The abortion pill is also known as medical abortion—a procedure that ends a healthy pregnancy in a woman. While you may think the abortion pill is a simple, “one and done” process, there is more involved in the procedure that you need to know and complications you need to be aware of.
How Medical Abortion Works
A medical abortion involves a series of drugs used to terminate a pregnancy.
The first drug prescribed is called mifepristone and is usually taken while you are still at the doctor’s office.
Mifepristone blocks your body from producing progesterone, oftentimes called the pregnancy hormone. Without progesterone, the fertilized egg detaches from your uterus, causing the pregnancy to stop growing.
1-2 days after taking mifepristone you will take a drug called misoprostol. This drug causes your uterus to begin contractions, which then expel the pregnancy from your body through your vagina.
Risks of Medical Abortion
There are risks to medical abortion that you will want to know before making your decision.
According to the Mayo Clinic risks of a medical abortion can 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
There are also time limitations to medical abortion, with the FDA only recommending medical abortion be used in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
What You Need to Know Before a Medical Abortion
Before proceeding with a medical abortion you will need to confirm your pregnancy with a lab-quality pregnancy test and an ultrasound scan. The ultrasound will provide you with crucial information like the age, location, and viability of your pregnancy.
Knowing the age of your pregnancy is important in determining whether you are eligible for a medical abortion (less than 10 weeks pregnant).
The ultrasound will also determine the location of your pregnancy to ensure you do not have an ectopic pregnancy. This complication can occur when a pregnancy is located outside of your uterus, such as the fallopian tubes. An ectopic pregnancy is a serious health risk and requires immediate medical intervention to protect your health.
Additionally, the ultrasound scan can be used to verify if your pregnancy is viable, as 10-20% of pregnancies end in natural miscarriage.
We’re Here to Help
The trained staff at Chester County Connect Care are here for you. By providing a free lab-quality pregnancy test and no-cost ultrasounds you can get the answers you need to know about your pregnancy and what options are available to you.
Our team will also take the time to hear your concerns and answer any questions you might have.
Schedule your free and confidential appointment today to start getting the answers and peace of mind you deserve.