If you think you might be pregnant, a medication abortion may be an option you’re considering. However, there are important health screenings you should first take to ensure that you qualify for an abortion procedure.
Abortion is currently banned in the state of Kentucky unless the woman’s life is endangered by the pregnancy. The pregnancy’s gestational age, viability, and location are all important details to learn before moving forward with an abortion procedure, especially if you are considering traveling out of state.
Read this article for how the abortion pill works, possible risks you should be aware of, as well as important health screenings.
How Does the Abortion Pill Work?
The abortion pill, also known as medical abortion, is FDA-approved up to 10 weeks gestational age. This is a series of two drugs taken within 24-48 hours of each other.
The first drug, mifepristone, prevents the pregnancy from receiving the hormone, progesterone. This ends the pregnancy and the second medication, misoprostol, is taken 24-48 hours later. The purpose of this medication is used to induce abdominal cramping to expel the embryo or fetus and pregnancy tissue from the uterus.
Risks of the Abortion Pill
According to the Mayo Clinic, potential risks of medical abortion include:
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- An ongoing unwanted pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
Schedule a Pregnancy Test
Scheduling a pregnancy test should be the first step you take to confirm your status. It’s possible to receive a false-negative result depending on the timing of the test, so make sure you follow the test’s instructions.Â
At New Beginnings of Winchester, we offer no-cost lab-quality pregnancy testing as well as guidance on the best time to take a pregnancy test for the most accurate results.
Get An Ultrasound
There are several factors to consider even if you do receive a positive pregnancy test result. Mayo Clinic reports that 20% of known pregnancies naturally end in a miscarriage and 1 in every 50 pregnancies is ectopic (located outside the uterus).
While the abortion pill is FDA-approved for up to ten weeks of pregnancy, it will not treat certain conditions. If an ultrasound scan discovers miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, consulting with a doctor would be the next step.
At our center, we offer no-cost ultrasound scans so you can confirm if your pregnancy is progressing as normal and how far along you are.
Next Steps
At New Beginnings of Winchester, we offer no-cost pregnancy services, from options counseling to no-cost pregnancy tests. We help provide evidence-based education about the pregnancy process as well as information about local resources that may be available.
We are here to make sure you feel supported and empowered. Contact us today to make your appointment!Â