A medical abortion (also known as the “abortion pill”) is a combination of two drugs that work together to end a pregnancy and then expel it through the vagina.
Read on to learn more about the essentials you need to know to stay safe if you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy and are considering this option. Or, if you want to talk to someone in person about your pregnancy options, contact Dove Medical today to schedule a free intake appointment.
How Does Medical Abortion Work?
The drugs involved in a medical abortion are powerful and taken at home. The first drug, mifepristone, blocks progesterone in your body. This hormone is needed to sustain a pregnancy; without it, your pregnancy will end.
Misoprostol is taken next, and it causes your uterus to contract. These strong contractions expel the terminated pregnancy from your uterus and through your vagina.
After taking these drugs, you will experience abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding.
Is Medical Abortion Safe?
Since the medical abortion drugs are taken at home, without the oversight of a medical professional, it’s essential to be aware of the potential risks—which are rare but also serious.
The risks associated with medical abortion include:
- Incomplete abortion, which is when parts of the terminated pregnancy remain in your uterus
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
Certain situations might make these risks likelier to occur. This is why it’s important to speak with a medical professional to review your history and situation before attempting to take the medical abortion drugs.
You will also want to receive an ultrasound first. This simple scan can help determine the age of your pregnancy (which is needed before medical abortion since the drugs are only FDA-approved if your pregnancy is under 10 weeks) as well as its location (which helps rule out a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy).
Next Steps
Facing an unplanned pregnancy can feel overwhelming, especially as you consider your options.
At Dove Medical, we understand, and we’re here for you. We offer free ultrasounds and Decision Coaching that can provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision about how to move forward.
Contact us today to schedule a free, confidential appointment with one of our caring team members.
This post is for education and information 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 offer or refer for abortion services including the abortion pill.