What Are the Risks of the Abortion Pill?

 An at-home abortion might sound less invasive than a surgical abortion at a clinic. But is it really any safer? 

The truth is that regardless of the location or method of your abortion, there are risks and potential complications. 

How Does the Abortion Pill Work?

If you choose a medical abortion, you will be given a series of pills to take at home. The first in that series is mifepristone, which is then followed by misoprostol. 

These pills work by blocking the hormone progesterone, which is necessary for the distribution of nutrients into the womb. When this supply is cut off, everything in the womb is starved of nutrients and is terminated. 

Recognizing that your pregnancy has now ended, your body will propel you into labor-like cramping to expel the pregnancy. 

This can take hours and even days. 

What Are the Risks of the Abortion Pill?

There are many risks associated with the abortion pill. Because your body is essentially giving birth to your early pregnancy, you will have cramping and bleeding. Many women experience nausea and headaches as well.

Potential complications include:

  • An incomplete abortion, when all of the parts are not expelled from your body
  • An infection that can lead to septic shock
  • A failed abortion, where the pregnancy continues
  • Heavy bleeding 

Additional risks may arise if you purchase your abortion pill from a third-party source instead of getting a prescription from a doctor. 

“Mifeprex has special safety restrictions…drugs purchased from foreign Internet sources are not the FDA-approved versions of the drugs, and they are not subject to FDA-regulated manufacturing controls or FDA inspection of manufacturing facilities,” the FDA explains.

Because of a lack of regulations, third-party drugs may be expired, contaminated, or fake. 

Can You Reverse the Abortion Pill?

If you decide to take the abortion pill but then change your mind, you may be able to reverse the effects if you act before taking misoprostol, the second part of the pill series. 

Within 72 hours of taking the Mifeprex, your doctor can prescribe progesterone pills or injections to try and counteract the abortion pill effects, sending the needed oxygen and nutrients back into the womb to save the life of the baby. 

There is about a 68 percent success rate with abortion pill reversal. 

If you have already taken the pill and want to change your mind, call Abortion Pill Rescue Network immediately. 

Where Can I Learn More?

You can only take the abortion pill in the first 10 weeks of gestation, so before you make any decisions, you need to know how far along you are. At our clinic, we offer free ultrasounds and pregnancy testing.

We can also answer any further questions you have about abortion, adoption, or parenting. Call us today!