5 Facts About the Abortion Pill You Need to Know
Are you considering taking the abortion pill? Maybe an unplanned pregnancy seems scary right now, or you feel surrounding pressures to choose abortion. You are stronger than you know. Remember, you have the final say in your pregnancy decision. We are here to offer you information about your options.
Before jumping into your decision, confirm you are pregnant and learn the facts about the abortion pill process. You owe it to yourself to be informed about the procedure and the risks to your health.
Here are five facts you need to know about the abortion pill:
1. It Works to Terminate an Existing Pregnancy
The abortion pill (also known as medication abortion) is a process that works to end an existing pregnancy, not prevent pregnancy.
Medication abortion is normally done in a medical office and finished at home, with a follow-up visit to a doctor once the procedure is done. This type of abortion doesn’t require any type of surgery or anesthesia.
2. Two Pills Are Taken in the Process.
The abortion pill is known as medication abortion because it’s a series of two medications that work together to terminate the pregnancy. The process normally takes 24 to 48 hours.
The first pill, Mifepristone, blocks the womb from absorbing the pregnancy hormone called Progesterone. This thins the lining of the uterus and prevents the embryo from implanting or growing any further. The second drug, Misoprostol, causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy through the vagina.
3. Only for Women 10 Weeks Pregnant or Earlier
The abortion pill (medication abortion) is most effective when done during the first trimester of pregnancy. Only women ten weeks pregnant or earlier are recommended for this type of abortion, or a surgical abortion would be needed. Confirm how far along you are with an ultrasound today at our center.
An ultrasound will alert you to complications like ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy that grows outside the uterus)—eliminating your eligibility for abortion. This type of pregnancy would require immediate medical attention.
4. There Are Major Risks to Women’s Health
Anytime you have a major medical procedure like abortion done, there are many health risks to consider. Some potential risks of medication abortion (the abortion pill) include…
- Incomplete abortion – may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Digestive system discomfort
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
5. Abortion Pill Costs Are Not Cheap
According to the Guttmacher Institute, the average cost for a first-trimester abortion in the United States is around $508. Costs can be anywhere between $75 and $2500, depending on if you have insurance coverage or not.
Contact us today to learn more about abortion, or your other pregnancy options. We offer pregnancy confirmation services at no cost so you can be sure of your pregnancy. You are not alone!