If you’ve found out you are unexpectedly pregnant, you’re likely looking at your options, one of them being abortion. The abortion pill can cause side effects and carries potential risks and complications to consider.
Understanding how these drugs work and what to expect can help you make a more informed decision about your health. LaVie Health Clinic is here to help you get the answers you need about your pregnancy and offer you a safe place to talk.
If you are considering abortion, we offer pre-abortion care at our clinic. While we do not provide or refer for abortions, our care involves confirming your pregnancy with a pregnancy test and a limited ultrasound and then giving you the evidence-based facts around abortion so you can be fully informed.
If you have taken the first abortion pill and regret your decision, it’s important to act quickly to learn about your options. You can reach out to us for more information about abortion pill reversal or contact the APR hotline.
Schedule your appointment at the clinic. We are here for you.
How the Abortion Pill Works
A medical abortion involves two drugs. The first drug is called mifepristone and works by blocking the hormone progesterone, which is needed for your pregnancy to continue growing. The second drug, misoprostol, is taken 24 to 48 hours later and causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy through abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding.
The FDA has approved the abortion pill through ten weeks of gestation.
Side Effects and Risks to Know
Cramping and bleeding are expected side effects of the abortion pill. Some women in one study reported that the cramping was more severe than they expected.
Other side effects include:
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Upset stomach
- Chills
- Fever
The severity and duration of these side effects vary from woman to woman.
Abortion can also bring different emotional experiences. One study found that women’s experiences varied, and women with pre-existing mental health conditions may have a greater risk of mental health difficulties afterward.
There are also serious complications of the abortion pill to be aware of; these include an incomplete abortion, infection, heavy bleeding that will not stop, and an allergic reaction. The FDA warns against ordering the abortion pill online due to the lack of medical oversight.
Why an Ultrasound Matters
While a pregnancy test can detect hCG, it does not show important details about the pregnancy that can affect your options.
An ultrasound can provide information such as the location of your pregnancy, how far along you are (gestational age), and the viability of the pregnancy. At LaVie, nurses perform limited obstetric ultrasounds, and a board-certified radiologist reviews each ultrasound.
Knowing the location of the pregnancy is important because it can help determine whether the pregnancy could be ectopic. This is where the pregnancy develops outside the uterus and requires immediate medical treatment. It cannot be treated with the abortion pill.
It is also possible that a miscarriage has already occurred without you knowing, as pregnancy tests can remain positive for a period of time after pregnancy loss because hCG can remain in the body.
Get the Answers at LaVie Health
You deserve clear and accurate information about your pregnancy and your options. LaVie Health can provide you with no-cost services to help you understand how your pregnancy is developing and to get the information you need about your options.
You don’t have to figure this out alone. Schedule your appointment at LaVie Health today.
LaVie does not provide or refer for abortions.
