will not fix. 

Not Checking Your Eligibility

There are potential risks you should be aware of with abortion drugs. The Mayo Clinic lists these as potential risks:

• Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by a surgical procedure
• An ongoing pregnancy if the drugs don’t work
• Heavy and prolonged bleeding
• Infection
• Fever
• Digestive system discomfort

Most women aren’t aware that an incomplete abortion is even a possibility. Incomplete means the pregnancy is terminated, but not all of the fetal tissue leaves the body. This can cause an infection.

You also need to know there are limitations to using this method safely. For instance, the FDA only approves the use of these drugs through 10 weeks of pregnancy (70 days past the first day of your last period). It’s vital to know how far along you are.

How Can A New Generation Help Me?

At A New Generation, we provide several no-cost pregnancy services. You can receive lab-quality pregnancy testing at no cost. If your test is positive, our nurses will determine your eligibility for a no-cost ultrasound.

Why should you have an ultrasound? An ultrasound exam determines how far along you are in your pregnancy and provides other critical information.