What Are the Risks of the Abortion Pill?
Any medical protocol or procedure has risks; you deserve to know what they are and how they can impact your health. The abortion pill (also called “medical abortion”) is no different, and making an informed decision is a crucial part of protecting your health.
Learn about abortion procedures, risks, and side effects with options counseling at Life’s Choices Women’s Clinic. This no-cost, confidential service is available to all clients with unplanned pregnancies.
How Does the Abortion Pill Work?
The abortion pill actually uses two drugs to end a pregnancy. Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone, and misoprostol causes uterine contractions that expel the pregnancy and related tissue from the uterus.
When you take these drugs, you’ll experience some degree of abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding. Women can also have nausea, vomiting, headaches, fever, chills, or diarrhea.
Abortion pill-related risks are rare, but they are possible. They include:
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
- Infection
- Heavy, prolonged bleeding
- Incomplete abortion (which may require a surgical procedure)
- An ongoing pregnancy (if the drugs don’t work)
It can be difficult to tell whether you’re experiencing an abortion-related complication, but if you find that a side effect like a fever or bleeding is worsening or if you have sudden changes like dizziness or severe nausea, seek help right away.
How Can I Protect Myself?
If you are considering an abortion, you should speak with a medical provider before deciding. You can discuss your health history and eligibility for abortion methods like the abortion pill.
Life’s Choices Women’s Clinic offers limited ultrasounds to provide key pregnancy information, including your gestational age. Knowing how far along you are is crucial to determining your options.
The FDA has only approved the abortion pill through 10 weeks gestation. Learning more about your pregnancy helps you to make a decision keeping your health in mind.
Pregnancy Tests
If you have had unprotected sex or missed your period, you might wonder if you are pregnant. The first thing you should do is take a pregnancy test. We offer lab-quality pregnancy testing at no cost.
Ultrasounds
If you are pregnant, an ultrasound will help determine how far along you are, if the pregnancy is viable (growing), and if it’s located in the correct place. We offer limited obstetric ultrasounds at no cost.
STD Testing
When a person engages in sex or sex-like activity, there’s a chance of contracting an STD. Most people with an STD don’t have immediate symptoms. Regular testing helps prevent later physical risks. We offer no-cost and confidential STD testing to women and men.
Men MENtoring Men
Our fatherhood program, Men MENtoring Men, begins during the first medical appointment. Men MENtoring Men is the opportunity for you to meet with a male advocate to discuss your feelings about becoming a dad.
Pregnancy Tests
If you have had unprotected sex or missed your period, you might wonder if you are pregnant. The first thing you should do is take a pregnancy test. We offer lab-quality pregnancy testing at no cost.
Ultrasounds
If you are pregnant, an ultrasound will help determine how far along you are, if the pregnancy is viable (growing), and if it’s located in the correct place. We offer limited obstetric ultrasounds at no cost.
STD Testing
When a person engages in sex or sex-like activity, there’s a chance of contracting an STD. Most people with an STD don’t have immediate symptoms. Regular testing helps prevent later physical risks. We offer no-cost and confidential STD testing to women and men.
Men MENtoring Men
Our fatherhood program, Men MENtoring Men, begins during the first medical appointment. Men MENtoring Men is the opportunity for you to meet with a male advocate to discuss your feelings about becoming a dad.
