abortion medication

If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and considering taking abortion medication, there is some important information you need to know first.

What is the "abortion pill"?

Well, technically, the “abortion pill” isn’t just one pill. The abortion pill process actually consists of two drugs (mifepristone and misoprostol) and you may have heard it referred to as Mifeprex™ or RU-486. The abortion pill is considered a medication abortion. Abortionists are able to provide this type of abortion until roughly 10 weeks gestation. 

The first step of the abortion pill process occurs at the abortion clinic. An abortionist will provide mifepristone for you to take orally. This drug blocks progesterone from the embryo, which eventually stops the heart of the unborn embryo. This first step can take a few days to complete. 

The second step of the abortion pill process occurs at your home. Misoprostol is self-administered and causes cramping and the expulsion of your embryo or fetus. 

After about a week or two you will return to the abortion clinic to ensure the medication abortion was successful. If it wasn’t, a surgical abortion may have to be performed. ​

What are the ABORTION Pill Risks? 

Like any medical procedure, there are associated risks with the abortion pill. 

• Excessive bleeding that can last anywhere from 9 - 16 days. Infection leading to sepsis (total body infection) has caused death for many women. 
• The abortion pill will not end an ectopic pregnancy. If not treated early, an ectopic pregnancy can cause the fallopian tube to burst, internal hemorrhaging, or in some cases, death. 
• The abortion pill process can also fail, which can lead to a surgical abortion being performed. Another risk associated with the abortion pill process is the risk of fetal malformations if the pregnancy continues. Misoprostol has been linked to certain types of birth defects in babies born after failed abortions. 
• Other common side effects include: nausea, weakness, fever/chills, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, and dizziness.

How do I know the abortion pill is right for me?

Knowing all your options is important to make your pregnancy decision. At CARE, we offer unbiased, educational, and supportive information to help you make your pregnancy decision. Unlike other clinics, we do not financially benefit from your pregnancy decision so you can truly make your choice without coercion. 

We also offer free limited ultrasounds to help you make your decision. We can tell you the gestational age of your embryo, if the pregnancy is in the uterus, and check for a heartbeat to see if the pregnancy is viable. This information is vital in making your pregnancy decision. Learn why this information is important in making your decision from another blog post we put together. ​

Bottom line.​

We want you to feel confident in your pregnancy decision. At the end of the day, we want you to feel good about the decision you made. We are equipped with knowledgeable staff and volunteers that can give you information about medication abortions, surgical abortions, adoption, and parenting. We are here to help, give us a call or make an appointment using our online scheduler. We look forward to talking with you!

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Note: Some women that begin the abortion pill process change their mind before taking the misoprostol. There is an abortion pill reversal. Under the care of a doctor, some women have continued their pregnancies and given birth to healthy babies. For more information on the abortion pill reversal, click here.

**The Care Pregnancy Center does not offer the abortion pill reversal, nor do we offer or refer for a medication or surgical abortion.**