The abortion pill may seem straightforward, but it is a serious medical decision involving powerful drugs with real risks. Taking it without proper medical oversight can put your health and safety in jeopardy in ways that aren’t always easy to anticipate.
At Hope Women’s Center, our licensed medical professionals are here to provide the free, confidential information and services you need before making any decision. Schedule your appointment today.
The Risk of Ordering Online
One way women may take abortion drugs without supervision is by ordering them online and having them delivered to their home. This method carries significant risks. Many online providers ship from foreign countries where quality, safety, and effectiveness cannot be verified.
The FDA highly regulates mifepristone, the first drug used in the abortion pill regimen, and only certified providers are authorized to prescribe it. Drugs obtained outside certified channels may be counterfeit, contaminated, or incorrectly dosed, and there may be no medical professional available if something goes wrong.
This is why the FDA warns against buying abortion pills online. An “online abortion” carries real risks to your health.
Critical Questions That Require Medical Answers
Medical supervision should always include receiving an ultrasound before making any pregnancy decision, including abortion. This scan answers the following vital questions.
Is your pregnancy progressing?
Up to 26% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, often without obvious symptoms. A positive pregnancy test can remain positive even after a pregnancy has ended naturally.
Taking the abortion pill when a miscarriage has already occurred exposes you to unnecessary risk. An ultrasound is the only way to confirm whether your pregnancy is still developing.
How far along are you?
The FDA approves the abortion pill only through 10 weeks of gestation. The further along you are, the less effective the drugs become. An ultrasound provides the most accurate measure of gestational age, and taking these drugs beyond the approved window increases health risks significantly.
Where is your pregnancy located?
The abortion pill cannot treat an ectopic pregnancy, a pregnancy implanted outside the uterus. This condition can cause life-threatening complications, and only an ultrasound can confirm that your pregnancy is safely located within the uterus.
Risks and Side Effects
Abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding will occur with the abortion pill, but this method can also cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chills, and headache. Serious risks include heavy or prolonged bleeding, infection, and incomplete abortion, where tissue remains in the uterus and requires surgical follow-up.
Without medical supervision and aftercare from a healthcare provider, it can be difficult to tell whether what you’re experiencing is normal or a warning sign requiring emergency care. Soaking two or more pads per hour for two hours in a row and experiencing severe abdominal pain are signs that demand immediate medical attention, among others.
Free & Confidential Care
Hope Women’s Center is here to help you get the facts before making any decision. We’ll discuss the risks and side effects of abortion, offer eligible patients an ultrasound to confirm vital information, and ensure all options are thoroughly understood.
Our licensed medical professionals are also here for patients after an abortion, providing counseling and medical services to support your continued health and well-being.
Schedule your free, confidential appointment today. We’re here for you.
Hope Women’s Center does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
