Medical Abortion
About The Pill
Medical Abortion
You may have heard of the abortion pill referred to by different names, even “plan c” or a “missed period pill.” Whatever you may have heard it called, it works by ending the life of a live, growing fetus in your uterus. It is important to know that the abortion pill is not the same as emergency contraception (i.e. Morning After Pill, Plan B, Ella, etc.). Before a medication abortion, you should be given a physical examination to determine whether you’re a candidate for medication abortion and you should be given an ultrasound to ensure that you really are pregnant with a live, intrauterine pregnancy and within the gestational dating that it can be prescribed. Unfortunately, women have been given the abortion pill when they were not even pregnant, or way beyond the time period that it could be effective.
Note: Ordering the abortion pill online bypasses all of the safeguards such as ultrasound that protect you from a missed ectopic pregnancy or severe complications. You may not even know for sure what pills you are given, or if you are actually pregnant. Visit athomeabortionfacts.com for more information.
The Process
1. A drug called Mifepristone is taken; this stops the hormone progesterone, which in turn results in the death of the fetus. Progesterone is needed for the fetus to survive and grow.
2. The second drug, Misoprostol, is taken 24-48 hours later. It works by causing the fetus to be expelled from the uterus. Unfortunately, many women are at home when they experience this, and it can cause severe cramping and bleeding for several days.
3. Third, about7-14 days after the first pill is taken, you should follow-up with your doctor to ensure the abortion was complete. If there is anything left inside the uterus, it may result in needing a surgical abortion to prevent complications. This is a potentially serious condition, and this follow-up appointment is very important.
Side Effects
Allergic Reaction
If the abortion fails (incomplete abortion), you may have fetal remains left in your uterus, which would require another abortion (surgical abortion) to remove the body parts and other pregnancy contents. There have also been cases where babies have survived attempted abortions and could have a chance at life. Please see your OBGYN or emergency care asap.
Mental & Emotional Impacts
It is true that many women feel relief directly after having an abortion. They may feel like, for a time, their problem has been solved. But what is not spoken about enough is the long term mental and emotional impacts an abortion can have on a person. Once that immediate crisis has faded, you may realize what you have done, and you may have regret. We have counseled many women at our center who have experienced deep trauma from an abortion. Many have experienced guilt, depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, relationship issues, and emotional distress, and some have even attempted suicide because of the weight of that decision. The abortion pill is now the most common form of abortion, but formal data is lacking on how the experience of giving yourself an abortion and seeing baby parts expelled could impact long term mental and emotional health. Reach out to speak to someone who has been through an abortion themselves. Visit our recovery tab for more info on available abortion recovery programs.
Confirm your Pregnancy With Us
There is no need to make an abortion decision now if you have not taken a medical grade pregnancy test yet. Even if you have taken a home test, it’s wise to take a medical grade test and have an ultrasound to confirm pregnancy. We can provide this for you at FCC. Your first visit with us, will also be able to meet with a trained counselor who will listen to your concerns, offer hope for your situation, walk you through your options, and explain the help we have to offer. We will give you a medical pregnancy test and an ultrasound (at our nurse’s discretion).
Importance of an Ultrasound
Ultrasounds are highly effective and safe tool for making sure that you are pregnant, measuring how far along you are, and determining if your pregnancy is viable (live and in the uterus). Both of those factors are essential to know before you get a medication abortion. We can provide an ultrasound for you at no cost.
- Medical Abortion. Mayo Clinic Website:https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687. Published May 14, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
- Controversial Oklahoma City abortion doctor stripped of medical license. Oklahoma News 4 Website: https://kfor.com/news/controversial-oklahoma-city-abortion-doctor-stripped-of-medical-license. Published January 14, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
- “Clinical Trials Experience,” Danco Labratories, last modified March 2016, http://www.earlyoptionpill.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Prescribing-Info-and-MG_BW.pdf .
- Abortion (Termination of Pregnancy). Harvard University Website:https://www.health.harvard.edu/medical-tests-and-procedures/abortion-termination-of-pregnancy-a-to-zPublished January 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
- Dilation and curettage. Mayo Clinic Website: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/dilation-and-curettage/about/pac-20384910. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
- Questions and answers on late-term abortion. Charlotte Lozier Institute Website: https://lozierinstitute.org/questions-and-answers-on-late-term-abortion. Published February 24, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2020.