If you think you might be pregnant and are considering getting a medical abortion (i.e., the abortion pill), there are some things you need to know.
What Is the Abortion Pill?
The abortion pill’s official name is medical abortion. While it’s called the abortion pill, it is actually two drugs taken hours or days apart.
The first medication, mifepristone, is usually taken in a medical office or clinic. It blocks the hormone progesterone, which is necessary for the pregnancy to continue. Without it, the pregnancy will end.
Then, the woman takes the second drug, misoprostol, usually at home. It causes the uterus to contract, triggering abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding to expel the pregnancy and related tissue.
Risks include incomplete abortion (which may need to be followed by a surgical procedure), an ongoing pregnancy, heavy and prolonged bleeding, infection, fever, and digestive system discomfort.
Here are factors that might qualify you for the abortion pill:
1. You Must Be Pregnant.
This sounds basic, and you might think you are sure, but symptoms can be deceiving. Sometimes, pregnancy can be confused with the flu or signs that your period is due.
The best way to determine your pregnancy is to get a lab-quality test. At Anderson House, our team can provide one for free.
2. You Must Know Facts About Your Pregnancy.
How Far Along Are You?
The FDA has only approved medical abortion within the first ten weeks of pregnancy. You must know how advanced your pregnancy is to avoid taking drugs outside this timeframe.
Is Your Pregnancy Inside the Uterus?
Sometimes, the pregnancy attaches outside of the uterus, which is known as an ectopic pregnancy. Most commonly, the pregnancy implants in one of the fallopian tubes.
This can be dangerous, and it calls for immediate medical attention. An abortion would not treat an ectopic pregnancy.
Is Your Pregnancy Viable?
In other words, does it appear that your pregnancy will continue? Between 10 and 20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, most in the first trimester.
3. You Must Not Have Certain Medical Conditions.
Certain medical conditions would make the abortion pill no longer an option.
In addition to having a suspected ectopic pregnancy or being too far along in your pregnancy, these include having an IUD currently in place, having an allergy to the drugs, having certain diseases or disorders, or taking a blood thinner or specific steroid medications.
Also, if you can’t make follow-up visits to a provider or have access to emergency care, then the abortion pill is not an option.
Visit Anderson House for Pregnancy Details.
An ultrasound is the best way to determine the facts about your pregnancy. Anderson House can provide a free ultrasound referral along with your pregnancy test.
We can also provide facts about all your options. Your health is important to us.
