If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy, you are most likely looking at what options you have. It wouldn’t be surprising if you were wondering if the Abortion Pill is the same thing as the Morning-After Pill.
It can be overwhelming when trying to sort through all of the information that’s out there, especially when a lot of it is either not explained well, or flat-out wrong. When it comes to both those pills, they are different, are used at different times, and yet the end result—of not being pregnant—is the same.
The Abortion Pill terminates a pregnancy. The Morning-After Pill stops the pregnancy from taking place. To understand how they work, how they are used, when they are taken, and more, read on.
What is the Abortion Pill?
The Abortion Pill is actually two pills, mifepristone and misoprostol, taken some time apart as prescribed by a doctor, which ends a pregnancy. It is a medical procedure that is different from a miscarriage, which is the ending of a pregnancy due to natural causes.
“The abortion pill is approved by the FDA for use to terminate a pregnancy during the first 10 weeks after your last menstrual period,” according to AmericanPregnancy.org. “This means that the abortion pill may be taken up to 70 days or a little over 2 months after the first day of your last period.”
“If you are more than 10 weeks pregnant and considering an abortion, you will need to look at surgical abortion procedure options because the embryo is too developed for these medications to terminate completely.”
There are physical side effects from the abortion pill, and they can vary from woman to woman. Possible side effects include: abdominal pain and cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, spotting and bleeding.
What is the Morning-After Pill?
The Morning-After Pill is emergency contraception, intended to prevent pregnancy after having unprotected sex. It can also be taken if your contraception fails, such as a broken condom or you forget to take a contraceptive pill. It is also used in cases of sexual assault.
“Emergency contraception works through high doses of the synthetic hormones of estrogen and progestin, or progestin only, which help regulate ovulation and fertility similar to the way in which the natural forms of these hormones work,” says AmericanPregnancy.org.
American Pregnancy also noted that it may prevent pregnancy through one or more of these three methods: prevents or reduces the probability of an egg being released from the ovaries; thickens the cervical mucus, decreasing the chance of the sperm reaching and fertilizing the egg; and it changes the lining of the uterus, decreasing the probability of implantation. It should not be used as a replacement for contraception as the effectiveness is much lower.
Side effects can include headaches, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, irregular period, breast tenderness, and abdominal pain. If you are having pregnancy symptoms, you are cautioned to take a pregnancy test before taking the Morning-After Pill as it is not recommended for those who are already pregnant.
Think You’re Pregnant?
If you think you are pregnant, make an appointment to come see us at Willowbrook Women’s Center. Our caring patient advocates are here to offer you support as you decide which path to take. We offer lab-quality pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and limited STD testing for our clients.
