What to know before getting the abortion pill in Florida
If you have found out you’re pregnant, live in the state of Florida, and are considering taking the abortion pill, read this first! There’s several things you should know before taking the abortion pill in Florida.
If you’ve had a positive at home pregnancy test, your next step, no matter what options you’re considering for your pregnancy, is to get an ultrasound. An ultrasound will determine how far along you are in your pregnancy and will rule out an ectopic pregnancy or early miscarriage. First Coast Women’s Services offers ultrasounds free of charge with no insurance required.
Here’s what you need to know before getting the abortion pill in the state of Florida.
1. Abortion is only legal up to 6 weeks gestation in the state of Florida.
This includes both surgical and medical abortions.
The recent Supreme Court decision regarding the abortion pill does not make the pill accessible throughout pregnancy but instead just means it’s still possible to get the abortion pill up to the legal limit in each state. In the state of Florida, the abortion pill is only legally accessible until 6 weeks 0 days gestation.
With that said, a woman seeking an abortion after 6 weeks gestation is not punishable by law. The doctor attempting to administer the pill to a woman who is further along than 6 weeks is the one who would be held legally responsible.
2. You must get the abortion pill directly from a doctor and take the first pill in the doctor’s office.
Mail-order abortion pills have increased in popularity. However, their safety remains questionable since it’s hard to track where the pills are coming from and what their actual chemical makeup is. By requiring the pill to be administered in person by a doctor, the state of Florida is attempting to safe guard the woman’s health.
As with the 6 week law, a woman seeking to get an abortion via mail order would not be punishable by law but rather the doctor or entity administering it.
3. You must have an ultrasound before obtaining the abortion pill
An ultrasound is required before taking the abortion pill as it determines the gestational age of the pregnancy and is used to rule out an ectopic pregnancy or an early miscarriage. If a woman is determined to be past 6 weeks gestation, she will not be eligible for an abortion in the state of Florida. In the case of an ectopic pregnancy, a woman will require immediate emergency medical care. If a woman has experienced an early miscarriage, an abortion will not be necessary since the pregnancy has ended naturally.
First Coast Women’s Services offers ultrasounds free of charge with same and next day appointments available. Click below to schedule your appointment today.
4. You must wait 24 hours after an initial doctor’s visit before obtaining an abortion
In the state of Florida.
To help protect women from coercion, the state of Florida requires two separate appointments for a woman to obtain an abortion. During the first appointment, she will receive an ultrasound and options education. She must then wait 24 hours before her appointment where she may obtain the abortion pill. This allows time for a woman to consider all her options.
5. There are risks associated with the abortion pill
As with any major medical procedure, there are risks to taking the abortion pill. Risks include, but are not limited to:
- 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
What Next?
Before making a final decision for your pregnancy, it’s important to confirm the pregnancy with an ultrasound and learn about all the options available to you. First Coast Women’s Services offers ultrasounds and options education free of charge, and insurance is never required. Call (904) 915-4357 or click below to schedule your appointment with us today.