A mail-order abortion involves receiving the abortion pill drugs by mail without having first seen a doctor in person. Although this option has become increasingly popular, inherent risks can compromise your health and safety.
Read on to learn the top three things you need to know if you’re considering a mail-order abortion. Or, if you want to talk to someone in person about your pregnancy options, contact Pregnancy Care Center of Rincon today to be connected with one of our caring team members. All appointments are free and confidential.
1. You Won’t Know the Gestational Age of Your Pregnancy
The drugs involved in a mail-order abortion are powerful and only FDA-approved if your pregnancy is under 10 weeks gestation. The only way to accurately estimate the age of your pregnancy is through ultrasound, which must happen in person—relying on the dates of your last menstrual period isn’t enough.
Since mail-order abortion drugs are typically obtained after only a teledoc appointment, this means that you won’t accurately know the age of your pregnancy. If your pregnancy is older than 10 weeks gestation and you take the mail-order abortion drugs, you’re at a greater risk for adverse complications, which include:
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
2. You Will Take the Abortion Drugs Without the Oversight of a Physician
The abortion drugs are powerful, and during a mail-order abortion, you’ll be taking these drugs at home without the guidance of a physician. Taking the drugs at home means that you will experience the abortion process on your own, and it can sometimes be hard to know what’s to be expected versus what is a complication.
After taking the abortion drugs, you will experience abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding. You will also experience the pregnancy passing through your vagina, which can be distressing for many women. You will need to consider what you will do with the pregnancy remains.
3. Ultrasound Can Protect Your Health
An ultrasound can help protect your health if you’re seeking abortion pill drugs. Along with determining the approximate age of your pregnancy, this simple scan can also reveal:
- The location of your pregnancy. This is essential to rule out a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy, which is when the embryo attaches and grows outside the uterus.
- The viability of your pregnancy. During an ultrasound, the nurse will look for a heartbeat. This is important since roughly 26% of pregnancies end in miscarriage.
Next Steps
Abortion is a serious decision, and knowing all you can beforehand will help protect your health. At the Pregnancy Care Center of Rincon, we offer free, limited ultrasounds to give you the information you need before making a pregnancy decision. We also offer free options counseling that provides pregnancy information and the space to ask questions. Contact us today to schedule a confidential appointment.