Medical abortion (also known as the “abortion pill”) consists of two different, powerful drugs that work together to terminate and expel a pregnancy from your uterus.
Before choosing a medical abortion for your pregnancy, it’s critical to learn all you can about how it works and how to protect your health beforehand.
This article will explore the essentials you need to know about abortion. If you’re looking to talk to someone about abortion and your other pregnancy options, contact Crisis Pregnancy Center to schedule a free, confidential appointment.
How Does a Medical Abortion Work?
When you choose a medical abortion, you will take the drugs at home.
The first drug, mifepristone, blocks the essential pregnancy hormone progesterone. Without progesterone, your uterine lining will thin and shed, which ultimately causes your pregnancy to detach and end.
The second drug, misoprostol, causes your uterus to contract, which expels your pregnancy from your uterus and out of your body through your vagina.
How Will I Feel After a Medical Abortion?
After taking the abortion drugs, you will experience vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping.
Some women have reported that the pain they feel is unexpectedly severe and overwhelming.
You might also experience the following side effects:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Headache
What Are the Risks of a Medical Abortion?
One of the main risks of abortion drugs is an incomplete abortion, which occurs when parts of the terminated pregnancy remain in your uterus. An incomplete abortion is dangerous because it can lead to a potentially life-threatening infection and cause heavy and prolonged bleeding and pain.
How Can I Protect My Health?
Before you make a pregnancy decision—especially abortion—it’s critical to get an ultrasound. This simple scan will give you the key information you need to make an educated decision and stay safe.
An ultrasound can help you determine your pregnancy’s gestational age, which is necessary to know if you’re considering medical abortion since the drugs involved are only FDA-approved through the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
It can also determine the location of your pregnancy and whether or not it is progressing with a heartbeat.
At Crisis Pregnancy Center, we offer free, limited ultrasounds because you deserve to have access to the tools you need to stay healthy.
Contact us today to schedule your free, confidential appointment. You’re not alone in this. We’re here for you.