Whether you just took the abortion pill (medical abortion) or are considering it, it’s important to understand the facts.
Knowing how a medical abortion works, what effects it can have on your body, as well as what complications to be aware of after your abortion, are all important in protecting your health and well-being.
If you’re currently pregnant and seeking information about every choice and want to protect your health and safety, visit Alpha Pregnancy Care Center. We offer free and confidential pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, and abortion information in a safe setting.
How a Medical Abortion Works
A medical abortion (the abortion pill) uses a series of drugs to terminate and expel your pregnancy from your body.
The first drug used is called mifepristone, and it blocks the hormone progesterone to cause your pregnancy to detach from your uterine wall and stop growing. This will end the pregnancy, but not immediately.
After 24-48 hours, misoprostol is the next drug used, and it contracts your uterus, forcing the pregnancy and related tissues to be expelled from your body through abdominal cramping and heavy vaginal bleeding. At the end of your procedure, your uterus should be fully empty, meaning you passed everything.
Side Effects and Complications of Medical Abortion
There are common side effects that many women experience during a medical abortion that you should be aware of.
While abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding must happen for the procedure to work, women can also experience:
- Upset stomach
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Headache
However, it is important to know that there are serious complications that you may develop after an abortion, including not fully passing the pregnancy and related tissues, which is called an incomplete abortion.
An incomplete abortion is a serious complication that can put your health and safety at risk because it can lead to a dangerous infection. The infection can escalate into sepsis and septic shock, so it’s essential to know the warning signs.
Signs of an Incomplete Abortion
These warning signs and symptoms include:
- Soaking a pad every hour for two hours
- Passing large blood clots (larger than a lemon)
- Lower abdominal or pelvic cramping (not improving with time)
- Foul-smelling vaginal discharge
- Rapid heart rate (more than 100 bpm)
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Low blood pressure
- Fever
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or even feel that something is not right after a medical abortion, contact your health provider right away or visit your local emergency room.
Get the Help You Need
If you are considering the abortion pill and trying to get all the facts and understand what options are available to you, we are here to help.
Alpha Pregnancy Care Center provides free pregnancy testing as well as a follow-up ultrasound to give you valuable details about your pregnancy.
Our trained staff can also answer all your questions, listen to your concerns, and discuss all the options available to you.
Contact us today to schedule your free and confidential appointment.
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