What Are the Risks of Ordering the Abortion Pill Online?

Finding out you’re unexpectedly pregnant can be like a punch to the gut. From financial worries to uncertainties about what this might mean for your future, it can feel like abortion is the only choice you could make.

The abortion pill is a form of abortion offered to women in their first 10 weeks of pregnancy. This chemical form of abortion uses two medications, Mifepristone and Misoprostol, to first end the pregnancy in the womb and then cause contractions to expel the tissue from the body.

For some women, going to the doctor to learn about pregnancy options can feel overwhelming and even embarrassing. This leads many women to seek abortion out through more private channels, like the internet. 

4 Risks of Ordering the Abortion Pill Online

If you’re considering ordering the abortion pill online, here are a few important facts to consider! 

1. Some online abortion providers are selling untested medication 

It’s important that any medication you take has gone through the appropriate testing and approval process required by the FDA. Unfortunately, there are fake pharmaceutical sites offering versions of the abortion pill online that have not been approved for consumption.

The abortion pill can lead to serious health conditions, even when accessed through the proper channels, so it’s important to avoid these untested medications. 

2. Skipping important screenings poses health risks

When women order the abortion pill online, they’re often tempted to skip important pre-screenings. The most important step to take first is to get an ultrasound.

An ultrasound will provide you with key insights into your pregnancy, including its location, viability, and age. The scan will help your doctor identify any conditions, like ectopic pregnancy, that could lead to severe, and potentially fatal, health complications.

While scheduling an appointment for an ultrasound may feel intimidating, especially if you’re considering abortion, it’s an important part of the process. First Coast Women’s Services provides ultrasounds on a free and confidential basis and a qualified healthcare professional will be there to walk through your results with you.  

3. It’s possible a medical abortion would be ineffective 

If you haven’t yet received an ultrasound scan to confirm your pregnancy’s age, you should do so before accessing the abortion pill. The abortion pill is only effective in the first 10 weeks of gestation and an incomplete abortion can lead to severe health issues, such as hemorrhaging and infection. 

4. The abortion pill may be accompanied by uncomfortable side effects and severe risks

Side effects of the abortion pill include weakness, bleeding, pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and diarrhea.

There are also severe health risks that may be accompanied by the abortion pill, including infection, sepsis, and hemorrhaging. These conditions each require immediate medical attention, meaning women accessing the abortion pill online may not get the help they need in time. 

There are other options available to you

Ordering the abortion pill online is not the only pregnancy option available to you. It’s important to take the time you need to gather information on your other options — parenting and adoption — and learn about the resources available to you within your community. The risks associated with ordering the abortion pill online will make the research with your while.

Schedule a Free Appointment

First Coast Women’s Services is here to walk you through your options and help empower you with knowledge as you make the choice that’s best for you.

Schedule an appointment with us today!