woman curious about risks of abortion pill

An unplanned pregnancy can feel confusing with your many questions about your pregnancy options. We’re here to inform you about the risks of the abortion pill. A couple of physical risks associated with this type of abortion include infection or heavy and prolonged bleeding.

These serious risks are due to the serious nature of a medical abortion. Get the facts so you can weigh your pregnancy options and make a decision with clarity.

How Does the Abortion Pill Work?

Formally known as medical abortion, the abortion pill is a series of two drugs that terminate a pregnancy. Both mifepristone and misoprostol work to terminate a pregnancy and expel the pregnancy from the woman’s body.

When taking the abortion pill, a woman can expect the following side effects:

  • Vaginal bleeding
  • Cramping
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache

What Are the Risks of the Abortion Pill?

Along with the side effects come some physical risks. Since every woman’s body is different,  you could experience different effects from the abortion pill.

Some risks that occur after taking the abortion pill (medical abortion) include the following:

  • 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

It’s important to note that medical abortion is NOT an option for you if you…

  • Are too far along in your pregnancy. You shouldn’t attempt a medical abortion if you’ve been pregnant for more than nine weeks (after the start of your last period). Some types of medical abortions aren’t done after seven weeks of pregnancy.
  • Have an intrauterine device (IUD) currently in place.
  • Have a suspected pregnancy outside of the uterus. This is called ectopic pregnancy.
  • Have certain medical conditions. These include bleeding disorders, certain heart or blood vessel diseases, severe liver, kidney, or lung disease, or an uncontrolled seizure disorder.
  • Take a blood thinner or certain steroid medicines.
  • You can’t make follow-up visits to your provider or don’t have access to emergency care.
  • Have an allergy to the medicine used.

Talk to your medical provider to confirm these details. You can also receive free pregnancy services at our clinic to confirm your pregnancy with our free pregnancy testing and a limited ultrasound.

We’re Here for You

Contact us to schedule a free appointment to confirm your pregnancy details and options. You deserve the facts.

You don’t have to make these significant pregnancy decisions alone. We’re here to listen and help.