The “abortion pill” refers to chemical abortion, which is actually two medications taken 24 hours apart. The first, originally known as RU-486, now called mifepristone, blocks the hormone progesterone that maintains the placenta, thereby starving the developing fetus. This medication is only FDA approved through the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. The second medication, misoprostol, causes contractions and expels the fetus, resulting in a miscarriage. This pill is taken on day 2 of the process.
Are there complications I should know about?
As with any medical intervention, there are risks. Some of those can be reviewed here, and include incomplete abortion, infection, fever and more. These risks are higher if gestation is greater than 10 weeks. It is important to know whether or not the pregnancy is in the proper place. A pregnancy that is implanted in the fallopian tubes instead of the uterus is a medical emergency known as an ectopic pregnancy. This type of pregnancy remains unchanged by mifepristone and misoprostol, and can lead to the rupture of the fallopian tube. This is why getting an ultrasound to verify gestational age and location of pregnancy is so important to your health. Reach out today and we will connect you with a pregnancy care center where you can get an ultrasound at absolutely no cost.
