A medical abortion has many other names. This method can be called a medication or chemical abortion, but it’s most widely known as the abortion pill method. Abortion providers consider it a “medical” abortion because you take two powerful drugs to end your pregnancy.
There are limitations to using this method. Learn the facts to protect your health and safety if you are considering a medical abortion.
How Does It Work?
The abortion pill method (medical abortion) uses the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol to end a pregnancy. The FDA highly regulates the first drug, mifepristone. Only certified providers can prescribe it.
The FDA approves the use of mifepristone through 10 weeks of pregnancy only. The later your pregnancy, the less effective the drugs.
Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone from reaching the pregnancy. All pregnancies need progesterone to develop. Without it, the lining of the uterus thins, and the pregnancy ends.
Misoprostol, the second drug, causes bleeding and contractions to expel the pregnancy and tissue from the body.
Limitations to Using the Abortion Pill Method
The Mayo Clinic says a medical abortion isn’t an option for you for the following reasons:
- You are too far along in your pregnancy.
- You have an intrauterine device (IUD) currently in place.
- You have a suspected pregnancy outside the uterus. This type of pregnancy is called ectopic. An ectopic pregnancy is extremely dangerous, and the abortion drugs do not remove it.
- You have certain medical conditions, such as anemia, chronic adrenal failure, heart or blood vessel diseases, etc.
- You take a blood thinner or certain steroid medicines for conditions such as eczema, arthritis, or asthma.
- You can’t reach a healthcare professional or don’t have access to emergency care.
- You are allergic to either mifepristone or misoprostol.
There Are Physical and Emotional Risks
Any abortion is a serious medical decision. Your healthcare provider should review your medical history, check the drugs you are currently taking, get the facts about your pregnancy, and discuss your emotional health concerning abortion.
You need to learn the following facts about your pregnancy:
- Is the pregnancy developing, or have you miscarried? Experts estimate that as many as 26% of all pregnancies end in a miscarriage.
- How far along are you?
- Is your pregnancy ectopic?
How Calaveras Pregnancy Center Can Help
The best way to detect if your pregnancy is developing or if you’ve had a miscarriage is with an ultrasound. An ultrasound also determines how far along you are and if your pregnancy is ectopic.
Calaveras Pregnancy Center offers free and confidential pregnancy testing. We’ll refer you for a free on-site ultrasound if your test is positive.
Get the facts to protect your health and safety. Schedule a free and confidential meeting with us today. We’re here for you.
Calaveras Pregnancy Center does not perform or refer for abortion.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.