June 2022 has drastically changed access to abortion across the United States. With the many laws, changes, and media reports about abortion access, many women have started searching for the abortion pill online.
What Is the Abortion Pill?
According to the FDA, the abortion pill ends an early pregnancy, intended for women who have been pregnant for 70 days or less.
Also referred to as medical abortion or at-home abortion, the abortion pill includes two different drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol.
First, mifepristone blocks a pregnancy hormone called progesterone. Next, misoprostol causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy from the body.
The Risks of the Abortion Pill
The Cleveland Clinic shares the potential risks that come with the abortion pill process, including
- Heavy bleeding that doesn’t stop
- Incomplete abortion
- Gastrointestinal upset
- Reactions to medications
- Infection, which can lead to severe complications
- Fever
Talk to a medical professional to learn more about these risks or any questions and concerns you may have about the process. You deserve to know the facts.
The Risks of Ordering the Abortion Pill Online
In addition to the health risks of abortion, there are risks to be aware of when purchasing the abortion pill online. These include the legitimacy of the website you’re buying from, the dosage recommended by a doctor you’ve never met, and the chance of adverse reactions from taking an abortion pill that has been purchased online.
Some women must travel to another state or have the prescription mailed to them from outside sources. This comes with some safety considerations for women, including
- The legitimacy of the pharmacy and the quality of their prescriptions (other countries may have different regulations that are considered unsafe in the United States)
- No previous relationship with the physician that gave them a prescription
- Uncertainty about how long they have been pregnant or other FDA safeguards
Any of the above considerations can increase the risk to your health. Some of the most significant risks are receiving the wrong dosage and drugs or proceeding without medical supervision or access to emergency care.
If you do receive the abortion pill online through legal and legitimate telehealth, the risks are fewer. Still, you will want to ensure you can schedule an ultrasound first and have access to follow-up visits and emergency care.
What Are My Options?
Understanding all your options should be easy. Talk with one of our patient advocates today to clarify your options.
Before moving forward with the abortion pill, confirm your pregnancy and how long you have been pregnant with free pregnancy testing and ultrasound at our clinic.
Schedule a free and confidential appointment with us. We are always available to you.