There are two types of abortion: medical and surgical. The abortion pill method is a medical abortion because it uses two drugs to end a pregnancy.
The FDA only approves their use through 10 weeks of pregnancy. Knowing how far along you are in your pregnancy is vital if you are considering the abortion pill.
What Are the Two Drugs?
Mifepristone
Only certified providers can prescribe the first drug, mifepristone. This drug blocks the hormone progesterone from reaching the pregnancy. All pregnancies need progesterone to develop and grow; without this hormone, a pregnancy cannot continue.
Misoprostol
Once the pregnancy ends, misoprostol, the second drug, causes bleeding and contractions to remove the tissue from the body. Some women have reported severe cramping and bleeding after taking misoprostol.
What Are the Side Effects?
According to the Mayo Clinic, these are the side effects you might experience:
- Upset stomach
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Headache
After taking the second drug, misoprostol, you can expect:
- Bleeding and cramping start in one to four hours
- Heavy cramping and bleeding with blood clots over the next several hours
- Fatigue, nausea, dizziness
Are There Any Risks?
There are some risks to be aware of. The Mayo Clinic lists these as potential risks:
- An incomplete abortion. This means the pregnancy has ended, but the body doesn’t release all the pregnancy tissue in the uterus.
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work.
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding. Call your healthcare provider if you soak through two or more pads an hour for two hours in a row.
- Infection.
- Fever. Seek help if your fever lasts more than four hours.
How Can Anderson House Help Me?
As we mentioned earlier, knowing how far along you are in your pregnancy is critical. At Anderson House, we provide free lab-quality pregnancy tests. If your pregnancy test is positive, we offer free ultrasound referrals.
An ultrasound is the best method for determining the number of weeks you have been pregnant and whether your pregnancy is developing. Get the facts about your pregnancy and abortion procedures.
Schedule a free appointment at one of our two locations. We’re here for you!
Anderson House does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
