A medical abortion goes by many names. It could be called a medication or chemical abortion, or the more recognizable abortion pill method.
All abortions involve bleeding and cramping. Knowing when to seek emergency care is vital, especially since you perform a medical abortion in your home. Here are symptoms to watch out for.
How Does a Medical Abortion (the Abortion Pill Method) Work?
The abortion pill method uses two powerful drugs to terminate a pregnancy. The FDA highly regulates the first drug, mifepristone. Only certified providers can prescribe this drug. Because of these regulations, the FDA recommends not purchasing the drug online.
Mifepristone blocks a necessary hormone called progesterone from reaching the pregnancy in the uterus. All pregnancies need progesterone to grow; without this hormone, the pregnancy cannot survive.
Misoprostol is the second drug taken. It causes bleeding and contractions to expel the pregnancy and tissue from the body. One study found that women were surprised by how intense the contractions were, calling the pain “out of this world.”
The FDA approves the use of these abortion drugs through 10 weeks of pregnancy only. The farther along you are, the less effective the drugs are.
When is the Bleeding Too Much?
Knowing if the bleeding you are experiencing is just a side effect or a serious complication is critical. Generally, bleeding and cramping begin within one to four hours after taking misoprostol.
According to the experts, you should expect heavy bleeding with blood clots for several hours. However, if you soak through two or more pads an hour for two hours in a row, it’s time to contact a healthcare professional.
What Are Other Reasons to Be Concerned?
The Mayo Clinic lists other potential physical risks to be concerned about:
- An incomplete abortion (the pregnancy ends, but the body doesn’t release all of the pregnancy and tissue)
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive symptoms such as an upset stomach
There is also the possibility of mental health risks. A review of several studies found that women who have an abortion have a higher rate of mental illness than women who haven’t had one. If you have struggled with your mental health before an abortion, you may be more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression after.
What Should I Do Before an Abortion?
Have you confirmed how far along you are and talked with someone about your options? If not, come to The Center for Women.
Since the FDA approves the use of the abortion drugs through 10 weeks of pregnancy only, knowing how far along you are is crucial. We offer a free ultrasound to verify the number of weeks you have been pregnant.
We provide free pregnancy testing first. If it is positive, we will schedule an ultrasound for you. Protecting your health and safety is important to us, so don’t skip this valuable step.
We can also discuss your options if you’d like. We’re here for you. Conveniently fill out our confidential online contact form or call (828) 885-7885.
We look forward to talking to you!
The Center for Women does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.