Abortion Pill Information

Considering the abortion pill?

If you are considering taking the abortion pill, you first should know:

  • How many weeks your pregnancy has advanced.
  • The location of your pregnancy.
  • Additional medical conditions that could make you inelligible to take the abortion pill.

Women’s Resource Center does not provide or refer for the abortion pill, but offers free pregnancy testing and ultrasound services so you have the information you need to make an empowered decision.

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How the Abortion Pill Works

The Abortion Pill is a standard early abortion method in the United States used for abortions up to 10 weeks of a woman’s last menstrual period. Though it is referred to as the abortion pill, it involves a regimen of two drugs taken over the period of several days.

  • The first drug is a medication designed to stop your body’s production of progesterone, a hormone necessary for the development and growth of a gestating embryo during pregnancy.
  • The second drug is a medication used to induce cramping and contractions to expel the contents of the pregnancy from the uterus.

The the abortion pill is not always effective; 7% to 10% may remain pregnant after taking both drugs. Even higher failure rate along with the risk to your health increases greatly at or after 10 weeks of pregnancy. Abortion pills are not effective in the case of ectopic pregnancies where the embryo implants in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus. The abortion pill should not be taken if you have an intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control.

You can schedule a free pregnancy test and ultrasound at Women’s Resource Center to determine how many weeks pregnant you are. An ultrasound can also help detect signs of an ectopic pregnancy.

Ordering Abortion Pills Online

The abortion pill drug regimen is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in women up to 10 weeks after the start of their last menstrual period. 

The FDA does not recommend abortion pills be purchased online since “The FDA does not have regulatory oversight of prescription medicines from outside the legitimate U.S. drug supply chain; therefore, the FDA cannot ensure the safety, effectiveness, or quality of those medications.”

To learn more about the abortion pill and your pregnancy options, schedule an options consultation.

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Abortion Pill Symptoms & Side-Effects

Cramping and bleeding are expected when taking the abortion pill. Bleeding may be like a heavy period and can last up to sixteen days, possibly up to thirty days.

Additional side effects include:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Weakness
  • Dizziness
  • Headache

Abortion Pill Potential Complications

Like any drug, the abortion pill comes with potential negative complications. Possible complications of the abortion pill can include but are not limited to:

  • Bleeding requiring surgery to stop
  • Incomplete/missed abortion
  • Unaffected pregnancy

Before taking the abortion pill, it is imperative that you understand the risks, side effects, and possible complications of the abortion pill. Discuss this information with your healthcare provider so you can make an informed decision.

It is also essential that you follow up with your doctor one to two weeks after completing the abortion pill medication regimen to ensure there are no complications present.

a young woman sitting at the table with her phone

Abortion Pill Reversal

If you have taken the first round of the abortion pill and do not want to complete the abortion, abortion pill reversal is possible. Just like the first drug of the abortion pill functions by blocking the production of progesterone, abortion pill reversal functions by administering doses of progesterone to the patient to support the growth and development during pregnancy.

Timing is everything when it comes to successfully reversing the effects of the abortion pill. If you are having second thoughts about completing the abortion pill regimen, contact the abortion pill reversal hotline immediately.

Abortion Pill Reversal Hotline

References

Abortion Pill Reversal. Abortion Pill Reversal. https://www.abortionpillreversal.com/. Retrieved April 1, 2024.

Cleveland Clinic. Progesterone. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24562-progesterone. Retrieved April 1, 2024.

Cleveland Clinic. Medical Abortion. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21899-medical-abortion. Retrieved April 1, 2024.

Mayo Clinic. Mifepristone (Oral Route). https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/mifepristone-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20067123. Retrieved April 1, 2024.

Mayo Clinic. Ectopic Pregnancy. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ectopic-pregnancy/symptoms-causes/syc-20372088. Retrieved April 1, 2024.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Information about Mifepristone for Medical Termination of Pregnancy Through Ten Weeks Gestation. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/information-about-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy-through-ten-weeks-gestation. Retrieved April 1, 2024.

Dana Vitner, Ronit Machtinger, Micha Baum, Motti Goldenberg, Eyal Schiff, Daniel S. Seidman.
High failure rates of medical termination of pregnancy after introduction to a large teaching hospital. Fertility and Sterility. Volume 91, Issue 4, Supplement. 2009. Pages 1374-1377, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.04.030.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0015028208008960)