Ordering abortion drugs online and taking them at home can seem like the fastest and most private way to end a pregnancy.
However, pursuing this method removes safeguards and medical steps that exist to protect you.
Before ordering pills from a website, read on to learn more about the drugs themselves and about the critical health information you need.
You can also contact Pregnancy Care Center of Rincon for free and confidential support for an unplanned pregnancy.
What the FDA Says About Ordering Abortion Drugs
A medical abortion uses two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol.
The FDA advises against purchasing mifepristone online because there is no way to confirm the drug’s dosage or type, or even if it’s the drug you believe you’re purchasing.
Additionally, these drugs may be expired, stored improperly, or dosed differently than the label states.
What an Ultrasound Confirms That a Website Cannot
Ordering the abortion pill online removes a very important step: learning the facts about your pregnancy.
An ultrasound scan is used to determine the gestational age of your pregnancy and whether the pregnancy is properly growing in the uterus and viable.
Gestational age matters because, according to the FDA, taking the abortion pill past 10 weeks raises the likelihood of an incomplete abortion.
The location of your pregnancy can matter even more. An ectopic pregnancy implants outside the uterus, most often in a fallopian tube. Abortion drugs will not end an ectopic pregnancy, and a tube that ruptures causes internal bleeding that requires emergency surgery.
Immediate medical treatment is needed to address an ectopic pregnancy. Purchasing abortion drugs online typically means you would not receive an ultrasound, posing additional risks to your health.
The Complications You Would Handle Alone
Every abortion procedure carries risks, and mail-order abortion asks you to manage that risk without the supervision of a medical provider who knows your history.
Heavy bleeding is one concern: soaking two or more pads an hour for two hours in a row signals serious complications. Also, women must often manage the remains of their pregnancy, which can be very difficult for them.
Additionally, an incomplete abortion means that tissue has been left behind in the uterus. It often requires a surgical procedure to resolve.
Infection is another risk, marked by fever, chills, foul-smelling discharge, or severe abdominal pain. An untreated infection can lead to more serious complications like sepsis or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
Certain conditions and medications also make the abortion pill unsafe for some women, including bleeding disorders, blood thinners, long-term steroid use, and an IUD that is still in place.
Free and Confidential Care in Rincon
Pregnancy Care Center of Rincon serves women throughout Effingham County.
We provide free lab-quality pregnancy tests and on-site ultrasound scans to give you valuable information about your pregnancy and what options are available to you. Ultrasounds are offered if you receive a positive test with us and if you are eligible.
Every appointment is free and confidential, and we offer same-day appointments and accept walk-ins whenever available.
Contact us today to schedule your confidential appointment. We’re here for you.
Pregnancy Care Center of Rincon does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.