If you’re researching a medical abortion, you may be wondering what happens after you take the drugs. It’s crucial to gather as much information as possible and learn about the risks and side effects before determining your next steps.
If you’re still deciding on which option to pursue, Avenues Clinic offers complimentary pregnancy services and access to medical staff who can answer your questions. We don’t provide abortions, but we can help you make a fully informed decision.
Schedule a confidential appointment today, and keep reading to learn more about medical abortion.
It Starts With Mifepristone
Medical abortion, also known as the abortion pill, typically involves two drugs. The first abortion drug is mifepristone.
Mifepristone blocks progesterone, a hormone the pregnancy needs to continue. Under the FDA-approved regimen, it is used with misoprostol only through 10 weeks of gestation.
When mifepristone is taken and progesterone is blocked, the uterine lining sheds, and the pregnancy ends.
Misoprostol Causes the Uterus to Empty
Misoprostol is generally taken 24 to 48 hours after mifepristone.
It causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy. Abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding follow, and blood clots and pregnancy tissue may be passed.
The intensity of the bleeding and cramping can vary, with some women reporting the pain as being more severe than they expected. Other side effects may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, fever, and chills.
Because this part of the process often occurs at home, it’s important to know how to reach the prescribing healthcare provider if questions or problems arise.
Know When to Call a Healthcare Provider
In addition to learning the side effects associated with taking abortion drugs, it’s crucial to learn which symptoms need medical attention.
Very heavy bleeding, severe or worsening abdominal pain, fainting, a persistent fever, or feeling seriously ill should not be ignored. Additionally, heavy bleeding that soaks two full-size sanitary pads per hour for two consecutive hours requires prompt medical attention. All of these are potential signs that something more serious is occurring.
While medical abortion-related risks are rare, they can still happen and can include infection, an incomplete abortion that requires further treatment, or an ongoing pregnancy if the drugs are unsuccessful.
Before Making a Decision
If you’ve only taken a home pregnancy test, you may still have unanswered questions about the pregnancy itself.
Avenues Clinic offers complimentary, lab-grade professional pregnancy testing. After a positive result, qualifying clients may receive a limited ultrasound scan.
An ultrasound can provide information such as how far along the pregnancy is and whether the pregnancy is located inside the uterus. This last detail is especially crucial because, in rare cases, an ectopic pregnancy develops outside the uterus. This condition requires immediate treatment to prevent complications.
Avenues Clinic’s medical staff can also answer questions about the abortion pill and all of your pregnancy options.
Schedule a complimentary appointment today and get information specific to your pregnancy.
Avenues Clinic does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.