If you’ve taken the abortion drugs mifepristone and/or misoprostol and are concerned about symptoms you’re experiencing, it’s important to take those concerns seriously.
While cramping and bleeding are expected parts of the abortion pill process, some symptoms may indicate a complication that requires immediate medical attention. If something feels wrong, don’t wait to see if it improves on its own.
Seek emergency medical care right away.
It’s also important to tell the emergency room staff that you’ve taken abortion drugs. While this information may feel personal or difficult to share, it can help medical professionals better understand what’s happening and determine the most appropriate treatment. The more information your healthcare providers have, the better equipped they are to care for you.
If you haven’t yet taken the abortion drugs but are considering them, understanding the warning signs of complications is an important part of making an informed decision. Because some expected side effects of the abortion pill, such as bleeding and cramping, can overlap with signs of a serious problem, it can be difficult to know when a symptom has crossed the line from normal to concerning.
Read on to learn more, or contact Sage Women’s Center to find a safe space to talk.
Understanding the Abortion Pill Process
The abortion pill typically involves two drugs.
The first drug, mifepristone, blocks progesterone, a hormone necessary for the pregnancy to continue. Without progesterone, your uterine lining thins, causing your pregnancy to detach and become starved of nutrients, eventually ending the pregnancy.
The second drug, misoprostol, causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy via uterine contractions.
After taking these drugs, you will inevitably experience bleeding and cramping. You might also experience nausea, fatigue, and other symptoms. While these effects are expected, severe or worsening symptoms may indicate a complication that requires medical care.
Because every woman’s body responds differently, it’s important to pay attention to how you’re feeling and seek help if something doesn’t seem right.
Warning Signs That Require Emergency Medical Care
While pain (sometimes severe) is expected, certain symptoms should never be ignored.
You should seek emergency medical attention if you experience:
- Heavy bleeding — soaking two or more pads an hour for two hours in a row.
- Severe pain in the stomach area or pelvis.
- Chills or body aches.
- Fast heart rate.
- Fever of 100.4°F or higher that lasts more than four hours or that starts in the days after you take misoprostol.
- Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting.
- Foul-smelling vaginal discharge.
These symptoms may indicate a serious complication and should be evaluated by a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
Incomplete Abortion Can Be a Medical Emergency
A major risk of the abortion pill is an incomplete abortion.
An incomplete abortion occurs when parts of the pregnancy remain inside the uterus after taking the abortion drugs.
If left untreated, an incomplete abortion can lead to sepsis, a life-threatening infection in the bloodstream.
A Safe Place to Learn More About Your Options
If you’re considering abortion and have questions about how the abortion pill works, the potential risks, or your pregnancy options, you don’t have to sort through everything on your own.
At Sage Women’s Center, we provide a safe, confidential environment where you can ask questions, receive evidence-based information, and learn more about your pregnancy and available options.
Please note that it’s vital to get an ultrasound before taking abortion pills to protect your health and safety. Read more about this here.
Our team is here to help you gather the information you need to make an informed decision about your next steps.
Contact Sage Women’s Center today to schedule a confidential, no-charge appointment and learn more about your pregnancy options. We’re here for you.