What is the Abortion Pill?
On the surface, the abortion pill seems like a quick and effective solution to an unintended pregnancy. However, it’s not without risk. Do you know how the abortion pill works? Are you aware of the potential side effects? You owe it to yourself to get all the facts, so you can make a confident and informed decision.
Keep reading to learn more about the abortion pill.
How Does the Abortion Pill Work?
The abortion pill, also known as medical abortion or RU-486, consists of two medications: mifepristone and misoprostol. The brand names are Mifeprex and Cytotec, respectively.
The first pill, mifepristone, should be taken in the clinic. It halts the production of the hormone progesterone, which then thins the lining of the uterus and stops the embryo from growing. Misoprostol is taken 24 to 48 hours later at home. This pill causes the uterus to contract and expel the fetus.
Do I Have to Get an Ultrasound Before Taking the Abortion Pill?
Although Montana abortion law doesn’t require you to receive an ultrasound before taking the abortion pill, we strongly encourage it. Ultrasounds inform your pregnancy options by determining:
How far along you are. Even if you don’t plan to continue your pregnancy, you do need to be aware of how far along you are, because you shouldn’t take the abortion pill past 10 weeks gestation[1].
Possibility of miscarriage. If the fetal heartbeat can’t be detected during the ultrasound, you may be experiencing a natural miscarriage.
Possibility of ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is another possibility if the heartbeat can’t be detected. This is a rare, but life-threatening condition in which the fertilized egg implants and grows outside of the uterus. An ectopic pregnancy cannot continue and the fertilized egg needs to be removed before a rupture occurs. Thankfully, most ectopic pregnancies are discovered by ultrasounds before serious complications arise!
Abortion isn’t necessary in the case of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. If you’re experiencing either, you can avoid the cost, time, and stress of abortion and move forward with the appropriate treatment.
Interested in receiving an ultrasound? Request a free appointment at Options Clinic. Your results are 100% confidential.
Can I Order the Abortion Pill Online?
The FDA explicitly warns against ordering the abortion pill online. Many online abortion pill providers are based overseas, so the pills they ship out may not meet the FDA’s safety standards[1]. They could even be the wrong dosage, expired, or laced with harmful substances.
How Late Can I Take the Abortion Pill?
As mentioned earlier, the FDA states that the abortion pill should only be taken up to 10 weeks of pregnancy (70 days or less since the first day of your last period)[1].
The abortion pill becomes less effective the farther along you are in your pregnancy. If you take the abortion pill past 10 weeks, you could experience serious complications and may need emergency treatment to complete the procedure.
Do I Need a Prescription for the Abortion Pill?
The FDA requires a prescription from a qualified healthcare provider in order to take the abortion pill[1]. You can’t get the abortion pill over the counter for this reason. Plus, it’s always wise to speak to a licensed healthcare professional before taking it, so you can be aware of all the risks and side effects and consider all of your options.
What are the Side Effects of the Abortion Pill?
Like any major medical procedure, the abortion pill does produce some unpleasant side effects. After taking the abortion pill, you could experience:
Spotting or bleeding for up to a month[2]
Abdominal cramping (caused by misoprostol)
Headaches
Diarrhea and digestive pain
Nausea and vomiting
Chills
Fever
Some more severe side effects include:
Allergic reaction. Although rare, it is possible to go into anaphylactic shock after taking vaginal misoprostol if you’re allergic to any of the ingredients in the medication.[3]
Hemorrhaging. A certain amount of bleeding is expected after taking the abortion pill. However, if you soak through two thick full-size sanitary pads per hour, for two consecutive hours, it could lead to hemorrhaging.[4]
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection of the female reproductive organs. The signs to look out for include abdominal pain, unusual vaginal discharge, nausea and vomiting, painful urination, pain during sex, and irregular periods.[5]
Incomplete abortion. Some fetal tissue may remain in the uterus, even after the second medication has been taken. Surgery may be needed to extract the remaining tissue to prevent infection.[6]
Infection. If you experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or a fever for more than 24 hours after taking the second medication, it could be a sign that an infection has developed. Antibiotics or even surgery may be needed to treat your condition.[7]
Just Facts, No Judgment
We get it–there are no easy answers for unintended pregnancy. If you have questions about abortion, we have answers. At Options Clinic, we provide a variety of free services to help you make a fully informed decision:
Get confidential care you can trust at Options Clinic. Give us a call at (406) 422-1011 or request your appointment online today!
Sources
Mifeprex (Mifepristone) Information.” U.S. Food And Drug Administration, 16 Dec. 2021, www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/mifeprex-mifepristone-information.
“Mifepristone (Mifeprex).” MedlinePlus Drug Information, 15 May 2015, medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a600042.html.
Shin, Hyun Joo, et al. “Anaphylactic Shock to Vaginal Misoprostol: A Rare Adverse Reaction to a Frequently Used Drug.” PubMed Central (PMC), 9 Aug. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6137020.
Medication Guide: Mifeprex. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2016, March). Retrieved from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/022348s014lbl.pdf.
“Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): Symptoms, Treatments and Causes.” Cleveland Clinic, 23 Nov. 2020, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9129-pelvic-inflammatory-disease-pid.
“Medical Abortion.” Mayo Clinic, 29 July 2022, www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687.
“Abortion Risks.” Louisiana Department of Health, ldh.la.gov/page/1063.