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What Is A Medical Abortion? 

pregnant woman curious about the medical abortion

For women seeking an abortion to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, understanding the different names of abortion procedures can be confusing. Today, we will discuss what a medical abortion is and the potential risks and side effects that come along with the procedure. 

What Is A Medical Abortion?

A medical abortion is another name for the abortion pill. The abortion pill was approved by the FDA in 2000 and is designed to terminate normal pregnancies up to 10 weeks gestation. Using a combination of the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol, the abortion pill stops a pregnancy from growing and then expels it from the uterus. 

Mifepristone works by blocking the body’s production of progesterone, the pregnancy hormone essential for sustaining a healthy pregnancy. 

Misoprostol is taken after the dose of mifepristone to bring on strong uterine contractions. These contractions mimic labor and cause the body to expel the fetus ending the pregnancy. 

Potential Side Effects and Risks

Because a medical abortion uses two powerful drugs to end a pregnancy, women can experience mild to severe side effects and risks. 

Risks associated with a medical abortion include: 

  • Incomplete abortion
  • An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
  • Heavy and prolonged bleeding
  • Infection
  • Fever
  • Digestive system discomfort

Side effects reported from these drugs are stomach pain, back pain, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, nausea, or vomiting. 

While you may not experience any unwanted effects from these drugs, it is always a good idea to prepare yourself just in case. Additionally, if you’ve found a seller of the abortion drug that seems illegitimate, trust your gut and don’t buy it. There has been known to be illegal distribution of the abortion pills where the seller only sells one of the two (sometimes four) pills and the abortion process will be incomplete. If this has happened to you, please seek medical attention immediately.

Here For You 

You Medical exists to provide women with a safe place to ask questions and receive quality healthcare. For more information about medical abortions or to simply explore the options available for an unwanted pregnancy, call our center at 1-800-712-4357.

Know my status.
Know my options.

KNOW THE FACTS

Know my status.
Know my options.

KNOW THE FACTS

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