The abortion pill is one method that ends a pregnancy. There are risks and side effects to consider if you have an unexpected pregnancy and are weighing this self-managed option.
You need the facts to protect your health and make an informed decision. Ava Health provides no-cost, confidential appointments to discuss your situation. We’re here for you.
Getting the Facts
The abortion pill, also called a medical abortion, uses drugs to end a pregnancy. This method is FDA-approved only through 10 weeks gestation.
Commonly performed with mifepristone and misoprostol, the abortion pill results in abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding that expel the pregnancy from the body.
Mifepristone blocks progesterone, a hormone that helps the pregnancy develop and grow. Without progesterone, the uterine lining thins, and the pregnancy detaches from the uterine wall and ends. Misoprostol causes the uterus to contract, which expels the pregnancy from the uterus.
Learning the Side Effects and Risks
Taking these drugs causes cramping and bleeding. However, additional side effects can occur, including:
- Upset stomach
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Headache
In addition to these side effects, certain risks are associated with the abortion pill. Knowing the facts is crucial to making an informed decision. These risks include:
- Digestive symptoms (i.e., upset stomach)
- Infection
- Fever
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Incomplete abortion (when the body does not release all the pregnancy tissue, potentially requiring a surgical procedure)
If you are considering the abortion pill for your unexpected pregnancy, it is crucial to confirm your pregnancy and learn about your options before deciding. Ava Health provides compassionate services in a nonjudgmental setting.
Your Next Steps
Learning you’re pregnant can feel overwhelming. However, you don’t have to figure things out alone.
Ava Health’s licensed medical team provides first and second-trimester limited ultrasounds after positive pregnancy testing. These details will verify your pregnancy, enabling you to make a decision with your health and safety in mind.
We also offer free and medically accurate information about your options so you can learn about parenting, adoption, and abortion. Get your questions answered and move forward confidently.
Request a no-cost and confidential appointment today to get started.
Ava Health does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.