A medical abortion or the “abortion pill” terminates an early viable pregnancy. Two medications, mifepristone and misoprostol, are used. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, while misoprostol causes uterine contractions and expels the embryo from the uterus.
When the pills are ordered online, you may have a telehealth appointment, and the medications are shipped to your door, where they’re taken at home. While this may seem convenient, taking these pills at home absent of medical supervision and evaluation can pose real health concerns that are important to consider. If you’re considering this method, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks that come with this option.
Understanding the Implications
Medical abortion is a significant procedure with risks and side effects. When you take the abortion medications, you will experience abdominal cramping and bleeding. You could also have nausea, headache, fever, chills, or diarrhea.
Before going through this process, it’s important to have an ultrasound to confirm key pregnancy details, such as the location and whether or not the pregnancy is progressing. This information helps determine what options are available, and the scan can help determine that you are not experiencing an ectopic pregnancy. At our Center, we can additionally provide an estimate of how far along you may be in your pregnancy, indicated by the first day of your last period.
When you obtain these medications online, you forgo this critical step. Without knowing whether you have an ectopic pregnancy, which requires medical treatment, you could put your health at risk.
You won’t know if you’re eligible for the procedure if you don’t discuss your medical history with a provider. Ineligibility factors for medical abortion include:
- Having an IUD
- Having a suspected ectopic pregnancy
- Being too far along in pregnancy (past ten weeks gestation)
- Having certain conditions (i.e., heart disease, an uncontrolled seizure disorder)
- Taking a blood thinner or certain steroid medicines
- Have allergies to the medications used
- Can’t make follow-up visits
- Can’t access emergency care
Other Dangers
Medications for an online abortion often come from unregulated overseas pharmacies. You may not receive the correct dosage or medications. And you might not receive the proper instructions.
You won’t have the necessary follow-up care without being under a medical provider’s supervision. It may be more challenging to notice when a side effect like a fever or heavy bleeding turns into an abortion-related complication.
Your health matters. Before any pregnancy decision, receive an ultrasound and options information. Mosaic Sexual Health Clinic offers free, confidential pre-abortion screenings, which include a free lab-quality pregnancy test, a limited ultrasound if you receive a positive test (to confirm the location of the pregnancy and to confirm that it is progressing, indicated by fetal heartbeat), and options information from our trained peer counselors.
We don’t profit from your pregnancy decision and exist to help you make informed choices. We do not provide abortions at our clinic, but we serve as a free first step so that you can be informed prior to a pregnancy decision. Our clinic offers the services you need in a compassionate, non-judgemental environment.
Make an Appointment Today
Contact us today to schedule a free, confidential appointment. You aren’t alone.