At-home abortion involves taking the medical abortion drugs (also called the “abortion pill”) at home, either after receiving them from a reputable pharmacy or online.
However, since at-home abortion comes with risks to your health, it’s essential to learn all you can to stay safe.
Read on to learn the essentials you need to know before seeking an at-home abortion. Or, if you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy and want to learn more about our options, contact Dove Medical today to schedule a free, confidential appointment.
How Does At-Home Abortion Work?
At-home abortion involves taking powerful abortion drugs at home.
Mifepristone is the first drug. It blocks progesterone, an essential hormone needed during pregnancy. Without progesterone, your pregnancy ends.
Misoprostol is the second drug. It causes uterine contractions that force the pregnancy through the vagina.
How Might the Abortion Drugs Affect Me?
After taking these drugs, you will experience vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping. This can feel a lot like natural labor.
However, you might also experience a risk that can be potentially life-threatening and include:
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
Dangers of Getting Abortion Drugs Online
You can get the abortion drugs online, but the FDA advises against it because these drugs come from outside the US supply chain and are not regulated by the FDA.
Taking the abortion drugs you buy online puts your health at risk because the FDA cannot guarantee the source, quality, and potency of the drugs. No regulation means you might inadvertently take too little or too much of the drugs.
How to Protect Your Health
Before seeking an abortion, it’s essential to get an ultrasound. This simple scan can give you the information you need to stay safe, including:
- Pregnancy age: This is essential before taking the abortion drugs since they are only FDA-approved if your pregnancy is 10 weeks gestation or under. And taking them if your pregnancy is further along puts you at greater risk for complications.
- Pregnancy location: This rules out ectopic pregnancy, which is a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate treatment.
- Pregnancy viability: Roughly 26% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, and if you’ve miscarried, you will need medical guidance to ensure you don’t experience a complication.
You’re Not Alone
Sorting through your pregnancy options can feel overwhelming, but you’re not alone in this. At Dove Medical, we’re here for you.
We offer medically accurate information and services to help you feel empowered to make an informed decision. Contact us today to schedule your free, confidential appointment.
This post is for education and informational purposes only and does not substitute the advice of a Healthcare professional.
Dove Medical offers pregnancy diagnosis, decision coaching, and accurate information about all pregnancy options; however, we do not refer for or perform abortion services including the abortion pill.