There are two types of abortion: medical and surgical. Abortion providers may call a medical abortion a medication or chemical abortion, or it is also known as the abortion pill method. These types of abortions use drugs to end a pregnancy.
What Are the Drugs Used?
The abortion pill method (a medical abortion) uses two drugs.
Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone. All pregnancies need progesterone to grow; a pregnancy does not survive without it. The FDA approves using mifepristone only during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. The further along a pregnancy is, the less effective the drug becomes.
The second drug, misoprostol, causes bleeding and contractions to remove the pregnancy and tissue from the body. Women in one study found the pain almost unbearable with a medical abortion.
Can Anyone Have a Medical Abortion?
There are limitations on who is eligible for a medical abortion. The Cleveland Clinic suggests a medical abortion isn’t a safe option if any of the following apply:
- You are too far along in your pregnancy (approved through 10 weeks only).
- You are allergic to mifepristone or misoprostol.
- You have an ectopic pregnancy. When a pregnancy is ectopic, it means it is developing outside the uterus. An ectopic pregnancy can be dangerous, even life-threatening. Only an ultrasound determines if a pregnancy is located correctly in the uterus.
- You take corticosteroids long-term, which healthcare providers use to treat conditions such as asthma, eczema, arthritis, etc.
- You have an intrauterine device (IUD) in place.
- You have a blood-clotting disorder, anemia, or chronic adrenal failure.
- You don’t have access to emergency care.
Are There Risks?
The Mayo Clinic lists the following risks with a medical abortion:
- The body may not release all pregnancy tissue, resulting in an incomplete abortion.
- You may have an ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work.
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding is a possibility.
- Infection can happen.
- You may experience a fever or an upset stomach.
What Should I Do Before Taking the Abortion Pill?
Both the Cleveland and Mayo Clinics recommend talking with your healthcare provider before an abortion. At PCS Health, we recommend starting with free and confidential pregnancy testing. We will schedule you for a free and confidential ultrasound if your test is positive.
An ultrasound determines how far along the pregnancy is, its location, and if it is growing or if a miscarriage has occurred.
Please complete our online contact form to schedule your appointment. Although we do not perform or refer for abortion, we’re happy to provide complete and factual medically based information about procedures, the side effects to expect, and the physical and emotional risks.
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All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.