You may have heard that the abortion pill is a simple way to deal with an unplanned pregnancy.
But there are limitations to the abortion pill, as well as pre-existing conditions, that prevent some women from being eligible for this type of abortion.
Knowing these limitations and pre-existing conditions is essential to protecting your health as you consider your options and if the abortion pill is right for you.
How Does the Abortion Pill Work
The abortion pill is also known as a medical abortion, as it uses a series of drugs to terminate a viable pregnancy.
The first drug is mifepristone, which blocks progesterone in your uterus, causing the pregnancy to detach from the uterine wall and stop growing.
Misoprostol is the second drug, and it forces your uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy through the vagina.
Limitations to the Abortion Pill
Before starting a medical abortion, you will need to know the following information about your pregnancy to make sure your health is protected:
Age of Pregnancy: According to the FDA, a medical abortion is only approved in the first ten weeks of pregnancy. If you attempt to use the abortion pill after ten weeks, you can develop serious health complications, including an incomplete abortion.
Location of Pregnancy: Most pregnancies grow in the uterus. However, some women can develop a condition known as ectopic pregnancy. This condition is a severe health complication that occurs when your pregnancy begins to grow outside of the uterus. A medical abortion is not effective or safe to attempt if you have an ectopic pregnancy; instead, immediate medical intervention is needed to protect your health and safety.
Viability of Pregnancy: The CDC estimates that up to 10-20% of pregnancies end in a natural miscarriage. If you unknowingly have a miscarriage and take the abortion drugs, you’re more likely to experience a physical complication.
There are also pre-existing conditions that prevent some women from being eligible for using the abortion pill. These conditions can include:
- Having an intrauterine device (IUD)
- Can’t make follow-up visits to your doctor
- Can’t access emergency care
- Taking a blood thinner or certain steroid medications
- Having an allergy to the medications used during a medical abortion
- Having certain medical issues such as bleeding disorders, heart or blood vessel diseases, severe lung, liver, or kidney disease, or an uncontrolled seizure disorder
Get the Answers You Need
Knowing the details about your pregnancy and ruling out pre-existing conditions is essential in learning whether the abortion pill is safe for you.
The good news is that an ultrasound scan from Options Care Center can quickly provide you with this information, letting you learn the age, location, and viability of your pregnancy.
This ultrasound scan is part of our pre-abortion consultation appointment that is provided to you free of charge.
Our trained staff can also talk to you about pre-existing conditions, answer all your questions, and explain all the options available to you.
Contact us today to schedule your free and confidential pre-abortion consultation and get the answers you need to protect your health and future.
