Finding out you’re unexpectedly pregnant is overwhelming, even scary. You may wonder, “Do I have to tell my parents?” “What will my partner say?” “Can I just order the abortion pill and make it go away?” Although the abortion pill may make the pregnancy go away, there are physical and psychological risks that may stay with you forever. Let’s talk about those.

Can I Order the Abortion Pill Online?

The abortion pill regimen is two drugs taken over a 24 to 48-hour period. The FDA highly regulates the first drug, mifepristone. Only certified providers can prescribe it. 

Many online ads offer discounted prices and quick delivery of the drugs, but they may be coming from a foreign country. If you buy the abortion pill online, you could be bypassing essential safeguards designed to protect your health. 

Certified providers meet FDA-regulated manufacturing controls, and the FDA reviews the drugs for safety, effectiveness, and quality. As a result, the FDA does not recommend buying mifepristone online.

What Are the Physical Risks?

There is a limit to how far along you can be in your pregnancy and still take the abortion drugs. The FDA approves the use of mifepristone through 10 weeks of pregnancy only (70 days past the first day of your last period. 

The drugs become less effective the farther along you are in your pregnancy. The Mayo Clinic lists the following as physical risks:

• An incomplete abortion which means the body doesn’t release all pregnancy tissue in the uterus. This may require surgical abortion.
• An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work.
• Heavy and prolonged bleeding.
• Infection.
• Fever.

What Are the Psychological Risks?

Every woman’s response to an abortion is unique. Most women report feeling relieved immediately following their abortions. 

However, in a review of other studies on mental health and abortion, some women began feeling a sense of loss and grief in the weeks, months, or even years later.  

The review found that women who had an abortion were more likely to experience anxiety than women who hadn’t had an abortion. It also found that women who struggled with their mental health before the abortion were more negatively impacted afterward.

How Can Anderson House Help Me?

Choosing to have an abortion is a major life-changing decision. Make sure you have the facts on the side effects to expect and the potential risks. 

Because the abortion pill method is performed at home alone, a woman should be aware of how much bleeding or pain is too much and when she should reach out for help. Although we do not perform or refer for abortion, we can give you factual information to help you make an educated decision.

Schedule a free and confidential appointment with a caring client advocate at Anderson House. We gain nothing from your decision but want you to have the information you need. We’re here for you.

All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.