IMPORTANT MEDICAL SAFETY ALERT! Some abortion pill providers are putting the health of women at risk by not requiring proof of pregnancy or an ultrasound before prescribing or dispensing the abortion pill. It is vital to confirm every pregnancy with an ultrasound exam!
Considering an abortion?
If you think you are pregnant and are considering taking the abortion pill, it is vital for your health and well-being to know for sure if you have an actual growing pregnancy. Ultrasound is a simple way to know if there’s a pregnancy inside the uterus, if the baby has a heartbeat or not, and to get an approximate measure of how far along you are, which determines available abortion procedures. Without this knowledge, you could have a pregnancy outside the uterus (ectopic), which can be life-threatening. Also, a significant number of early pregnancies end naturally with miscarriage. You need to find out before undergoing an unnecessary procedure or suffering significant complications.
Alternatives Pregnancy Center cares about your health and well-being. We are here to provide you with a safe, judgment-free space to access high-quality medical care, including a free, limited pregnancy ultrasound. Our licensed, professional medical staff is here to walk you through this process and give you a medically accurate picture of your pregnancy so you can make an informed decision.
Remember, you have the legal right to receive full informed consent before undergoing any medical or surgical procedure. Alternatives does not refer for or perform abortions or provide abortion pills, however, we believe it is imperative that you take time to educate yourself on the immediate and long-term physical and emotional risks of any medication or procedure.
What is the abortion pill?
The abortion pill, also called medication abortion, refers to the two medications—mifepristone and misoprostol—taken to terminate a pregnancy.
The first pill, mifepristone (also known as RU-486 or Mifeprex) blocks the effects of progesterone—a natural hormone that women produce to provide the essential nutrients needed to support a pregnancy. Without progesterone, the embryo’s development stops, and the lining of the uterus thins, which prevents the embryo from staying implanted in the uterus. The second drug, misoprostol (also called Cytotec), is usually taken within 24-48 hours after taking mifepristone and causes cramping and bleeding as your uterine muscles contract to expel the pregnancy. Misoprostol has been associated with birth defects, uterine rupture and premature birth. https://www.pfizermedicalinformation.com/cytotec/warnings#BOX
EVEN IF YOU HAVE TAKEN THE ABORTION PILL, YOU CAN STILL CHANGE YOUR MIND.
It is possible to interrupt the effects of the first abortion pill and stop the abortion from happening. If you’re having second thoughts after taking the first abortion pill, it is important to act quickly. While Alternatives does not provide this service, there are options for you:
- In Colorado, contact Bella Health + Wellness at 303.789.4968 or visit their website here.
- If you are not in Colorado, please call the Abortion Pill Rescue Network at 877.558.0333.
Things to consider with a medication abortion:
- An ultrasound needs to be performed before taking medication to determine the gestational age, location and viability of the pregnancy. An abortion is not necessary if the pregnancy is not viable. Note: If your pregnancy is ectopic (outside of the uterus), mifepristone will not affect the pregnancy, which could turn into a life-threatening emergency.
- Patients typically experience cramping and bleeding heavier than a period, passing of gestational tissue, and will see contents of the uterus once they are expelled. MedAB handout – Google Docs
- Risks and adverse effects may be abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, heavy bleeding and maternal death, most likely due to infection and undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy. Mifepristone – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)
- Due to the effects of medication abortion, have a support person present while undergoing the abortion, both for emotional support and in the case of a medical emergency.
- Incomplete abortion – If abortion is not complete, the patient will sometimes be given a second dose of Misoprostol or given a surgical procedure, such as a vacuum aspiration, to complete the abortion. Executive summary – Abortion care guideline – NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)
- STD/STI testing needs to be performed before a medical abortion. Undiagnosed infections at the time of an abortion can cause infection to spread from the vaginal canal/cervix to other reproductive organs. Complications related to induced abortion: a combined retrospective and longitudinal follow-up study – PMC (nih.gov)
- Emotional side effects – Many people do not realize the potential for emotional and mental side effects related to an abortion. Some may immediately feel relief, but as days or weeks go by, they can experience depression and anxiety. If these symptoms occur, please seek free and confidential support through Counseling After Abortion.
- Potential for ovulation can occur between 21-29 days postabortion, meaning that a woman could ovulate prior to starting her period. Ovulation resumption after medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol – PubMed
Note: If you are experiencing suicidal ideation, dial 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or call 911.
Do I need a prescription?
Abortion pills are prescription medication in the US. People can get a prescription for the pills from abortion clinics, telemedicine services and some medical offices. However, people are buying abortion pills from online services without a prescription.
- Without having an ultrasound, no accurate dating of your pregnancy is available. Using a last menstrual period (LMP) alone does not account for inaccurate recall of LMP, irregularities in cycle length and variability in timing of a woman’s ovulation. One study suggests that up to 40% of women in the first trimester had to adjust her estimated due date due to a discrepancy of more than 5 days between her ultrasound and her LMP. Abortion mortality rates increase with gestational age. The FDA only recommends taking the abortion pill up to 10 weeks estimated gestational age. Methods for Estimating the Due Date | ACOG, First trimester ultrasound screening is effective in reducing postterm labor induction rates: A randomized controlled trial – ScienceDirect
- Without an in-person ultrasound scan, a medical provider cannot evaluate for possible miscarriage, which occurs in up to 26% of all pregnancies. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532992/
What are possible abortion pill side effects?
Hemorrhaging: Please change from one pad an hour to two pads an hour for two hours in a row. Medication Abortion | Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology | JAMA | JAMA Network
Infection:
- Sustained high fever of greater than 100.4
- Severe abdominal pain
- Heavy bleeding
- Syncope (feeling faint)
- General feeling of malaise (general feeling of unease)
If any of these last longer than 24 hours, seek emergency care.
Mifepristone – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf
Note: If you are experiencing suicidal ideation, dial 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or call 911