If you’ve searched for information on “what happens when you take the abortion pill,” you may be considering an at-home abortion. This is sometimes known as a medical or chemical abortion. The process involves taking pills to end a pregnancy, often obtained via mail or clinic.
You deserve to be fully informed about steps, physical effects, risks, and potential emotional impacts. Let’s review the abortion pill based on medical sources, including FDA labels for the pills involved. Be sure to seek the advice of your physician or qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding an existing medical condition or treatment before taking the abortion pill.
What Happens when You take the Abortion Pill?
– How is the Abortion Pill taken?
The abortion pill isn’t a single pill but a regimen of two medications: mifepristone and misoprostol. It is approved by the FDA for use up to 70 days (10 weeks) from your last menstrual period. According to FDA guidelines, you take the first pill – mifepristone – by mouth on Day 1. This is followed 24 to 48 hours later by the second set of pills – misoprostol – typically placed in the cheek pouches (buccally) for 30 minutes before swallowing any remnants.
How Does the Abortion Pill Work?
The first pill works by blocking progesterone, a hormone that maintains your pregnancy. Without progesterone, the lining of your uterus breaks down, causing the pregnancy to detach from the uterus and terminate.
About 24 to 48 hours later, you take the second set of pills, which cause the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy tissue.
What Are Abortion Pill Side Effects?
Side effects from the abortion pill can start soon after taking it and may include nausea, weakness, fever or chills, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, and dizziness.
Bleeding is an “expected” symptom that occurs when the pregnancy detaches from the inside of your uterine wall. However, the FDA label warns that “prolonged heavy bleeding may be a sign of incomplete abortion.” An incomplete abortion could require surgery.
The FDA also warns of potential serious bacterial infections or sepsis, which can be fatal if not treated promptly. Long-lasting fever, severe abdominal pain, or prolonged heavy bleeding could be a sign of infection that requires immediate emergency care.
The FDA says the effects of both sets of pills involve:
Bleeding or spotting can be expected for an average of 9 to16 days and may last for up to 30 days. Your bleeding may be similar to, or greater than, a normal heavy period. You may see blood clots and tissue. This is an expected part of passing the pregnancy.
The FDA label for misoprostol also refers to risks like uterine rupture, stating: “The risk of uterine rupture increases with advancing gestational ages…” Risk of rupture is also increased with prior uterine surgery or c-section.
Handling the Passed Tissue After an At-Home Abortion
According to WebMD, after you take the second set of abortion pills, you will “probably notice clots, and you might see some pregnancy tissue.” Some women, even under 9 weeks of pregnancy, have reported “recognizable” tissue.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) says women taking the abortion pill have passed tissue into the toilet or wrapped it for other disposal. Some have opted for burials.
You may consider contacting your local county health department for advice on the best way to discard remains and information on any medical sanitation laws that may pertain to your situation.
Potential Emotional Effects of the Abortion Pill
Beyond physical effects, many women experience emotional impacts from an at-home abortion. According to the Mayo Clinic, you may experience short-term reactions like relief, loss, sadness, guilt, or anxiety.
Longer term effects often relate to emotional or psychological issues:
- A 2018 study said, “abortion is consistently associated with elevated rates of mental illness compared to women without a history of abortion.”
- A 25-year study observed women who had an abortion experienced “elevated rates of subsequent mental health problems including depression, anxiety, suicidal behaviours and substance use disorders.”
- Another found over 14% of women met criteria for PTSD post-abortion.
- A 30-year study found that women who had abortions “had rates of mental health problems that were about 30% higher than rates of disorder in other women.”
- A 2018 study observed that “the number of induced abortions was correlated” with higher risk of suicidal tendency.” This means risk of suicide increased beginning with a woman’s first abortion and increased every time she obtained another abortion. Another researcher observed a range of 2x and 6x increased risk of suicide after abortion.
Next Step: Get an Ultrasound Before You Take the Abortion Pill
Before starting the abortion pill process, an ultrasound is important. The ultrasound reveals 3 important pieces of information:
An ultrasound provides important information about your pregnancy:
- The location of the pregnancy. If your pregnancy has implanted anywhere outside the uterus, you could have an ectopic pregnancy. In this instance, you would be advised to seek immediate medical attention. If you are considering taking the abortion pill, it could be especially dangerous if the pregnancy is ectopic. The FDA warns the abortion pill “will not be effective to terminate an ectopic pregnancy.” Ectopic pregnancies occur in about 2% of pregnancies and have been increasing in recent years, especially among young women.
- The gestational age. This is determined by measuring the dimensions of the pregnancy. The abortion pill is FDA approved only through 10-weeks of pregnancy.
- The viability of the pregnancy. If a heartbeat cannot be detected, it is possible you may naturally miscarry. In this case, you would be advised to follow up with your physician and avoid taking abortion pills.
Waterleaf Women’s Center can provide you with a pregnancy confirmation and ultrasound free of charge with no insurance required. Our licensed medical professionals can answer any questions you have about the abortion pill. We also have specialists that can connect you to the resources you need for your specific situation.
Call or text Waterleaf confidentially at 630-360-2256 to schedule your free appointment today! We are here to help —you are not alone!
