The short answer is, yes, you can buy the abortion pill online, but the better question is, “Should you?” Think about this: have you ever purchased something online only to find it’s nothing like what you ordered when it arrives? For that very reason, the FDA does not recommend buying the abortion drugs online.
How Will I Know if I’m Getting the Correct Drugs?
The FDA highly regulates mifepristone, the first drug in the abortion pill regimen. Only certified providers can prescribe it. Many companies that offer the drug online are from foreign countries that do not have the safety standards we have.
When the drug comes from a foreign country, the FDA cannot ensure the safety, effectiveness, or quality of those medications. Online sites offer “deep discounts,” but be wary if the offer seems too good to be true.
Is it Safe to Take the Abortion Pill at Home?
Abortion providers say the drugs are safe, but when ordered through the mail and taken at home, you don’t have the direct oversight of a physician. What do you do when you experience severe bleeding or cramping?
Medical experts list the following as potential risks you should be aware of:
- An incomplete abortion, which means the body does not release all of the pregnancy tissue in the uterus. This may require a surgical procedure.
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work. The FDA approves the use of the drugs through 10 weeks of pregnancy only. The further along you are in your pregnancy, the less effective the drugs are.
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding.
- Infection.
- Fever.
- Digestive symptoms such as an upset stomach.
What Should I Do Before I Order the Abortion Pill?
Before ordering the drugs, it is vital to have an ultrasound. An ultrasound determines how far along you are, the location of your pregnancy, and if your pregnancy is viable (growing).
Experts estimate that as many as 26% of all pregnancies end in a miscarriage. That is over one in four pregnancies! Since it is possible to get a positive pregnancy test result days or weeks following a miscarriage, you need an ultrasound to reveal if your pregnancy is developing.
A Free and Confidential Ultrasound
In addition to knowing if you have miscarried, you need to know how many weeks and days you have been pregnant. Many women are surprised that the date differs from what they initially expected.
Since the abortion pill method is not as effective the further along you are in your pregnancy, knowing the exact date is vital. Ultrasound can determine how long you have been pregnant.
Get all the information you need before purchasing any drugs. PCS Health offers a free and confidential ultrasound when you receive a positive pregnancy test result with one of their tests.
Be safe. Schedule free and confidential pregnancy testing at PCS Health. We want you to have all the information you need to make a confident choice.
Make an appointment online today. We’re here for you.
PCS Health does not perform or refer for abortion.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.