The Abortion Pill
Are you considering the abortion pill?
The first step is to confirm how far along you are in your pregnancy and talk with a medical professional.
Our network of clinics can offer you a free full medical verification of your pregnancy. Start here. All services are confidential and at no cost to you.
It is never more important to base your decisions on accurate information. Try to think beyond the pressures you face right now and consider the long-term impact of your choices. You may have considered—or someone around you may have suggested—having an abortion.
Don’t let anyone rush you into a medical decision before you understand the medical and emotional risks, and have considered your options. One of the options you may have considered is the abortion pill.
The Abortion Pill
Are you considering the abortion pill?
The first step is to confirm how far along you are in your pregnancy and talk with a medical professional.
Our network of clinics can offer you a free full medical verification of your pregnancy. Start here. All services are confidential and at no cost to you.
It is never more important to base your decisions on accurate information. Try to think beyond the pressures you face right now and consider the long-term impact of your choices. You may have considered—or someone around you may have suggested—having an abortion.
Don’t let anyone rush you into a medical decision before you understand the medical and emotional risks, and have considered your options. One of the options you may have considered is the abortion pill.
When can the medical abortion pill be done?
This method of abortion is only approved for use if it’s been 70 days or less since the first day of your last menstrual period. Doctors call this “LMP.” When did your last period begin? How many days has it been since then?
YOU SHOULD KNOW: If an abortion provider doesn’t follow the safety guidelines required by the FDA (and not all do), your health could be at significant risk.
How is a medical abortion done?
According to the official safety guidelines issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a medical abortion requires two office visits:
• At the first abortion-provider visit: A woman takes one mifepristone pill, also known by the brand name Mifeprex ®. This pill contains a drug that cuts off the supply of blood and nutrients to the developing embryo.
• 24 to 48 hours later: The woman will take another drug, misoprostol, also called Cytotec ®. This causes the uterus to contract and expel the embryo
• Seven to fourteen days later: The woman will have a second visit with her abortion provider to confirm that the abortion is complete.
What happens next?
She should expect to have vaginal bleeding or spotting for an average of 9 to 16 days.
Up to 8 percent of women may experience some bleeding for 30 days or more.
Can the abortion pill be reversed?
The abortion pill reversal can only occur after the first dose of medical abortion (mifepristone) is taken orally and is generally ineffective after the second set of the medical abortion pills (misoprostol) have been taken. If you or someone you know has taken the first dose of the abortion pill, only to regret the decision and wish to reverse the process, visit www.AbortionPillReversal.com or call their 24-hour helpline at 877-558-0333. Time is of the essence.
Are there health conditions a woman needs to tell her doctor about?
Yes—a healthcare professional should be made aware of any of these conditions, because a medical abortion is not safe for people who have:
• high blood pressure
• heart disease
• bleeding problems
• anemia
• uncontrolled diabetes
• an IUD in place
SIDE EFFECTS
According to the data collected by Micromedex, here’s what women who’ve taken these medications have experienced:
• headache (up to 44%)
• nausea (43–61%)
• vomiting (18–26%)
• diarrhea (12–40%)
• fatigue (10%)
• cramping & pain (96%)
YOU SHOULD KNOW: Because of the potential for serious health risks, an abortion provider will typically schedule a follow-up visit to evaluate the woman’s health.
What kind of track record does the abortion pill have?
- • The abortion pill is used in about 25% of early abortions, according to the Guttmacher Institute.
- • Around 2 to 7 percent of women taking the abortion pill will need a surgical procedure either to stop persistent bleeding or because the abortion was not complete.
- • The FDA collects information about the drugs they approve to help people understand some of the risks they face in choosing certain treatments.
WARNING SIGNS
If within the first 24 hours after taking mifepristone and misoprostol a woman experiences the following symptoms, she should contact her health-care professional right away:
- • heavy bleeding that soaks through two thick, full-size sanitary pads per hour for two hours
- • persistent stomach pain or discomfort
- • weakness
- • nausea
- • vomiting
- • diarrhea, with or without fever
- • fever of 100.4° or higher for more than four hours
These symptoms, even without a fever, may indicate a serious and possibly fatal blood infection.
YOU SHOULD KNOW: Since September 2000, the FDA has tracked complications following medical abortions in the United States. In 2011, they reported:
• Hospitalized–612
• Ectopic pregnancies–58
• Blood loss requiring transfusions–339
• Infections–256
• Severe infections–48
• Deaths–8
IT’S VERY IMPORTANT FOR WOMEN TO FOLLOW THE SAFETY GUIDELINES
According to the FDA report, eight women have died from a severe bacterial infection in their bloodstream. • Seven of these women had the misoprostol inserted in their vagina and one used the drug orally. • Each of these women became ill very quickly and died from a fast-growing infection.
Are there any additional safety concerns to be aware of?
- • The abortion pill can mask symptoms of an ectopic pregancy, which can be very dangerous (see next section). • Some abortion providers recommend taking the misoprostol pill vaginally rather than orally. This is hazardous, as introduction of misoprostol directly into the reproductive tract has been associated with deadly infections.
- • A woman undergoing a medical abortion is typically recommended for a follow-up visit because of health risks and the possibility that, in the case of an incomplete abortion, the fetus may remain in the woman’s uterus. • If this method of abortion is used more than 70 days after LMP, the likelihood of an incomplete abortion increases, as does the risk of adverse health effects.
- • Ordering the abortion pill online is a dangerous option — there’s no way to be sure of what a woman’s getting.
- • Emergency medical situations may arise from a medical abortion. The symptoms can include continued bleeding, fainting, severe abdominal/pelvic pain, fever (chills, sweats). These can result from an incomplete abortion or infection. If there’s a need for emergency surgery, not all abortion providers have immediate access to a surgical facility.
What is an ectopic pregnancy?
This is when the embryo is growing outside of a woman’s uterus, usually in her fallopian tube.
If the embryo is in the fallopian tube, the abortion pill won’t end the pregnancy and the embryo will continue to grow and could cause the tube to burst.
Here’s the danger: The cramping and abdominal pain that are normal after the use of the abortion pill are a lot like the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy. A woman might not realize until it’s too late that she needs to seek emergency care—and this puts her life at risk.
If a woman has little or no bleeding after taking misoprostol, it could also be a warning sign for ectopic pregnancy.
An ectopic pregnancy is an emergency—the woman’s doctor or the emergency room at the hospital should be contacted right away.
The best option is for a woman to get an ultrasound before having a medical abortion.
HERE’S WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
If the embryo is growing in a woman’s fallopian tube, the abortion pill won’t end her pregnancy.
The embryo would continue to grow, possibly causing the fallopian tube to burst (rupture), which might put the woman’s life at risk.
An ultrasound can detect an ectopic pregnancy, which could save the woman’s life.
YOU SHOULD KNOW: The abortion pill will not end an ectopic pregnancy, which could put a woman’s life at risk. An ultrasound can help detect such a pregnancy.
THOUGHTS FROM A DOCTOR…
Despite its known risks, the abortion pill has been called a major medical breakthrough. In fact, some groups go so far as to say that it’s a real step forward for the health of women, even that it “saves lives.” This is just not true. As an obstetrician, I can tell you that an incredibly special and completely unique person is growing inside of every pregnant woman. You can see for yourself, at the Mayo Clinic’s website, that just six weeks after your last period, your baby’s heart has already begun beating and he or she has the beginning of arms, legs, mouth, and eyes. Visit mayoclinic.org and search for “fetal development first trimester.” Take time to consider all your options and get counseling from someone who does not have a financial or personal stake in your decision. Then choose well.
Dr. W. David Hager is a board-certified obstetrician gynecologist currently practicing gynecology at Baptist Health Woman’s Care in Lexington, Ky.
Do you know the difference?
Sometimes these pills get confused.
The Abortion Pill
- An abortion method used to terminate an early pregnancy.
- Medications are Mifeprex® (fiepristone) and Cytotec® (misoprostol).
- Must be taken within 70 days of when your last menstrual period began.
- Pills must be prescribed by a healthcare professional. At least two visits to your provider are needed, possibly more.
- Will not prevent sexually transmitted infections or diseases.
The Morning-After Pill
- A method used to prevent pregnancy. It may cause a very early abortion if fertilization has already occurred.
- Medications are Plan B One-Step® (levonorgestrel) and ella® (ulipristal acetate).
- Plan B One-Step® must be taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex; ella® must be taken within five days after unprotected sex.
- Plan B One-Step® may be purchased without a prescription. A prescription is required for the purchase of ella®.
- Will not prevent sexually transmitted infections or diseases.
Sources
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Medication Guide: Mifeprex®
- Drug Label Information for Mifeprex®
- Drug Safety: Mifeprex Questions and Answers
- Postmarket Drug Safety Information for Patients and Providers: Mifeprex® U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health
- Drug Information: Mifepristone
- Micromedex
- Guttmacher Institute: Induced Abortion in the United States.
- All models were used for illustrative purposes only.