If an unexpected pregnancy has led you to research medical abortion, you may have encountered terms such as “abortion pill” or “at-home abortion” without a clear explanation of what the process involves. The details matter, especially when online information makes the process seem simple or leaves important questions unanswered.
Your health and safety should come first. Before taking abortion drugs, learn how they work, the FDA-approved limit, the effects and complications that can occur, and why your pregnancy details and health history matter.
Paris Pregnancy Care Center provides free, confidential pregnancy testing, limited ultrasounds, and a place to discuss your questions. Schedule an appointment with our team at no cost.
How Does a Medical Abortion Work?
A medical abortion, also called the abortion pill, uses two drugs:
- Mifepristone blocks progesterone, a hormone needed for the pregnancy to continue. This causes the lining of the uterus to break down.
- Misoprostol causes the uterus to contract, leading to abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding as pregnancy and related tissue are expelled through the vagina.
Under the FDA-approved regimen, misoprostol is taken 24 to 48 hours after mifepristone. The regimen is approved only for an intrauterine pregnancy through 10 weeks of gestation, counted from the first day of the woman’s last menstrual period.
What Effects and Complications Can Occur?
Abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding are expected during a medical abortion. According to the FDA, the bleeding is likely to be heavier and the cramping more intense than during a typical menstrual period.
Other possible side effects include:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Fever or chills
Possible complications include an incomplete abortion, an ongoing pregnancy, heavy or prolonged bleeding, and infection. These complications may require prompt medical evaluation and additional treatment to protect the woman’s health.
Why Do Pregnancy Details and Health History Matter?
A positive pregnancy test cannot determine how far along you are or where the pregnancy is located. The gestational age is relevant because the FDA-approved regimen is limited to an intrauterine pregnancy through 10 weeks.
An ectopic pregnancy develops outside the uterus, most commonly in a fallopian tube. Abortion drugs cannot end an ectopic pregnancy. Without prompt medical care, the tube may rupture and cause life-threatening internal bleeding.
A limited ultrasound may help estimate gestational age, determine whether the pregnancy appears to be located in the uterus, and identify whether cardiac activity is present. If the scan raises a medical concern, additional evaluation from an appropriate healthcare provider may be needed.
The FDA also lists several circumstances in which mifepristone should not be used. These include a confirmed or suspected ectopic pregnancy, certain bleeding or adrenal gland disorders, current blood-thinner use, long-term corticosteroid therapy, an IUD that remains in place, inherited porphyria, or an allergy to either abortion drug.
Learn More at Paris Pregnancy Care Center
Paris Pregnancy Care Center offers free, limited medical services, including pregnancy testing and limited ultrasounds. Our nursing team also provides STD/STI testing and on-site treatment for certain infections.
If traveling to the center is difficult, ask when our mobile medical unit will be serving a community near you and which services will be available.
If practical concerns are affecting how you view your pregnancy, our Earn While You Learn program provides pregnancy and parenting education and allows participants to earn points toward diapers, wipes, clothing, car seats, and other supplies.
Contact Paris Pregnancy Care Center to schedule an appointment or discuss which services may be appropriate for you.
Paris Pregnancy Care Center does not provide or refer for abortions.
