According to Mayo Clinic, abortion pill medications cause vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain with additional side effects of nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, diarrhea, and headache.
All About the Abortion Pill
The abortion pill is another name for medical abortion. This type of abortion is FDA-approved for use within the first ten weeks of pregnancy. It utilizes two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, to first terminate the pregnancy and then expel it.
The whole process can take about 48 hours or more, depending on the prescribing physician’s instructions. The first drug, mifepristone, is taken usually at the abortion clinic to terminate the pregnancy by blocking the pregnancy hormone progesterone. Then, about 24 to 48 hours later, misoprostol is taken to cause the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy through abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding.
The side effects of the procedure as noted above include nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, diarrhea, and headache. Side effects are not the same as risks.
What Are the Risks of the Abortion Pill?
In addition to the side effects, you should also be aware of the potential risks of medication abortion.
These 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
If considering the abortion pill, make sure to discuss it with a medical professional to go over your personal health history. The abortion pill might not be a safe option for women with IUDs, blood clotting disorders, significant anemia, or other conditions. That’s why it’s critical to talk with your doctor first.
How Can North Care Women’s Clinic Help?
At North Care Women’s Clinic, we can confirm your pregnancy with a pregnancy confirmation appointment. This will help identify if you are pregnant, have a viable pregnancy, how far along you are, and if there is a possibility of an ectopic pregnancy. The results will provide valuable information as you consider your next steps.
We also offer no-cost STD testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Getting tested and treated is critical to protecting your sexual health whether you’re considering abortion or not.
Schedule a free and confidential appointment today at our clinic in Lansdale, Pennsylvania!
