There are risks that come with a major pregnancy decision like taking the abortion pill. It could be easy to perceive the process as simply taking a pill and calling it done, but it’s a bit more complicated than that.
It’s important to understand the major risks of the abortion pill. To make an informed decision, you deserve to know the facts.
How Does the Abortion Pill Work?
The abortion pill, known as RU-486, is called a medication abortion. There are two abortion drugs taken during the procedure. First, Mifepristone causes the thinning of the uterus and blocks the progesterone hormone, preventing the embryo from growing. The second drug, Misoprostol, causes the uterus to contract and then expel the pregnancy.
The first abortion drug is normally taken at a clinic or with a medical professional, and the second drug is taken at home. Having a follow-up appointment with a doctor is vital to make sure the abortion is complete and address any possible complications.
What Are the Risks of the Abortion Pill?
Every woman’s body is unique and you may experience different effects from the abortion pill. Here are some of the most common risks involved when taking the abortion pill (medication abortion):
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Digestive system discomfort
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- An ongoing unwanted pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Seeing embryonic parts expelled
Pre-Termination Consultation
To understand your abortion options, a positive pregnancy test and ultrasound are needed. An ultrasound is the only way you can know if your pregnancy is viable (that the pregnancy is located in the uterus, how far along you are, and if the embryo has a heartbeat). You need to know that the pregnancy is viable before you decide to abort.
Only women 10 weeks pregnant or less are eligible for a medication abortion, and women further along only have the option of a surgical abortion.
Schedule free and confidential pregnancy testing and an ultrasound appointment today for your pre-termination consultation at Women’s Care Center. We are here to talk with you about all your options.