In cases of unexpected pregnancy, the woman and her partner is left with several choices including keeping the baby, adoption or abortion through the abortion pill or other medical means. There are several reasons one would choose the abortion pill including cost and less invasive means of use.
When it comes to pregnancy options, one that many might consider is the abortion pill. This pill is available from some doctors as well as private clinics or facilities like Planned Parenthood. The abortion pill works by taking a medication that causes a miscarriage for the pregnant woman, which then terminates the growth of the fetus thereby ending the pregnancy.
Facts About The Abortion Pill:
The abortion pill works typically in pregnancies up until the ninth week after the first day of a woman’s last period. For women that are past this date, the only alternative abortion method is an actual in-clinic abortion. The names that refer to the abortion pill is mifepristone or RU-486. The cost of the abortion pill ranges from about $300 to $800 depending on where you get it and which area you live in. The effectiveness of the abortion pill is about 97 out of 100 times. However, it is important to keep in mind that the chemicals in the abortion pill are likely to cost severe birth defects in the baby if the abortion does not work. That means often times an aspiration abortion must be completed if the medication does not work.
How The Abortion Pill Works:
Usually before you are able to take the abortion pill, you must work with a health care professional to discuss your options, go over medical history, have blood tests and laboratory tests done as well as a physical exam and ultrasound. You will also need to read over certain documents and sign papers that signify you understand the actions you are taking with a medical abortion. Once these steps have been taken, you will be given a medication guide along with clear instructions about how and when to take the pill as well as what to expect from the procedure. In most instances, the pregnant woman will take the abortion pill at the clinic in the presence of a doctor along with antibiotics that will help prevent you against infection.
The medication works by blocking the progesterone hormone. Without this hormone, the lining around the uterus breaks down disallowing the pregnancy to continue. The second step is something that will have to be worked out with your doctor and includes you taking the second dosage of the abortion pill medication a few days after the first.
What to Expect from the Abortion Pill:
Typically the medicine will cause you to have cramps and bleed heavily. This will usually last for a few hours. Some may end up seeing large blood clots or tissue when the actual abortion occurs. Most women are completely done with the abortion process in a few hours up to a few days at most. However, it is completely normal to have slight bleeding for a few weeks after the abortion. However, if that bleeding seems heavy or painful, it is important to consult a doctor right away.
Symptoms to Expect from the Abortion Pill:
- Dizziness
- Strong cramps
- Heavy bleeding
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Mild fever or chills
It is important to know you can use a pain reliever like Tylenol or ibuprofen to handle these symptoms, but it is important to not use Aspirin during this process. It is also super important to follow up with your doctor at least two weeks after the abortion to make sure you are not risking any infections and to make sure the abortion was effective. This typically involves a blood test as well as an ultrasound. If you are in fact still pregnant, your doctor or health care professional will discuss further abortion options with you for your consideration.
There are several reasons a woman will choose to go with the abortion pill instead of an in-clinic abortion. One of these reasons is because it can be done early on in the pregnancy. It is also a private process and can be done at home rather than in a clinic. Many women feel like it is a more natural way to end the pregnancy and feel it is more like a miscarriage than abortion. Some women choose to go with the abortion pill route simply because it is less invasive.
Sources: plannedparenthood.org