It sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? Take a pill, and move on with your life. However, the abortion pill method isn’t one pill, and no matter what method you choose, abortion will impact your life.
If you’re considering using the abortion pill method, learn about the drugs, their side effects, and the potential physical and emotional risks first.
How Does the Abortion Pill Method Work?
The abortion pill method is also known as a medical, medication, or chemical abortion. It uses two drugs to terminate a pregnancy.
The first drug, mifepristone, blocks the hormone progesterone. Progesterone is required for every pregnancy to develop. Without this vital hormone, a pregnancy ends.
Misoprostol, the second drug, expels the pregnancy from your body with bleeding and contractions.
The FDA approves this method only during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. The drugs become less effective the farther along you are.
What Are the Side Effects of the Abortion Pill?
Bleeding and cramping are a part of every abortion. The Mayo Clinic lists the following as other side effects:
- Upset stomach
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Headache
Every woman’s abortion experience is unique. How you respond to the drugs cannot be determined ahead of time.
One study found that many women were caught off guard by the severe pain the abortion drugs caused.
What Are the Physical and Emotional Risks?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, following the instructions carefully is critical. These are the physical risks they note:
- Failure to end the pregnancy or having retained pregnancy tissue (also known as an incomplete abortion)
- Heavy bleeding that won’t stop
- Diarrhea and digestive pain
- Allergic reaction to the drugs
- Infection that could include an unpleasant vaginal odor and fever
Experts also suggest emotional risks. They’ve concluded:
- Abortion is consistently associated with elevated rates of mental illness
- The abortion experience directly contributes to mental health problems for at least some women
- There are risk factors, such as pre-existing mental illness, that identify women at greatest risk of mental health problems after an abortion
What Should I Do Before an Abortion?
You should have a thorough checkup beforehand to protect your health and safety. At Willowbrook Women’s Center, we provide no-cost pregnancy services such as pregnancy tests and a limited ultrasound to give you the information you need.
An ultrasound determines how far along you are, if your pregnancy is developing or you have had a miscarriage, and the pregnancy’s location. All of this is vital information.
Schedule a no-cost pre-abortion screening at one of our convenient locations. We care about you and want you to have the facts you need to make an empowered decision.
Willowbrook Women’s Center does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
