What is a Medical Abortion?

Medical abortion, also commonly referred to as the abortion pill, is a medical procedure that uses drugs to terminate a viable pregnancy.

If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and considering medical abortion as one of your options, it’s important for the sake of your health to know the details and risks associated with the procedure.

How Does Medical Abortion Work?

Medical abortion uses a series of two drugs to terminate a pregnancy.

The first drug is called mifepristone, and it blocks progesterone in your body, terminating the pregnancy and causing it to detach from your uterine wall. The second drug then used is misoprostol, which causes your uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy and associated tissue from your body.

A medical abortion should only be attempted under the supervision of a doctor, and there are known risks that you should be aware of, including:

• Heavy bleeding is the most common side effect and can occur for up to two weeks after the procedure.
• Cramping is also common and can be severe.
• Some women experience nausea and vomiting.
• Some women may experience headaches.
• Fever and chills can indicate an infection and require medical attention.
• Incomplete abortion is when the pregnancy is not completely expelled, which may require a surgical abortion to remove any remaining tissue.
• Some women may have an allergic reaction to the medications. 

Limitations to Medical Abortion

Consulting with your doctor about medical abortion is also important because there are important risks and pregnancy conditions to be aware of. 

First, it’s important to know the age of your pregnancy, as the FDA only recommends a medical abortion be done in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. 

There are also pre-existing conditions that you may have that would prevent a medical abortion from being safe or appropriate for you.

These pre-existing conditions include:

• Ectopic pregnancy: This is a pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus.
• Certain medical conditions: Women with certain medical conditions, such as bleeding disorders, should not undergo a medical abortion.
• Medications: Some medications, such as blood thinners, may interfere with the effectiveness of the drugs used in medical abortion. 

Get the Facts

For the sake of protecting your health, it’s important to learn all the details about your pregnancy before making a decision.

An ultrasound scan is a valuable first step that can provide you with information, like the age and location of your pregnancy—details that will help you know what options are available to you.

We’re Here to Help You. 

We offer free and confidential pregnancy screening appointments that include pregnancy test confirmation and an ultrasound scan to give you the facts you need. 

Our trained staff will also talk through the results with you and answer all your questions, empowering you with the information you need to make the best decision for your health and future.

Contact us today to schedule your appointment and start getting the answers you need and deserve.