The abortion pill is a regimen of two different drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol used to end a pregnancy. In the US, this is FDA-approved up to 10 weeks (70 days) of gestational age.
Read this article to understand how the abortion pill, also known as a medical abortion, works and recommended health screenings to take before getting this procedure.
How Does the Abortion Pill Work?
The abortion pill starts with the first medication, mifepristone, an antiprogestin. This term means it blocks the pregnancy from receiving the hormone progesterone to stop fetal growth and development.
After the first medication is taken, the second, misoprostol, is taken 24-48 hours later. Because the first drug ended the pregnancy, misoprostol induces uterine cramping so that your body can expel the pregnancy uterine remnants.
What are the Risks of a Medical Abortion?
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
Next Steps
Understanding the different types of procedures is just one step on your journey to making an informed choice for your pregnancy.
Our clinic offers a no-cost ultrasound if you’ve already taken a positive pregnancy test. This important scan confirms the pregnancy’s age, location, and viability.
The pregnancy’s age is helpful to know so you understand your eligibility for specific procedures.
The location matters because if the pregnancy is growing outside the uterus, it is an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy requires immediate medical attention and a procedure other than an elective abortion.
As many as “26% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage.” Knowing whether you have miscarried or not will help you see if you qualify for elective abortion or if you need treatment for a miscarriage.
New Beginnings of Winchester is here to help you build a pregnancy plan you feel confident about. Contact us today to make an appointment!