What Are the Side Effects of the Abortion Pill?

What is the Abortion Pill Process?

The abortion pill goes by many names: medical, medication, and chemical are all the same kind of abortion and go by the same process for terminating a pregnancy. The abortion pill process uses two drugs to end a pregnancy: Mifepristone and Misoprostol. First, Mifepristone blocks the womb from absorbing progesterone. This hormone is necessary for pregnancy to implant and grow.  Secondly, Misoprostol causes the uterus to cramp and contract, expelling the pregnancy through the vagina.  Only women 70 days or less into their pregnancies qualify for the abortion pill. Otherwise, surgical abortion may be another option.

Side Effects of the Abortion Pill

There are many uncomfortable side effects of the abortion pill process. In addition to bleeding and cramping, some of the most common ones include:

1. Nausea 

2. Vomiting

3. Fever

4. Chills

5. Headache

6. DiarrheaIt’s vital to seek medical attention if these side effects don’t disappear, as they may have become more serious. Here are other possible side effects and risks that are more severe and could require medical help.

7. Incomplete Abortion

8. Blood Clots

9. Serious Infection

10. Heavy Bleeding

11. Septic ShockIf you experience any side effects you aren’t sure about - reach out to your doctor as soon as possible.

Eligibility for the Abortion Pill

Before deciding on the abortion pill, you need to confirm your pregnancy details to know what type of abortion you qualify for. Receive an ultrasound to learn how far along you are, whether the pregnancy is viable (or you’ve miscarried), and where the pregnancy is located (inside or outside the uterus).  At Pregnancy Resources of Abilene, we offer free and confidential pregnancy testing and ultrasound exams to confirm your pregnancy so that you can know your options.  Contact us or come in today to get the answers you need to make a fully-informed decision.