What Are the Risks of the Abortion Pill?

When you’re looking into the abortion pill, it’s essential to consider the physical health risks involved. While the abortion pill, also known as a medical abortion, only consists of two drugs that end a pregnancy, it is still a serious medical procedure.

At Crossroads, we can give you the information you want to know about abortion procedures. Talk with our healthcare professionals and caring team to get no-cost pregnancy services and resources.

Continue reading to learn more about the risks of the abortion pill.

What Is the Abortion Pill?

The abortion pill is FDA-approved through 10 weeks gestation. It consists of two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone. Next, misoprostol is used to cause the uterus to contract and expel the embryo through the vagina.

The drugs commonly cause abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding. You may experience other side effects, such as:

Nausea
Vomiting
Fever
Chills
Diarrhea
Headache

Reasons You Couldn’t Take The Abortion Pill

There are several reasons why you might not be able to use the abortion pill. These could include health issues and certain conditions that make the pill unsafe for you. You should not use the abortion pill if you are:

Are too far along in your pregnancy.
Have an intrauterine device (IUD) currently in place.
Have a suspected pregnancy outside of the uterus. This is called ectopic pregnancy.
Have certain medical conditions. These include bleeding disorders; certain heart or blood vessel diseases; severe liver, kidney or lung disease; or an uncontrolled seizure disorder.
Take a blood thinner or certain steroid medicines.
Can’t make follow-up visits to your provider or don’t have access to emergency care.
Have an allergy to the medicine used.

Risks of the Abortion Pill

Finally, the abortion pill doesn’t come without its set of health risks. You could have:

An 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

Particularly in the case of needing a surgical abortion, further complications could arise that may affect future fertility, painful periods, or miscarriages.

Safeguarding Your Health

Take the first step toward protecting your health and wellness by visiting Crossroads. We provide no-cost lab-quality pregnancy testing, transvaginal ultrasounds, STD/STI testing and treatment, and the resources you need to navigate an unexpected pregnancy.

We can meet and discuss all your options in a safe and confidential environment. Reach out to us for an appointment today.

Sources:

Medical abortion – Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/medical-abortion/

Research, C. F. D. E. A. (2023, March 23). Information about Mifepristone for Medical Termination of Pregnancy Through Ten Weeks Gestation. U.S. Food And Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/information-about-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy-through-ten-weeks-gestation

Dilation and curettage (D&C) – Mayo Clinic. (2023, November 7). https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/dilation-and-curettage/about/pac-20384910#:~:text=This%20can%20lead%20to%20unusual%2C%20absent%20or%20painful%20menstrual%20cycles%2C%20future%20miscarriages%20and%20infertility.