The abortion pill involves taking two different, powerful drugs that work together to terminate and remove a pregnancy from the uterus. These drugs come with potentially serious risks to your health, which is why it’s critical to learn all you can before making this decision.
Make an appointment with Vie Medical Clinic for accurate information about your options. In the meantime, continue reading to learn more.
How Does the Abortion Pill Work?
The abortion pill is comprised of two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol.
Mifepristone is taken first. It works by blocking progesterone in your body. Progesterone is essential for sustaining a pregnancy. Without it, your pregnancy will detach from the uterine lining and eventually end.
Misoprostol is taken next. It causes your uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy through your vagina.
What Are the Risks of the Abortion Drugs?
After taking these drugs, you will experience vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping. Some women have reported that the pain they experienced was unexpectedly severe.
However, you might also experience a risk. A risk is an adverse health complication that is rare and potentially serious. Risks of the abortion drugs include:
- Incomplete abortion, which is when parts of the terminated pregnancy remain in your uterus
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive symptoms such as upset stomach
Certain situations make you ineligible for abortion drugs—and taking them while being ineligible puts your health at risk. Some situations that make you ineligible for abortion drugs include:
- Are too far along in your pregnancy (the abortion drugs are only FDA-approved if your pregnancy is under 10 weeks gestation)
- Having an intrauterine device (IUD) currently in place
- Having an ectopic pregnancy
- Having certain medical conditions
- Taking a blood thinner or certain steroid medicines
- Not being able to make follow-up visits to your provider or don’t have access to emergency care
- Having an allergy to the drugs used
Next Steps
At Vie Medical Clinic, we understand the uncertainty and overwhelming feelings you’re having right now—but you’re not alone. We’re here for you.
Before seeking abortion drugs, come to our office for a free, limited ultrasound to get the information you need to determine your eligibility. Plus, we offer options counseling, which gives you a safe, confidential space to ask questions and learn more.
Vie Medical Clinic does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
