If you're facing an unplanned pregnancy, you may have turned to the internet for a solution. All of the information can feel overwhelming. But, as with any medication or procedure, there are many things to consider before you take abortion pills. So, keep reading to learn more!
How Does the Abortion Pill Work?
With the abortion pill, a woman intentionally takes medication to terminate her pregnancy. Abortion pills may also be called a medical abortion, chemical abortion, RU-486, or at-home abortion.
The process involves two medications. The first medication, mifepristone, interferes with progesterone receptors and prevents the pregnancy from developing. The second medication, misoprostol, causes the uterus to cramp and expel the pregnancy.1
How Far Along Can You Take the Abortion Pill?
Women qualify for the abortion pill only up until 10 weeks of gestation.2 Gestational age can be estimated based on a woman's last menstrual period, but an ultrasound is the most exact way to determine the gestational age. Call Shoals Women's Clinic for a free ultrasound today.
Can Abortion Pills be Mailed?
Alabama's law prohibits residents from mailing or receiving abortion pills in the mail.3 Websites that claim to mail abortion pills into prohibited states often use foreign pharmacies. Women should never order abortion pills online from a pharmacy that has not been approved by the FDA. The FDA has not evaluated those pills for safety4 and could contain the wrong amount of medication, be expired, or be fake.
What To Know Before Ordering Abortion Pills:
Before ordering abortion pills, a woman should speak with a qualified healthcare professional. Then she should verify her eligibility for the abortion pills. This will include:
- Estimated Gestational Age (or how far along you are in your pregnancy). Gestational age can be estimated based on a woman's last menstrual period, but an ultrasound is the most exact way to determine the gestational age.5
- Location of the Pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy develops outside of the uterus and can be life-threatening if not properly treated. So, before taking abortion pills, it is recommended that a woman receive an ultrasound first.
- Viability of pregnancy. Almost 10-20% of known pregnancies end in a miscarriage, and almost 80% of those occur within the first three months of pregnancy.6
Call Shoals Women's Clinic at (256) 740-0640 today to receive a free ultrasound.
What are the Risks of an At-Home Abortion?
As with any medication or procedure, women should be aware of all of the risks associated with the abortion pill, including:7
- Incomplete abortion- The uterus does not expel the entire pregnancy and additional medical procedures could be required.
- Hemorrhaging or severe vaginal bleeding
- Infection
- Allergic reaction to the medications
For these reasons, women need to have access to emergency services before, during, and after an abortion. So, women should be under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.
Abortion Pill Information in Florence, Alabama
Sorting through all of your abortion options can feel overwhelming. But you aren't alone! Visit Shoals Women's Clinic to speak with our qualified and compassionate staff. We provide a confidential space for you to sort through all of your options.
Please be aware that Shoals Women's Clinic does not provide or refer for abortion services.
Sources:
- Cleveland Clinic. (2024). Medical Abortion. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21899-medical-abortion
- Danco Laboratories, LLC. (2022). MEDICATION GUIDE: Mifeprex.
- Ala. Code § 26-23H-4. Robinson v. Marshall, No. 2:19-cv-00365-MHT (M.D. Ala. Jun. 24, 2022). https://casetext.com/statute/code-of-alabama/title-26-infants-and-incompetents/chapter-23h-the-alabama-human-life-protection-act/section-26-23h-4-abortion-prohibited-exception.
- FDA. (2023, January). Questions and Answers on Mifepristone for Medical Termination of Pregnancy Through Ten Weeks Gestation. FDA. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/questions-and-answers-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy-through-ten-weeks-gestation?sm_guid=NTU1NzgyfDYzMDE1OTM2fC0xfGppbUBha2ZhbWlseS5vcmd8NTY4OTI4MXx8MHwwfDE5OTYwMDk4OHwxMDg2fDB8MHx8NTQ3NzI2fDA1
- Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Ultrasound in Pregnancy. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/9704-ultrasound-in-pregnancy.
- Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Miscarriage. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9688-miscarriage.
- Cleveland Clinic. (2024). Medical Abortion. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21899-medical-abortion.