First of all, what is a medical abortion? There are two types of abortion: medical and surgical. A medical abortion uses drugs to terminate a pregnancy. The abortion pill method is a medical abortion because it uses two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol.
Taking a few pills sounds easy, doesn’t it? However, there are several reasons why you may not be eligible for the abortion pill method. Let’s take a closer look.
Fact 1. Not Everyone Can Use This Method
According to doctors, a medical abortion isn’t a safe option for you for the following reasons:
- You are too far along in your pregnancy. The FDA approves the use of the drugs through 10 weeks of pregnancy or less. The further along you are, the less effective the drugs.
- You are allergic to either mifepristone or misoprostol.
- The location of your pregnancy is outside your uterus (ectopic pregnancy).
- You use long-term corticosteroids for conditions such as asthma, arthritis, eczema, etc.
- You have an IUD (intrauterine device).
- You have a blood clotting disorder.
- You do not have access to emergency healthcare.
Fact 2. You Need to Determine if Your Pregnancy is Viable First
A viable pregnancy is growing and developing. Experts estimate that as many as 26% of all pregnancies end in a miscarriage. There is no reason to pursue a medical abortion if you are no longer pregnant.
How do you determine if your pregnancy is viable or if you have miscarried? With an ultrasound. A limited OB ultrasound detects a fetal heartbeat as early as six weeks. It also determines how far along you are in your pregnancy and its location (to rule out an ectopic pregnancy).
Fact 3. You Need to Know How Much Bleeding is Too Much
You perform a medical abortion in your home, alone. There is no physician oversight, except if you can reach someone by phone. All abortions involve some bleeding and cramping, but how do you know if you’re bleeding too much?
You should contact a healthcare provider if you soak through more than two thick pads within an hour. Severe bleeding is a risk you don’t want to take.
Fact 4. Some Women Report Extreme Pain
Although every woman experiences an abortion differently, many women report unexpectedly severe pain. One report found that some women described the pain as “out of this world.”
Experiencing severe abdominal or back pain is another reason to contact your healthcare provider.
Get a No-Cost, Confidential Pre-Abortion Examination
Although we do not perform or refer for abortion, we can provide factual, medically based information about abortion procedures, the side effects to expect, and the potential physical and emotional risks.
In addition, we can help you get the information you need to see if you qualify for a medical abortion. Take advantage of our no-cost, confidential pre-abortion screening. You will learn the location of your pregnancy, if there is a fetal heartbeat, how far along you are, and if you have an STD. This information is vital to your health and safety.
Before you take another step, request an appointment today. You owe it to yourself to be prepared. We’re here for you.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
