WHAT IS THE ABORTION PILL?

It sounds easy enough, doesn't it? Take a pill and your unplanned pregnancy is gone. After all, it works with ibuprofen. Take a pill and your headache goes away. Can it possibly be that easy for an abortion? In a word…No.

Having an abortion, any type of abortion, is not an easy choice. Abortions are a serious medical decision. Although "abortion pill" is the popular name given to this procedure, it is usually not one pill, but two.

GET THE FACTS BEFORE TAKING THE ABORTION PILL

There are two types of abortion, medication and surgical. The abortion pill method is a medication abortion, also called RU 486. You are only eligible for a medication abortion if you are less than nine or ten weeks into your pregnancy. After that, you would need to have a surgical abortion.

The abortion pill is a two-step process rather than just taking one drug. Before beginning the procedure, you need to have an ultrasound to determine how far along you are in your pregnancy. The ultrasound will also tell you if your pregnancy is still viable. Since one out of every four pregnancies end in a natural miscarriage, you may not need an abortion.

The Drugs You Take for a Medication Abortion

Once you have an ultrasound and determine your pregnancy is less than ten weeks, you can start the abortion pill procedure. To begin, you take the first drug, mifepristone (Mifeprex®).

Mifepristone blocks the production of the hormone progesterone which is commonly referred to as the "pregnancy hormone." Progesterone helps the fertilized egg implant on the wall of your uterus. The drug causes the lining of the uterus to thin and prevents the fetus from staying implanted.

You are given the second drug, Misoprostol to take hours or even days after the Mifepristone. Misoprostol causes your body to cramp in order to expel the fetus.

Risks and Side Effects of the Abortion Pill

You should be under a doctor's supervision when considering any abortion. Ask beforehand what the abortion doctor's qualifications are and if they can help you in case of complications. Make sure they know your health history too.

The Mayo Clinic lists these as potential risks of the abortion pill method:

Abdominal cramping as you pass the fetus.
Heavy bleeding with blood clots also occurs due to passing the fetus.
A fever, which could indicate a pelvic infection, should be checked by a medical professional.
Occasionally, your medication abortion is incomplete, and you will have to go to a clinic to finish the procedure.
Death by sepsis if the fetus is not completely expelled

Other Side Effects

An abortion has emotional as well as physical side effects. Often, women can have immediate feeling of relief, and later experience feelings of guilt, shame, and sadness after an abortion. Some women become very depressed and begin to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. In certain cases, feelings after an abortion can last a long time, so counseling is extremely important to work through your emotions.

WHERE TO BEGIN

At Crossroads, we can help you understand the abortion pill procedure or other abortion methods. In addition, we can confirm your pregnancy with a confidential pregnancy test at no cost to you. If you receive a positive result, we can also perform a free limited obstetrical ultrasound to tell you how far along your pregnancy is.

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

We truly care about you. Schedule your appointment today. Let's discuss your life situation and all your options for your unplanned pregnancy. We are here for you.