Like any medical procedure, medical abortion or the “abortion pill” comes with inherent risks and effects. If you have an unexpected pregnancy and are determining your options, be sure to research this procedure carefully to make an informed decision.
Sage Women’s Center is committed to offering evidence-based and comprehensive information on all pregnancy options. We don’t profit from your pregnancy decision and want you to receive the facts.
Understanding the Risks
The abortion pill is FDA-approved through ten weeks gestation, meaning 10 weeks from the first day of your last period. Two medications, mifepristone and misoprostol, end the pregnancy. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, and misoprostol causes uterine contractions and expels the pregnancy.
If you use this abortion method, you will experience abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding. Other possible side effects include nausea, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, fever, and chills.
The risks associated with this abortion procedure are rare but possible. They include:
- Digestive system discomfort
- Fever
- Infection
- Heavy, prolonged bleeding
- An ongoing pregnancy (if the medications don’t work)
- Incomplete abortion (which may require medical treatment)
You’re more likely to experience a risk or complication if you have certain pre-existing conditions or receive the wrong medication or dosage.
You may be ineligible for the abortion pill if you have any of the following factors:
- Are past ten weeks gestation
- Have an IUD (intrauterine device)
- Take a blood thinner or certain steroid medications
- Have an ectopic pregnancy
- Have specific health issues (i.e., bleeding disorders, kidney disease, an uncontrolled seizure disorder)
- Have an allergy to the abortion pill medications
- Can’t access follow-up or emergency care
Protect Your Health
Before making a pregnancy decision, protect your health by visiting Sage Women’s Center. We offer no-charge, private services like lab-quality pregnancy testing and ultrasound with a positive pregnancy test result at our center.
Our pregnancy testing service confirms your at-home result, and a limited obstetric ultrasound verifies key details like viability, gestational age, and location. We also look for factors indicating a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy that require referral to medical treatment.
Contact us today to speak with a staff member. We’re here for you.