While safety is not a one-size-fits-all situation, there are risks to consider when it comes to medical abortion done online (also called at-home abortion). The risks may include incomplete abortion due to wrong dosages or infection due to taking them with pre-existing health conditions.
Confirm the facts about all the risks of online abortion to make an informed decision for your health and future.
What is Medical Abortion?
Known as medical abortion, the abortion pill consists of two drugs to terminate an existing pregnancy. Mifepristone decreases the amount of progesterone, a hormone needed for a pregnancy to grow. Misoprostol causes cramping, which expels the uterine contents.
According to the Mayo Clinic, possible risks of a medical abortion procedure include:
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
Is Online Abortion (At-Home Abortion) Safe?
There are serious risks to any type of medical procedure, especially when done online. One risk, along with the ones below, is the lack of medical oversight. Other possible safety risks to consider include the following:
Origin of the Abortion Pill
Women ordering the abortion pill online through overseas providers comes with risks. The FDA advises against getting abortion pills online due to the unregulated sources. They can’t verify the quality, safety, and even the ingredients of the drugs.
Pre-Existing Health Concerns
If you have certain pre-existing health concerns, the Mayo Clinic shares that abortion may not be an option for you.
Women who have an IUD currently in place, are too far along in pregnancy, take a blood thinner, have certain medical conditions, or have an allergy to the drugs should not choose this procedure.
Pregnancy Confirmation
In order to safeguard your health before taking the abortion pill, you will need to be sure you’re pregnant and sure of how far along you are. An ultrasound is needed to determine these details and also alert you to any potential complications that would disqualify you from this type of abortion.
Schedule a free appointment with our Care Center for a free and confidential pregnancy test to begin pregnancy confirmation. If you receive a positive pregnancy test result, we offer free ultrasound referrals so you can get details right away.
Once you’ve confirmed your pregnancy, our caring team is here to help you better understand abortion and your options. You are not alone.