The abortion pill, a chemical/medication abortion, has been seen to hold many misconceptions that are important to be aware of when considering an abortion.
Abortion, in all forms, is a significant decision both emotionally and physically. We hope that you are informed of the risks and possible complications of an abortion procedure so that you are empowered to confidently make the best pregnancy decision for your individualized situation.
Qualifications Necessary Before Taking the Pill
First, we recommend confirming your pregnancy through a no-cost pregnancy test and ultrasound at the Pregnancy Care Center of Rincon. The abortion pill is only available if it is determined you are at or under 10 weeks in pregnancy.
Can you identify the definitive date of conception? If not, we will use an ultrasound exam to determine the gestational age of your pregnancy. This step is preliminary to the type of abortion in which you qualify.
Side-Effects of the Abortion Pill
Once it is determined that you are eligible for the abortion pill, it is valuable that you understand information about the effects associated with the procedure.
According to Mayo Clinic, side effects of the abortion pill include:
- Vaginal Bleeding
- Abdominal Cramping
- Vomiting/Nausea
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Fever/Chills
Other frequently cited side effects include:
- Incomplete abortion, which may then require a surgical abortion
- An unwanted pregnancy if the procedure was unsuccessful
- Heavy, prolonged bleeding and excessive blood loss
- Infection
- Gastrointestinal discomfort
The Abortion Pill Procedure
The abortion pill is a regimen consisting of two drugs taken over a couple of hours or days. These drugs act to terminate the pregnancy and expel the fetus from the body.
Progesterone, known as the pregnancy hormone, is naturally produced by the body to stimulate embryonic growth following fertilization. The first drug in the abortion pill regimen blocks the uterus from absorbing progesterone and results in an uninhabitable environment for fetal survival.
A second drug is taken hours or days after the first pill. This drug works to induce contractions that expel the pregnancy. As you will likely experience heavy bleeding with a medication abortion, it is recommended you are at home near a bathroom.
So, What’s Next?
With the unreliability of at-home pregnancy testing, we recommend you verify your test with one of our no-cost lab-quality pregnancy tests.
An ultrasound will determine if your pregnancy is viable. If a non-viable pregnancy is found, a miscarriage may have occurred and an abortion pill would no longer be needed. At Pregnancy Care Center of Rincon, we offer free and confidential ultrasounds.
If you would like to schedule your no-cost pregnancy test and ultrasound to explore your pregnancy options, schedule an appointment with the Pregnancy Care Center of Rincon today.